NHL Single-Season Penalty Minutes Record Progression

Every season that raised the bar, and the leader in every season between.

The NHL single-season penalty minutes record is 472, set by Dave Schultz in 1974. It has stood for 51 years. The mark has been raised 9 times since 1917.

P G A P/GP PPG GWG PIM +/-SHG PPP S S%G/GP GP

Record Holders

10 marks since 1917

Year	Player	PIM	Stood for
1974	Dave Schultz	472	still standing
1973	Dave Schultz	348	1 year
1970	Keith Magnuson	289	3 years
1962	Howie Young	273	8 years
1955	Lou Fontinato	206	7 years
1935	Red Horner	167	20 years
1927	Eddie Shore	165	8 years
1926	Eddie Shore	136	1 year
1918	Joe Hall	130	8 years
1917	Ken Randall	116	1 year

The earliest marks here are records only in the sense that nobody had done better yet. Season length, schedule and the rules themselves have all changed, so a figure from the 1870s is not comparable with a modern one and is not offered as though it were.

Every Season

110 seasons

Year	Leader	PIM
2025	Nikita Zadorov	152
2024	Nikita Zadorov	145
2023	Liam O'Brien	153
2022	Patrick Maroon	150
2021	Mark Borowiecki	151
2020	Tom Wilson	96
2019	Evander Kane	122
2018	Evander Kane	153
2017	Micheal Haley	212
2016	Mark Borowiecki	154
2015	Derek Dorsett	177
2014	Steve Downie	238
2013	Tom Sestito	213
2012	Colton Orr	155
2011	Derek Dorsett	235
2010	Zenon Konopka	307
2009	Zenon Konopka	265
2008	Daniel Carcillo	254
2007	Daniel Carcillo	324
2006	Ben Eager	233
2005	Sean Avery	257
2003	Sean Avery	261
2002	Jody Shelley	249
2001	Peter Worrell	354
2000	Matthew Barnaby	265
1999	Denny Lambert	219
1998	Rob Ray	261
1997	Donald Brashear	372
1996	Gino Odjick	371
1995	Matthew Barnaby	335
1994	Enrico Ciccone	225
1993	Tie Domi	347
1992	Marty McSorley	399
1991	Mike Peluso	408
1990	Rob Ray	350
1989	Basil McRae	351
1988	Tim Hunter	375
1987	Bob Probert	398
1986	Tim Hunter	361
1985	Joey Kocur	377
1984	Chris Nilan	358
1983	Chris Nilan	338
1982	Randy Holt	275
1981	Paul Baxter	409
1980	Dave Williams	343
1979	Jimmy Mann	287
1978	Dave Williams	298
1977	Dave Schultz	405
1976	Dave Williams	338
1975	Steve Durbano	370
1974	Dave Schultz	472	new record
1973	Dave Schultz	348	new record
1972	Dave Schultz	259
1971	Bryan Watson	212
1970	Keith Magnuson	289	new record
1969	Keith Magnuson	213
1968	Forbes Kennedy	219
1967	Don Awrey	153
1967	Barclay Plager	153
1966	John Ferguson	177
1965	Reg Fleming	166
1964	Carl Brewer	177
1963	Vic Hadfield	151
1963	Terry Harper	151
1962	Howie Young	273	new record
1961	Lou Fontinato	167
1960	Pierre Pilote	169
1959	Carl Brewer	150
1958	Ted Lindsay	184
1957	Lou Fontinato	152
1956	Gus Mortson	147
1955	Lou Fontinato	206	new record
1954	Fern Flaman	150
1953	Gus Mortson	132
1952	Maurice Richard	112
1951	Gus Kyle	127
1950	Gus Mortson	142
1949	Gus Kyle	143
1948	Bill Ezinicki	143
1947	Bill Barilko	147
1946	Gus Mortson	133
1945	Jack Stewart	73
1944	Pat Egan	86
1943	Murph Chamberlain	105
1942	Jimmy Orlando	109
1941	Jimmy Orlando	141
1940	Jimmy Orlando	99
1939	Red Horner	87
1938	Red Horner	85
1937	Art Coulter	90
1936	Red Horner	134
1935	Red Horner	167	new record
1934	Red Horner	125
1933	Red Horner	156
1932	Red Horner	144
1931	Red Dutton	111
1930	Harvey Rockburn	124
1929	Joe Lamb	119
1928	Red Dutton	141
1927	Eddie Shore	165	new record
1926	Eddie Shore	136	new record
1925	Bert Corbeau	125
1924	Billy Boucher	92
1923	Reg Noble	79
1922	Jack Adams	66
1921	Sprague Cleghorn	80
1920	Billy Coutu	117
1919	Cully Wilson	86
1918	Joe Hall	130	new record
1917	Ken Randall	116	new record