PIM stands for Penalty Infraction Minutes in ice hockey. Each player (or team) accumulates penalty minutes during a game. The PIM does not take into account the length of a player’s penalty. Instead, it focuses on how many minutes each player was given.
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How is PIM Calculated in Hockey?
PIMs, measure how many penalty minutes each player receives during a hockey game. If the team on the power play scores during a game, a player may be released from the penalty box early. The PIM calculation is not affected by these scenarios.
In contrast, PIM tracks only how many penalty minutes are assigned to each player, regardless of whether that player serves the entire punishment.
Different Types of Penalties in Hockey
A player can receive several different penalties, each with a different penalty minute.
Minor penalties, such as slashing and high-sticking, last two minutes each. Egregious penalties, such as high-sticks that cause blood loss, can result in double minors.
Double minors account for four penalty minutes and are equivalent to two minor penalties stacked. When an opposing team scores while a minor penalty is in effect, the penalty ends early.
For major penalties such as spearing or fighting, five minutes are allotted. Penalties are served in the penalty box when a player receives a major penalty. Fights between players may result in match penalties, which require both teams to lose one player for five minutes. Power plays are not given to either team in this scenario.
Penalties for game misconduct are assessed within 10 minutes. A player who commits a game misconduct penalty is removed from the game and replaced by another team member. A game misconduct does not result in a power play or penalty kill. As a result of creating that penalty, that player has been assigned PIM.
Do Players Get PIM for Penalty Shots?
In a hockey game, a penalty shot is the final type of penalty. A penalty shot is awarded if a player interferes illegally with a breakaway attempt.
Skaters can hold another skater, slash their hands, or trip them during a breakaway. PIMs are not awarded for penalty shots. In a shootout, a breakaway player gets an unimpeded shot on goal.
Is PIM a Good Thing in Hockey?
Many hockey fans consider high PIM a good statistic due to the popularity of fantasy hockey. Like most fantasy sports, fantasy hockey awards points to team managers based on their team’s performance. Hockey statistics include goals scored, shots on goal (SOG), power-play goals (PPG), plus-minus, and game-winning goals (GWG).
PIM is an interesting statistic that some fantasy hockey leagues use to spice up their competitions. According to PIM tracking, fantasy hockey players should draft penalty-prone players (or goons) to their teams. NHL players like Trevor Wilson and Brady Tkachuk, who can score and fight, are more appealing because of the rules.
Which Players Have the Most PIM?
In terms of penalty minutes, David “Tiger” Williams leads all hockey players. It is estimated that he had over 3,971 penalty minutes during his 14-year career. In 962 games, he averaged just over four penalty minutes.
Among individual players, Dale Hunter ranks second in penalty minutes. A total of 3,565 penalty minutes were accumulated during his long career. Hunter, however, was much more valuable on the ice than Williams. With 323 goals and 697 assists, he had a plus-minus of +101. As an all-around player, he even scored ten shorthanded goals during his career.
A Canadian goaltender, Ron Hextall, has earned the most PIM of any goalie in his career with 569. In addition, Hextall holds the single-season PIM record for a goalie at 113. Despite his penchant for penalties, Hextall was an accomplished goalkeeper. In his career, he had a .895 save percentage and 23 shutouts, making him one of the best goalies in history.
Can a Goalie Receive PIM?
When a goalie sits out during a game, he or she does not receive any minor or major penalties. However, if a goalie commits a penalty, another player on the team will sit in the penalty box. The PIM stat, however, will count against the goalie and not against the player who sat out.
Conclusion About PIM in Hockey
PIM is a hockey stat that lets fans keep track of how many penalty minutes their favorite players receive. As one of the few sports where players serve time in a penalty box, this statistic is relatively unique.
Lastly, fantasy league owners like to add PIM to spice up their scoring. Fighting in the sport is celebrated when fans have PIM and root on their favorite goons. It is an ongoing debate among fantasy hockey participants whether this is a trash stat or not!