The Broad Street Bullies teams of the Philadelphia Flyers get most of the publicity for being the toughest team of the post-expansion (1967) era. Yet, the Flyers teams' of the Seventies don't crack the top 10 when it comes to average penalty minutes per game.
Who is on top? That's right, the Buffalo Sabres.
The 1991-92 Sabres averaged 33.9 penalty minutes per game. Rob Ray led the way with 354 PIM that season, which is more than four per game personally. Brad May was at 309, and Gord Donnelly was at 305. Four other players had more than 100 penalty minutes.
Here's the top 10 (1967-2011):
Team – Year – Average
Buffalo Sabres – 1991-92 – 33.9
Pittsburgh Penguins – 1988-89 – 33.4
Chicago Blackhawks – 1991-92 – 33.3
Calgary Flames – 1991-92 – 33.0
Philadelphia Flyers – 1980-81 – 32.8
New Jersey Devils – 1988-89 – 31.2
Chicago Blackhawks – 1988-89 – 31.2
Philadelphia Flyers – 1981-82 – 31.2
Calgary Flames – 1988-89 – 30.6
Boston Bruins – 1987-88 – 30.5
Calgary Flames – 1987-88 – 30.4
For the list of the 10 least penaltized teams, click here.
--- Budd Bailey
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