Who is the hardest hitter in NHL history?

[Crosbyfan]

Definitely Lindros. No one hit as hard as he did. I'm amazed Stevens shoulder pads survived.

 

[Bert Marshall days]

Potvin

Stevens

Trottier

 

[pavel13]

I watched this video of the Stevens hit on Lindros, but it was hard not to notice Scott Niedermayer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Z7-XRPcrw&mode=related&search=

 

[saskganesh]

I watched this video of the Stevens hit on Lindros, but it was hard not to notice Scott Niedermayer:

is he the one getting out of the way with the weak hook to cover his tracks?

 

[Devils Mike*]

Stevens easily, it's hard to believe any one would pick another person.

 

[pavel13]

I watched this video of the Stevens hit on Lindros, but it was hard not to notice Scott Niedermayer:

is he the one getting out of the way with the weak hook to cover his tracks?

Indeed.

 

[kovy1335]

Ulfie.

 

[Guy Caballero]

Tinordi was a devastating hitter in the late 80s/early 90s, but Stevens takes it hands down. His highlights in a year were what others' were in a career.

 

[benji]

Indeed.

Hey, if Niedermayer hadn't fallen so hard for that deke, who knows if Lindros would have looked down to realize the puck was still there

As for the question, can't go against Scott Stevens.

 

[LennyV]

Ulfie.

all Ulfie love is good love

 

[Zine]

Theo Fleury hit the crack pipe pretty hard.

 

[mattihp]

Tinordi or Stevens.

Norström in his mid-career was pretty awesome too.

 

[Evilo]

Stevens and Konstantinov in recent history were amazing hitters.

However, I can't even believe that nobody has mentionned Chris Chelios!!!
I know most young guys only remember the 40 year old Chelios, but man he was a hitting machine in the 90s. A real train that would devastate opposing forwards.
And he could hit you both open ice and on the boards with ferocious force.

So I'll give him my vote in my time.

 

[Bill_Crosby*]

Theo Fleury hit the crack pipe pretty hard.

 

[norrisnick]

Stevens and Konstantinov in recent history were amazing hitters.

However, I can't even believe that nobody has mentionned Chris Chelios!!!
I know most young guys only remember the 40 year old Chelios, but man he was a hitting machine in the 90s. A real train that would devastate opposing forwards.
And he could hit you both open ice and on the boards with ferocious force.

So I'll give him my vote in my time.

Pound for pound I doubt anyone hit harder than Konstantinov. 5'11" 185lb, but he could light you up.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I watched this video of the Stevens hit on Lindros, but it was hard not to notice Scott Niedermayer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Z7-XRPcrw&mode=related&search=

I'm "stealing" this video for use in the Stevens v. Neidermayer thread.

 

[Gorings Helmet]

Who remembers J.P. Kelly?

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Agree with the obvious choices that have already been mentioned, but one guy who doesn't get much credit is Brian Glennie, who played in the 70's. Great open ice hitter, and I believe he was picked best body checker a few years. Never aimed for people's chins either.

 

[Axxellien]

Boston Bruins:

Leo Boivin, Fern Flaman, Bob Armstrong...Hard Rock!!

 

[begbeee]

Stevens. Even better than Lindros. Stevens won the battle.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Pound for pound I doubt anyone hit harder than Konstantinov. 5'11" 185lb, but he could light you up.

Lindros absolutely destroyed Konstantinov, put him on queer street big time.


The Stevens hit on Lindros gets all the pub, but the Kasparitis hit on Lindros was better, and caused more of the problems.

 

[jkrx]

Konstantinov, Stevens, Chelios, Tinordi, Salming, Kasparitis, Nazarov, Ulfie, Marchement, Otto, McKay, Howe....

 

[Canadiens1958]

True

Lindros absolutely destroyed Konstantinov, put him on queer street big time.


The Stevens hit on Lindros gets all the pub, but the Kasparitis hit on Lindros was better, and caused more of the problems.

Very true. Classic example of the merits of watching game films. Flyers had a set play using a pick at the blueline, usually Leclair to spring Lindros into the offensive zone down the wing. Kasparitis worked out the timing and nailed Lindros coming out of the pick.

The Stevens hit was more or less the finishing blow.

 

[avs1986]

Might be biased, but I'm going with Forsberg. And o yah, Sakic 1 - Stevens 0,

 

[theRedAce9*]

For the brief little bit he was in it, Lindros in his prime was the most physically dominant player I've ever seen and I've watched hockey since 1973. Was he the "hardest hitter?" I don't know but he'd have to be up there.

Stevens was in his prime longer and was a punishing hitter and deserves to be mentioned. Also a minor player in hockey history but a brutal hitter nonetheless was Bob Gassoff of the Blues. I used to worry he was going to kill someone.