DETROIT –

For years, one of the knocks on the Detroit Red Wings has been that they're too tame with all the skilled European players on their roster.

They're not tough enough, gritty enough or don't hit enough for some people's tastes.

That apparently has changed with the addition of Jordin Tootoo.

Tootoo, the agitator signed as a free agent from Nashville last summer, has landed on Sports Illustrated's list of the Top 10 Most Hated Players in the NHL.

Tootoo is No. 8.

"Tootoo earned his shot in the NHL as a high-energy winger who could send a message with a thundering body check," wrote SI's Allan Muir. "He's since gained a reputation as a careless player, someone who'll hit too high, too low or too late. He's been suspended multiple times, most recently for running Ryan Miller."

In 12 games for the Red Wings this season, Tootoo leads the club with four fights and 30 penalty minutes. He's also got one assist and has taken 10 shots on goal.

Being named to the list tells Tootoo that he's does the job the Predators and now the Red Wings have employed him to do for 498 games in nine seasons.

"Part of my job is to create havoc out there and get under people's skin," Tootoo said after Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit's third straight win. "You're bought into this league to do a certain thing. It just goes to show that I'm doing my job.

"It's a work in progress. Get out there and it doesn't matter how many minutes you play, you want to do your job and help the team win. Throughout my career, I've been a notable player to do that. It takes a little bit of a skill, a little bit of heart and willpower. I'm not the biggest player out there.

"It's part of being a role player. Everyone has roles on the team and that's what brings 22 guys together. It's the little things that count. Maybe your average fans might not know it but the guys in the dressing room realize that's a big part of the game.

"That's where a lot of games are won."

At the top of the SI's most hated list is Montreal's P.K. Subban followed by Vancouver's Max Lapierre, Boston's Brad Marchand, Chicago's Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix's Raffi Torres, Washington's Mike Ribeiro, Vancouver's Alex Burrows and the Buffalo duo of Steve Ott and Patrick Kaleta.

How did SI pick the top 10?

Here's the explanation:

"So Forbes came out with an article detailing America's 10 most disliked athletes. No surprise that hockey wasn't represented on the list. I mean, 'most-disliked' simply doesn't apply to this game. We don't deal in anything so namby-pamby. Hockey's all about passion, about love and hate. So here are the guys you most love to loathe."

Red Wings fans almost certainly have one question when it comes to the list.

Where's Sidney Crosby?

(Although, in all fairness to SI, the website did use a nice likeness of the Pittsburgh Penguins star wearing a diaper with a sign touting NBC that said NHL's Biggest Crybaby.)

-- Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage on Twitter