The 13 Most Skilled Fighters in the NHL

The fighters in the NHL play a big role in games despite the fact that the pure enforcer is becoming a thing of the past.

There are now players that are capable of making a positive contribution on the ice in addition to tossing bombs.

Here are some skilled fighters that make an impact in more ways than just one.

Cody McLeod

Not the most skilled guy out there, Cody McLeod is still capable of doing a lot of good things.

He has OK speed and is a pretty good forechecker.

He had problems taking penalties earlier in his career, but he has gotten much smarter about his play over the years.

Cody is also an effective fighter who is capable of using both hands when involved in a scrap.

Not a really technical fighter, McLeod likes to brawl, and he's good at it.

George Parros

George Parros is one of the better fighters in the NHL right now and easily has some of the best facial hair.

Not the greatest skater, Parros does manage to be more than just your average fighter.

Parros plays physically, as you would expect, and isn't irresponsible defensively.

He doesn't do much scoring, but he is actually pretty decently skilled in his own zone.

Jody Shelley

Jody Shelley has been fighting in the NHL for a long time.

He's taken on the likes of Georges Laraque, Scott Parker, Chris Neil and Bob Probert.

Frequently over 100 penalty minutes most seasons, Shelley is a physical guy who provides a boost for his team.

Derek Dorsett

Derek Dorsett has been one of the few members of the Columbus Blue Jackets that has done his job all season long.

Dorsett leads the Blue Jackets in both hits and penalty minutes and has also tallied eight goals on the season.

Brandon Prust

Brandon Prust doesn't have a lot of big numbers offensively throughout his career, but he did have a career year with the Rangers last season, when he tallied 13 goals and 16 assists.

He hasn't scored as much this season, but he has shown that the ability is there to contribute offensively as well as to be the team's fighter.

He's also finished the last three seasons in a row as a plus player. Fighters aren't usually included amongst the plus players.

Matt Hendricks

Matt Hendricks is an energy guy for his team who can provide the energy with a big hit, the occasional goal or with a fight.

Hendricks drops the gloves quite frequently and will log his team about 15 to 25 points a season.

Hendricks is having a slower year offensively to this point, but he does still have some good skills.

Chris Neil

Chris Neil is one of the more predominant fighters in the NHL today, and he is very good at what he does.

Neil is regularly logging close to 200 penalty minutes per year and also ends up logging between 20 and 30 points.

He's an effective player who also knows how to drop the gloves.

Shawn Thornton

Shawn Thornton is an emotional leader for the Boston Bruins, and the way he fights shows why.

He isn't as offensively productive as some of the other guys on this list, but he is just as skilled.

He is especially noticeable in the physical aspects of the game; he also leads the Bruins in penalty minutes.

Jordin Tootoo

Jordin Tootoo is a pest in every aspect of the word, and he is good at being that way.

He is rather universally disliked by people in the league, except for those in Nashville.

Tootoo will fight people from time to time and is also able to provide some good offense for his team. Tootoo currently has 21 points for this season.

Dan Carcillo

Carcillo has been a bruising player for his whole career, even topping 300 penalty minutes once in his career.

He's not the biggest guy out there at just 5'11", but Carcillo doesn't back down from anybody.

He is also capable of scoring and will get around 20 points a season.

Cal Clutterbuck

Clutterbuck might not be an enforcer in the strictest sense of the word, but he is definitely one of the biggest pests in the NHL who will drop the gloves from time to time.

Clutterbuck has logged back-to-back seasons with more than 300 hits and fewer than 100 penalty minutes.

He's also a guy that will put the puck in the net from time to time, with 12 goals on this NHL season.

David Clarkson

David Clarkson has fought some pretty big boys in his days in the NHL.

He's also been putting up some decent numbers over the years.

Clarkson looks like he will have a career year in terms of goals, as he is already just one goal shy of his career high with 16 on this season.

He's a 30-points-a-year guy who will also be well over 100 penalty minutes.

Steve Ott

Steve Ott is the emotional leader of the Dallas Stars and will take on anybody that he has to take on.

Ott is very well known for driving Jarome Iginla completely and totally insane.

Ott will also score his share of goals and log some points. He's an all-around player/pest.

Kevin Goff is a Featured Columnist for the Colorado Avalanche and NHL on Bleacher Report. For more NHL news and discussion, click here.