There was none tougher than the much-beloved Bob Probert when it comes to NHL tough guys.
Born Robert Alan Probert (June 5, 1965-July 5, 2010) in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Probert began his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings when he was drafted in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft as the fourth pick in the third round (46th overall); Detroit also selected Steve Yzerman and Joey Kocur.
During the 1985-86,1986-87, season Probert played back and forth between the Adirondack Red Wings and Detroit’s big club. It wasn’t until the 1987-1988 season that Probert reached the climax of his career. That year he recorded 398 penalty minutes, the sixth-highest single-season total in NHL history. He tied for third on the team with 62 points, 29 goals, and 33 assists and was selected to play in his only NHL All-Star Game. He also accumulated more points than any other Red Wing during the team’s playoff run that year.
Probert and The Law
Just as Probert’s career was beginning to blossom, he had his eventual fall from grace when on March 2, 1989, he was arrested at the Canadian-American border on possessioning 14.3 grams of cocaine. Customs agents found the cocaine hidden in Probert’s underwear during a strip search at 7 a.m. EST on the U.S. side of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel border crossing. The arrest resulted in Probert serving three months in a federal prison in Minnesota, three more months in a halfway house, and an indefinite suspension from the NHL. The NHL lifted the suspension upon Probert’s completion of his prison term. The arrest left a stain on Probert’s NHL career as he was ordered to be deported to Canada following his conviction; because of this, he was not able to travel to Canada for fear of another arrest; it would take until December 7, 1992, for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to grant his appeal and restore his travel privileges.
You would think that after nearly throwing away a lucrative NHL career, one brush with the law would be enough of a deterrent for most people. Sadly, this was not the case.
On July 15, 1994, Probert was arrested after crashing his motorcycle into a West Bloomfield Township, Michigan car. The Police later determined that Probert had a blood-alcohol level triple the legal limit with traces of cocaine. On July 19, 1994, senior vice-president Jimmy Devellano of the Detroit Red Wings announced: “This is the end.” “In my twelve years with the organization…we’ve never spent more time on one player and his problems than on Probert.
Chicago Black Hawks (1995-2002)
On July 23, 1994, Probert signed a new deal with Chicago Black Hawks, giving him a fresh start with a new team. With the Black Hawks, Probert’s role became more of an enforcer role and less of a point producer/enforcer than Detroit’s.
One of Probert’s more esoteric achievements came when he scored the final NHL goal at the Iconic Maple Leaf Gardens on February 13, 1999.
Fighting
Probert was best known for his abilities as a fighter. I can recall a story by Nick Kypreos, who was renowned as a fighter. Nick explained that when he knew that his next game would be against the Red Wings, he would check the Wings roster, hoping to see that Probert would be sidelined with an injury for fear that he would have to fight him; that is how fearsome of a fighter Probert had become during his prime years.
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape.
You don’t spit into the wind.
You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don’t try to win a fight with Bob Probert.
In Probert’s time, no one was more feared in a fight, and if you had to go up against Probert, you better have eaten your Wheaties.
Probert was 6 ft 3 in and weighed 230lb. He was one half of the infamous “Bruise Brothers” with Red Wing teammate Joey Kocur, another ferocious fighter not to be challenged.
Some of Probert’s more memorable punch up’s were against Craig Coxe of the Vancouver Canucks, Wendel Clark of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tie Domi originally of the New York Rangers, Stu Grimson of the Anaheim Ducks, Joey Kocur, former teammate when Kocur was with the Rangers. Probert was with the Hawks, Marty McSorely of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and many fisticuffs with Donald Brashear, Scott Parker of the Colorado Avalanche, and Jody Shelley with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
One of the most memorable Probert fights was against Scott Parker on January 12, 1999. Scott Parker was an up-and-coming enforcer trying to make a name for himself when he decided to test the champ for a shot to overtake Probert and gain more recognition. Parker was in the prime of his youth, being taller, heavier, and ten years younger than Probert. After circling each other for several seconds, the fight was on when the two grabbed each other’s jerseys; after 11 seconds, it was all over when Probert landed four devastating right hands, knocking Parker unconscious before Parker could land one.
Bob Probert died of a heart attack on July 5, 2010, while boating on Lake St.Clair, Ontario.
Bob Probert was a legend in the NHL as an elite enforcer. Over the NHL’s history, there has always been the need to have the tough guys protect the star players. In modern times the game has shifted away from the enforcer role and has become more and more of a skill and finesse/speed game. In the comments, please tell us if you miss the enforcer role and who gets you voting for the toughest of all time.
On April 9, 2017, the Probert family spread his ashes in the Detroit Red Wings penalty box at the Joe Louis Arena’s final game.
Records
. 5th all-time in penalty minutes (3,300).
. Detroit Red Wings franchise record for career penalty minutes (2,090).
. Detroit Red Wings franchise record for penalty minutes in a season (398 in 1987-1988).
Keep Your Stick On The Ice.
NHL Tough Guys
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