Hockey’s Hardest Hitters: Top 10 NHL Hitters
When I was growing up, I used to own a vhs tape entitled “Hockey’s Hardest Hitters” that I’d watch repeatedly before games. Which would be bad news for the opposing teams, as I could care less about scoring a goal, and wanted more to eliminate players at any cost. Looking back on it, I wish my dad had of bought me a video on how to score goals instead, as now I’m simply a wannabe hockey scout, with my own blog, that barely anybody reads. That being said, I figured for the people who do enjoy clicking on www.dansallows.com occasionally, it be nice to compose a list and a few highlights of my picks for the top 10 hitters in the NHL right now. These ten can knock with anybody, and they’re happy to prove it, anywhere and anytime.
10. Jordin Tootoo (Nashville Predators)
Love him or hate him, 5-foot-9, 200-pound Jordin Tootoo puts his body on the line each and every shift. He plays the game with reckless abandon, and because of that, is a fan favourite in Nashville.
9. T.J. Oshie (St.Louis Blues)
Whether he is scoring a sick goal, or coming through with a big hit, 5-foot-11, 194-pound T.J. Oshie has made an impact in his first two years with the Blues. If you need to know how big of an impact, just ask Rick Nash.
8. Douglas Murray (San Jose Sharks)
There is a reason the Sharks Douglas Murray has been tagged with the nickname “Swedish Steel” as the 6-foot-3, 240-pound blueliner is an immovable object on the ice. It’s like running into a tree.
7. Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings)
Over the past 5-years, there have been few players as physically dominant as the Kings captain Dustin Brown. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Ithaca, NY native, is the definition of the term ‘power forward’.
6. Mike Richards (Philadelphia Flyers)
5-foot-11, 200-pound Mike Richards is a beauty. He can score, pass, and definitely hit. The captain of the Philadelphia Flyers is a tremendous blend of skill and toughness, that every hockey fan has to appreciate
5. Cal Clutterbuck (Minnesota Wild)
One of the most popular jsersey’s sold in Minnesota read ‘Clutterbuck’ on the back, yet he onlys scored 13 goals last year, so it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure it out. The guy hits anything that isn’t wearing a Wild uniform. Nobody’s safe when the 5-foot-11, 213-pound Cal Clutterbuck is running amuck.
4. Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins)
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Cam “Bam-Bam” Neely struck terror into the hearts of the opposition that would face the Bruins. Now, it’s 6-foot-4, 220-pound Milan Lucic. He’s a cruncher folks, a cruncher!
3. Anton Volchenkov (New Jersey Devils)
Anton Volchenkov is nicknamed the “A-Train” because he completely steamrolls opposing players. The Devils didn’t sign the 6-foot-1, 235-pound blueliner for $4.5 million per because of his goal scoring prowess. There is a new Scott Stevens in town, and he’s Russian!
2. Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings)
At 6-foot, 189-pounds, Niklas Kronwall plays much bigger than he actually is. The Wings defenseman has mastered the body check, which means opposing forwards had better keep their head up when he’s on the ice.
1. Dion Phaneuf (Toronto Maple Leafs)
At 6-foot-3, 214-pounds of pure nasty, there is none better than the Leafs captain at picking his spots. Phaneuf is known for his talking on the bench, but out on the ice, it’s his bone-crushing body checks that speak volumes.
January 10th, 2011
Lucic, Kronwall, Clutterbuck.