During the period that Emile Francis was GM (and usually coach) of the New York Rangers (which is when I was a fan), there were Blueshirts who an objective hockey fan would consider "dirty." Vic Hadfield - especially early on in New York, when he was establishing himself in the NHL - was capable of anything. That's why he led the league in penalty minutes in 1963-64. Even when he playing on the Rangers' top line - the GAG Line - Hadfield was doing things like tossing Bernie Parent's mask in to the crowd. In so doing, he took out the Leafs' best goaltender. A season or two later, Vic barreled in to Ken Dryden, in what certainly could be seen - in retrospect - as another attempt to take out an opponent's top goaltender.
For a few seasons, the Blueshirts employed Ron Harris - one of the first NHLers to work out with weights. He was hard as a rock, and strong as an ox. Harris was notorious for low checks. One such check, took Phil Esposito out of the playoff series against the Rangers.
One of my favorite hockey players - who was property of the Blueshirts briefly - was Dennis Hextall. He was a center of average size - 5' 11" and maybe 175 pounds - who played a very physical and (yes) dirty game. Hextall has admitted himself that he was good with his stick - which twice enabled him to lead his team* in both points and penalty minutes.
(* the Seals, and then the North Stars)
