Category Archives: Hard Hits

HARD HITS: Flyers A Holiday Surprise Under Tortorella

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Derek

By show of hands, who had the Philadelphia Flyers sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division a week before Christmas? Unless you’re Gritty, the answer is probably nobody. On a football Sunday in mid-December, the rebuilding Flyers are 17-10-3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged Bobby Brink, Cam York, Carter Hart, Column, Flyers, Gritty, Hard Hits, Hockey, Joel Farabee, John Tortorella, Marc Staal, Morgan Frost, Nick Seeler, Owen Tippett, Rasmus Ristolainen, Samuel Ersson, Scott Laughton, Sean Couturier, Sean Walker, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, Tyson Foerster | Leave a comment

Hard Hits: Matthews and Leafs off and running, Bedard living up to the hype, Hockey Lifer Stan Fischler

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Derek

It’s only been the first week of hockey. Auston Matthews already decided to remind everyone how special he is. The superstar led the Maple Leafs to two wins on home ice. He recorded hat tricks in both games to highlight … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Hits | Tagged Auston Matthews, Blackhawks, Column, Connor Bedard, Coyotes, Hard Hits, Hockey, Israel, Joe Pavelski, John Tavares, Logan Cooley, Maple Leafs, Mike Modano, Mitch Marner, MSG, Palestine, Patrick Kane, Rangers, Sam Rosen, Stan Fischler, William Nylander | Leave a comment

HARD HITS: Retirements of Bergeron, Krejci impact Bruins, The Metro Division continues to improve, Pens’ addition of Karlsson should make it tougher

Posted on August 8, 2023 by Derek

In the dog days of summer, news isn’t as busy for hockey. However, with the recent retirements of Bruins’ legends Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, there’s a big opportunity for some teams who missed the playoffs last season. Boston subtracted … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Hits | Tagged 2024 first round pick, Adam Pelech, Alex Belzile, Alex Ovechkin, Alexis Lafreniere, Anders Lee, Atlantic, Barclay Goodrow, Blake Wheeler, Blue Jackets, Bo Horvat, Brad Marchand, Brennan Othmann, Brock Nelson, Bruins, Bryan Rust, Cam Atkinson, Cam York, Canadiens, Capitals, Casey DeSmith, Charlie Coyle, Charlie McAvoy, Column, Darcy Kuemper, David Krejci, David Pastrnak, Devils, Dmitry Orlov, Erik Gustafsson, Erik Karlsson, Evgeni Malkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Flyers, Garnet Hathaway, Hampus Lindholm, Hard Hits, Hurricanes, Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, Jake Debrusk, Jake Guentzel, Jan Rutta, Jeff Petry, Jeremy Swayman, John Carlson, Kaapo Kakko, K’Andre Miller, Kris Letang, Kyle Dubas, Lars Eller, Lightning, Linus Ullmark, Mat Barzal, Metro Division, Mikael Granlund, Mike Hoffman, Nick Bonino, Nick Foligno, Nicklas Backstrom, Noel Acciari, Oliver Wahlstrom, Owen Tippett, Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Zacha, Pens, Peter Laviolette, Phil Housley', Rangers, Red Wings, Reilly Smith, retirements, Rickard Rakell, Sabres, Sean Couturier, Senators, Sharks, Sidney Crosby, Taylor Hall, Tomas Nosek, Travis Konecny, Tristan Jarry, Tyler Bertuzzi, Tyler Pitlick, Vincent Trocheck, Will Cuylle, Zac Jones | Leave a comment

HARD HITS: Leafs’ latest playoff failure leaves more questions for Toronto

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Derek

After finally exercising the demons by beating the Lightning in the first round, the Maple Leafs couldn’t follow up their first playoff series win in 19 years with a successful second round. Instead, they were hardly competitive in the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged Adam Larsson, Adin Hill, Akira Schmid, Aleksander Barkov, Alex Pietrangelo, Andrew Brunette, Anton Lundell, Auston Matthews, Bill Zito, Blackhawks, Body Checks, Brady Skjei, Brandon Montour, Brent Burns, Brett Howden, Brett Pesce, Carter Verhaeghe, Chandler Stephenson, Column, Connor Bedard, Connor McDavid, Damon Severson, Darnell Nurse, Dave Hakstol, Dawson Mercer, Derek Stepan, Devils, Dougie Hamilton, Eeli Tolvanen, Erik Haula, ESPN, Evan Bouchard, Evander Kane, Frederik Andersen, Golden Knights, Gustav Forsling, Hard Hits, Hurricanes, Ivan Barbashev, Jaccob Slavin, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Jake Oettinger, Jamie Benn, Jason Robertson, Jesper Bratt, Jesper Fast, Joe Pavelski, John Tavares, Jonathan Marchessault, Jordan Eberle, Jordan Martinook, Kraken, Kris Knoblauch, Kyle Dubas, Laurent Brossoit, Leon Draisaitl, Lindy Ruff, Maple Leafs, Marc Staal, Mark Stone, Martin Necas, Mason Marchment, Matthew Tkachuk, Mattias Ekholm, Matty Beniers, Max Domi, Mike McLeod, Mike Sullivan, Miles Wood, Miro Heiskanen, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, Nathan Bastian, Nico Hischier, Oilers, Ondrej Palat, Panthers, Paul Maurice, Penguins, Philipp Grubauer, Radko Gudas, Rangers, Reilly Smith, Rod Brind'Amour, Roope Hintz, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan O'Reilly, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Sebastian Aho, Second Round, Sergei Bobrovsky, Sheldon Keefe, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Stars, Stuart Skinner, Timo Meier, Tom Fitzgerald, Tomas Tatar, Tyler Motte, Tyler Seguin, Vitek Vanecek, Vladislav Namestnikov, William Karlsson, William Nylander, Wyatt Johnston, Yanni Gourde, Zach Hyman | 1 Comment

HARD HITS: Mitchell Miller fiasco not worth it for Bruins

Posted on November 5, 2022 by Derek

On the ice, the Bruins have been the class of the NHL. Winners of seven in a row and boasting a league best 10-1-0 record entering Saturday’s game at Toronto, they have lit it up so far. After erupting for … Continue reading →

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged Brad Marchand, Bruins, Cam Neely, Charlie McAvoy, Column, David Krejci, David Pastrnak, Don Sweeney, Guy Flaming, Hampus Lindholm, Hard Hits, Hockey, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, Jake Debrusk, Jeremy Jacobs, Jeremy Swayman, Jim Montgomery, Linus Ullmark, Mitchell Miller, NHL, Nick Foligno, Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Zacha, Taylor Hall | Leave a comment

HARD HITS: Tkachuk blockbuster trade involving Huberdeau a rarity, the uncomfortable direction the NHL is headed

Posted on July 23, 2022 by Derek

Once the first domino fell when Johnny Gaudreau left Calgary for Columbus by taking less money to uproot his family back to the States, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Matthew Tkachuk would not remain a Calgary Flame. … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Hits | Tagged 2003, 2018, 2025 Draft, Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov, Andrew Mangiapane, Anthony Duclair, Anton Lundell, Avalanche, Bill Zito, blockbuster trade, Blue Jackets, Brandon Montour, Bruins, Cole Schwindt, Column, COVID, Darryl Sutter, David Quinn, Elias Lindholm, first round pick, Flames, Gregori Denisenko, Gustav Forsling, Hard Hits, Hockey, Hockey Canada, Jacob Markstrom, Jakob Pelletier, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathan Huberdeau, lottery protected, MacKenzie Weegar, Mackie Samoskevich, Matthew Coronato, Matthew Tkachuk, Matty Beniers, Mike Grier, Nazem Kadri, NHL, Noah Hanifin, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Oliver Kylington, Panthers, Patrice Bergeron, Patrik Laine, Paul Maurice, Rasmus Andersson, Rick Westhead, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Seattle Kraken, Sergei Bobrovsky, sexual assault, Shane Wright, Sharks, Spencer Knight, Theo Fleury, WJC, World Juniors | 1 Comment

Dominant Lightning Bolts on the verge of history, why going to a Stanley Cup game is worth everything, salty NYR fans, Price vs Lundqvist, a funny Del Zotto exchange

Posted on July 3, 2021 by Derek

Maybe I should’ve known better. But admittedly, I didn’t. I thought the Canadiens could give the Lightning a series. So far, the Bolts are proving why they’re defending champs. They’ve flexed their championship muscle to outscore the Habs 14-5 in … Continue reading →

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged 2014 Rangers, 2021 Canadiens, Alain Vigneault, Alex Killorn, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Anthony Cirelli, Artturi Lehkonen, Barclay Goodrow, Bell Centre, Ben Chiarot, Blake Coleman, Bolts, Brayden Point, Brendan Gallagher, Canadiens, Carey Price, Cole Caufield, Column, Corey Perry, David Savard, Dominique Ducharme, Erik Cernak, Game Three, Habs, Hard Hits, Henrik Lundqvist, Jan Rutta, Jon Cooper, Les Habitants, Lightning, Mathieu Joseph, Michael Del Zotto, Mikhail Sergachev, Montreal, Nick Suzuki, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Pat Maroon, Phillip Danault, Ross Colton, Ryan McDonagh, Stanley-Cup, Steven Stamkos, Tampa, Tyler Johnson, Tyler Toffoli, Victor Hedman, Yanni Gourde | Leave a comment

HARD HITS: Blue Jackets trade of Dubois to Winnipeg involving Laine is a 2016 Draft redux

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Derek

Getty Images It was only five years ago (really four and a half) that following top pick Auston Matthews to the Leafs, Patrik Laine went second to Winnipeg and Pierre-Luc Dubois went third to the Blue Jackets. That top three … Continue reading →

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged Alex Texier, Blake Wheeler, Blue Jackets, Body Checks, Boone Jenner, Brad Marchand, Cam Atkinson, Canadiens, Canucks, Carter Hart, Columbus, Column, Connor Hellebuyck, Elvis Merzlikins, ESPN, Flyers, Hard Hits, Jack Roslovic, Jets, Joel Armia, Joel Edmundson, John Tortorella, Joonas Korpisalo, Josh Morrissey, Kyle Connor, Liam Foudy, Mark Scheifele, NBC Sports Network, Neal Pionk, NHL, Nick Foligno, Nick Suzuki, Nik Ehlers, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Patrice Bergeron, Patrik Laine, Peacock, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Seth Jones, trade, TV deal, Tyler Myers, Tyler Toffoli, USA Network, Ville Heinola, Winnipeg, Zach Werenski | 2 Comments

HARD HITS: What can be learned from the Islanders’ run

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Derek

It’s not too often I write about a bitter rival. However, the Islanders made it impossible not to devote a few posts to them due to their great run in these very unpredictable and strange Stanley Cup Playoffs. Give credit … Continue reading →

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged Adam Pelech, Alex Pietrangelo, Anders Lee, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Andy Greene, Anthony Beauvillier, Anthony Cirelli, Barclay Goodrow, Barry Trotz, Blake Coleman, Body Checks, Brayden Point, Brendan Lemieux, Brian Boyle, Brock Nelson, Cal Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas, Column, Denis Gurianov, Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard, Devon Toews, Dominic Moore, Hard Hits, Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, Isles, Jamie Benn, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Joe Pavelski, Joel Edmundson, John Klingberg, Johnny Boychuk, Jordan Eberle, Josh Bailey, Kevin Shattenkirk, Lightning, Lou Lamoriello, Mat Barzal, Matt Martin, Miro Heiskanen, New York, Nick Leddy, Nikita Kucherov, Nils Lundkvist, Noah Dobson, Ondrej Palat, Pat Maroon, Rangers, Ross Johnston, Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, Semyon Varlamov, Stars, Thomas Greiss, Tony DeAngelo, Victor Hedman, Yanni Gourde, Zach Bogosian | 3 Comments

Special Hockey Podcast: Derek on Rangers loss to Canes, big upsets and Matt Dumba’s important message

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Derek

I decided to do a special hockey podcast before on my Hard Hits Network channel on Blogtalk Radio. Among the big topics covered includes: -My assessment of the Rangers 3-2 loss to Hurricanes in Game One. What they didn’t do … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Hits, NYRangers | Tagged Artemi Panarin, Black Lives Matter, Blackhawks, Carey Price, Dominik Kubalik, Ending Racism, Game One, Habs, Hard Hits, Henrik Lundqvist, Hockey, Hockey Diversity Alliance, Hockey Programs, Hurricanes, Igor Shesterkin, Jaccob Slavin, Jesper Fast, Marc Staal, Matt Dumba, Mika Zibanejad, NHL, Oilers, Pens, Podcast, Rangers, Sebastian Aho, Stanley Cup Playoffs, upsets | Leave a comment

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Category Archives: Hard Hits

HARD HITS: Flyers A Holiday Surprise Under Tortorella

Hard Hits: Matthews and Leafs off and running, Bedard living up to the hype, Hockey Lifer Stan Fischler

HARD HITS: Retirements of Bergeron, Krejci impact Bruins, The Metro Division continues to improve, Pens’ addition of Karlsson should make it tougher

HARD HITS: Leafs’ latest playoff failure leaves more questions for Toronto

HARD HITS: Mitchell Miller fiasco not worth it for Bruins

HARD HITS: Tkachuk blockbuster trade involving Huberdeau a rarity, the uncomfortable direction the NHL is headed

Dominant Lightning Bolts on the verge of history, why going to a Stanley Cup game is worth everything, salty NYR fans, Price vs Lundqvist, a funny Del Zotto exchange

HARD HITS: Blue Jackets trade of Dubois to Winnipeg involving Laine is a 2016 Draft redux

HARD HITS: What can be learned from the Islanders’ run

Special Hockey Podcast: Derek on Rangers loss to Canes, big upsets and Matt Dumba’s important message

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