Chicago's best, toughest "boxers" including Al Secord, Dave Manson, Chris Chelios, Keith Magnuson and even Bob Probert delivered more than just punches.

There’s still a role for enforcers and protectors in the NHL, even if they usually don’t wear the label as loudly – and drop the gloves as often — as they did in the NHL’s penalty-filled past.

Tampa Bay winger Pat Maroon led the NHL with 150 penalty minutes last season. Compare that with Dave “The Hammer” Schultz’s all-time league record of 472 for the Broadstreet Bully Philadelphia Flyers in 1974-75. Mike Peluso collected 408 in 63 games with Mike Keenan’s aggressive Blackhawks in 1991-92 to hold the No. 3 spot.

The most-feared, most-effective fighters in Blackhawks history usually were far from pure fourth-line goons. Peluso was an anomaly. Players like Al Secord, Dave Manson, Keith Magnuson, Bob Probert and, certainly, Chris Chelios had hockey talent while playing a physical style that didn’t always lead to whistle.

NOTE: In addition to the capsules below, we'll have longer profiles on these players on this site. They will follow coverage of the Rocky Wirtz memorial service on Aug. 9 and a story on the Blackhawks transition to new leadership under Danny Wirtz.

Al Secord. Eight seasons with the Blackhawks. 466 GP. 1,426 PIM. 92 Fights. 213 Goals, 160 assists.  Secord, a defenseman turned left wing, was drafted by Boston in 1978 and reached the NHL by playing tough. But after coming to Chicago via a trade in December 1980, the 6-foot-1, 205 pound Secord evolved into a power forward who could score goals in bunches — both by owning the front of the net and with a quick shot — and his fighting and penalty minutes decreased.

Secord had trained as a boxer and his fierce, quick-jabbing form was one of the best. He started to pick his spots for dropping his gloves after joining Denis Savard on Chicago's top line in 1981-82. That season Secord became the only player in NHL history to score 40 or more goals (44) and have 300 or more (303) penalty minutes. Secord upped his production to 54 goals and 86 points in 1982-83 when Calder Trophy-winning right wing Steve Larmer was added to the line. 

Always an aviation enthusiast, Secord became an American Airlines pilot and mainline jet captain after retiring from hockey.

Dave Manson, Seven seasons with the Blackhawks. 431 GP, 1,322 PIM. 52 fights. 110 Goal, 155 Assists  Manson had crazy good shot and was a crazy good skater. Sometimes he'd just go crazy. When he did, the 6-foot-2 native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan could do real damage with his fists.

Manson also was suspended three games in 1990 for biting tough Washington D-man Scott Stevens. Manson claimed the bite was a reaction to an eye-gouge from Stevens.

Manson's true hockey talent, however, was clear. The defenseman wasn't drafted in the first round, (11th overall) by Chicago in 1985 just because he could fight. Manson made coverage/mental mistakes and turnovers, but could skate the puck out of trouble from deep in his own zone, join or even lead rushes, and had a wicked shot. See this highlight video with Blackhawks announcers Pat Foley and Dale Tallon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA0-sem6MQs

Manson was in 52 of his 75 career fights with Chicago at the start if his career, then calmed down. He's now an assistant coach with Edmonton. His son, Josh, is a D-man with Colorado.

Keith Magnuson, 11 seasons with the Blackhawks. 589 GP 1,440 PIM 66 fights. 14 goals. 125 assists.  Magnuson was an honest, stay-at-home defenseman and not flashy, but he was effective with solid plus/minus ratings that topped out at plus-50 in 1971-72. 

Chicago wanted a physical presence after "Maggie"  joined the team in 1969 and he was a quick study after being an All-American at the University of Denver... and playing the collegiate game where fighting isn't tolerated. Magnuson didn't win every fight with Chicago, but he was the first to step in to support a teammate. 

Magnuson didn't fare well as the Blackhawks coach in 1980-81 and 1981-82 (49-57-26), however, after the team fired Eddie Johnston over a miniscule salary dispute. Magnuson died tragically in an automobile accident in December 2003 near Toronto with former NHL defenseman Rob Ramage at the wheel. The Blackhawks retired Magnuson's No. 3 on a banner next to Pierre Pilote's No. 3 at the United Center.

Bob Probert: Seven seasons with the Blackhawks. 461 GP. 1,210 PIM. 96 fights. 49 goals, 76 assists. 

Probert, troubled by substance abuse before his death at age 45 in 2010, could play a rough style that helped with goal production. He skated the back end of his career in Chicago, fighting 96 times after dropping the gloves on 136 occasions for the Detroit Red wings.

Then-owner Bill Wirtz welcomed Probert when he signed as a free agent with the Blackhawks in 1994. Wirtz, who also managed the family's liquor distribution business admitted in a press conference he had people in his own family with substance abuse issues.

One wonders how good Probert might have been as a hockey player, but as a brawler he could devastate once his long arms got free. 

Chris Chelios, Nine seasons with the Blackhawks. 664 GP. 1,495 Penalty Minutes. 26 fights. 92 Goals, 395 Points Chelios was a three-time Norris Trophy winner and eventual Hall-of-Famer. But the 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman also was an ornery scrapper/fighter who sometimes simmered over. He ran up his highest penalty minute sums in a 26-year NHL career during nine seasons with Chicago; his total of 1,495 with the Blackhawks is the team record.

Chelios, a native of the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park, Illinois, rolled up big-time on-ice minutes as a top D-man and was a crafty playmaker. But he seemed to play with a little more of an edge on a Blackhawks team  coached by the edgy Keenan from 1988 to 1992. "Chelly" would deliver an extra hit or shot, and that could lead to a bout.

Chelios finished with 2,891 total penalty minutes over 1,651 games with four teams. He had only 59 fights, but was effective and dirty when he needed to be.

True Blackhawks Goons...

The Blackhawks also had guys with really one main "talent." On this list:

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