The Florida Panthers are one of the NHL's most disliked teams, not because they play a style reminiscent of the 1970s Broad Street Bullies, but because their combination of skill and toughness makes them incredibly difficult to play against. On any given night, Florida can score four or five goals while several of its heavyweights are more than willing to drop the gloves. After adding Brady Tkachuk, Radko Gudas, and Garnet Hathaway, the Panthers now employ five of the NHL's Top 30 active penalty-minute leaders heading into 2026-27. Today, we'll look at the league's Top 10 and see which Panthers made the cut.
NHL’s Top 10 active penalty minute leaders
10. Jamie Benn (Dallas) 932 penalty minutes
The long-time captain of the Dallas Stars, Jamie Benn, begins the list with 932 penalty minutes collected through 1,252 games. As one of the few players left to play without a visor, Benn averages 61 penalty minutes a season, with an additional 100 in the playoffs.
9. Marcus Foligno (Minnesota) 950 penalty minutes
Marcus Foligno is the youngest son of 15-year NHL veteran Mike Foligno, who was no stranger to sitting in the box, earning 2,047 penalty minutes, which ranks 52nd all-time. Unsurprisingly, both his sons are on this list, with Marcus racking up 950 minutes through 15 seasons.
8. Nikita Zadorov (Boston) 998 penalty minutes
Considering that 6-foot-7 defenseman Nikita Zadorov is about to earn his 1,000th penalty minute, since he’s averaged 102 minutes a season and has accumulated 998 through 13 seasons. Since joining the Boston Bruins in 2024-25, Zadorov has led the NHL in infractions over the past two seasons with 145 and 152 penalty minutes.
7. Brendan Dillon (New Jersey) 1,014 penalty minutes
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Brendan Dillon is one of just two active defensemen to record over 1,000 penalty minutes. Despite averaging only 79 minutes a season through 15 years, he’s cracked the top ten and, within two seasons, could climb into the top five.
6. Nick Foligno (Dallas) 1,024 penalty minutes
As mentioned, the Foligno family is no stranger to collecting penalty minutes, as Nick has earned 1,024 minutes through 19 seasons and could approach at least 1,050 or 1,075 depending on how physical he chooses to be in 2026-27. As he continues to chase down his father’s point totals, Foligno is about to begin his 20th season, something no one in the family has achieved.
5. Radko Gudas (Florida) 1,124 penalty minutes
As captain of the Anaheim Ducks, Radko Gudas made headlines last year for a low hit on superstar Auston Matthews, resulting in another suspension. In the offseason, the Panthers brought back Gudas, who previously skated with the club from 2020 to 2023. Thanks to an average of 104 minutes per season, he’s compiled 1,124 penalty minutes in his career, which ranks fifth among active skaters and first among defensemen.
4. Brad Marchand (Florida) 1,153 penalty minutes
Brad Marchand is a future Hall of Famer who, over 17 seasons, has earned 1,153 penalty minutes, along with a handful of suspensions and fines for questionable behavior. Love him or hate him, he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion who can score more than 20 or 30 goals a season and still sit for over 82 penalty minutes.
3. Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh) 1,263 penalty minutes
Out of active skaters with more than 1,000 penalty minutes, only Evgeni Malkin has won the Stanley Cup on three occasions. As one of the greatest players to play with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he’s amassed a career worthy of Hall of Fame induction, including both the Hart and Conn Smythe Trophies. When Malkin reaches 1,450 career points, he’ll become only the fourth player to achieve that point total and have over 1,300 penalty minutes.
2. Corey Perry (Los Angeles) 1,568 penalty minutes
The ageless Corey Perry is back for another season with the Los Angeles Kings and will look to surpass 1,600 penalty minutes in 2026-27. The one-time Stanley Cup and Hart Trophy winner is a pest who averages 88 minutes a season, but has reached his total through longevity with 21 seasons and seven clubs. Regarding active players, Perry has the most playoff penalty minutes at 299 through 18 postseason appearances.
1. Tom Wilson (Washington) 1,649 penalty minutes
Tom Wilson has spent his entire 13-year career with the Washington Capitals and won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Undoubtedly one of his generation’s least liked players, Wilson plays on the edge and has been known for questionable hits. Heading into the new season, he remains the NHL’s active leader in penalty minutes with 1,649, which ranks 99th all-time.
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