Scott Hartnell
Gritty power forward and enforcer over 17 NHL seasons.
Scott Wesley Hartnell, a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, spent 17 NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Lloydminster, Alberta. Throughout his career, he built a reputation as a gritty power forward and enforcer, racking up 1,809 penalty minutes.
Before turning pro, Hartnell played two seasons of Canadian Junior-A hockey for the Lloydminster Blazers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, followed by two seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. During the 1999–2000 season, he captained the Raiders, led the team with 82 points, and was named team MVP. He also played in the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game for Bobby Orr.
The Nashville Predators selected Hartnell sixth overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft. Standing tall as a power forward, he became the youngest player in franchise history to suit up for the Predators and the youngest in the NHL during the 2000–01 season. His first NHL game took place in Japan against the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a two-game series aimed at boosting the league’s international profile—a moment he later called his favourite NHL memory. Over six seasons in Nashville, he played 453 games, scoring 93 goals and 118 assists. In the 2003–04 season, he notched three game-winning goals, two in overtime. During his first playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings in 2004, he tied for the team lead with three points (one goal, two assists). During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he helped Vålerenga win the Norwegian Championship, scoring 12 goals in 11 playoff games. The 2005–06 season saw him post career highs of 25 goals and 23 assists for 48 points, including his first career hat-trick on February 4, 2006, against the Chicago Blackhawks (the first two goals came against Adam Munro, the third against Craig Anderson). The following season, he maintained similar offensive numbers while setting franchise records for career penalty minutes (461) and the fastest two goals by an individual (23 seconds), despite playing with a broken foot that sidelined him for all of March.
On June 18, 2007, Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen were traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for a first-round pick previously acquired from Nashville for Peter Forsberg.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1982-04-18
- Birth Place
- Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 215
- Position
- Left wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Nashville Predators / Philadelphia Flyers / Columbus Blue Jackets
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 6th overall
- Draft Year
- 2000
- Draft Team
- Nashville Predators
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hartnell began his junior career with the Lloydminster Blazers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League before moving to the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. As captain in the 1999–2000 season, he led the team with 82 points and was named team MVP, also playing in the CHL Top Prospects Game. He was selected sixth overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Predators, becoming the youngest player in franchise history and the youngest in the NHL that season. His first NHL game was played in Japan against the Pittsburgh Penguins, which he later stated was his favourite NHL moment.
After six seasons with the Predators, Hartnell was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007 alongside Kimmo Timonen. He signed a six-year, $25.2 million contract. In Philadelphia, he posted a career-high 30 goals and 30 assists in the 2008–09 season and later a career-high 37 goals in 2011–12. He helped the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, scoring eight goals and nine assists in 23 playoff games. Hartnell was also known for unusual on-ice behaviour, including stealing an opponent's glove, throwing his glove to stop a breakaway, and an incident where a Penguins defenceman alleged Hartnell bit him, though the NHL found no clear video evidence and did not suspend him.
Hartnell was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014, where he collected 146 points in 234 games over three seasons. The Blue Jackets bought out the remaining two years of his contract in 2017. He then returned to the Predators on a one-year contract, recording 13 goals and 24 points in 62 games before announcing his retirement in 2018.
Reader's Guide
Scott Hartnell's significance lies in his longevity and distinctive role as a gritty power forward who combined physical play with offensive production. Over 17 NHL seasons, he amassed 1,809 penalty minutes while also achieving career highs of 37 goals and 67 points. His tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers was particularly notable, as he helped lead the team to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final and produced multiple hat-tricks, including a natural hat-trick against the New York Rangers. Hartnell's off-ice personality also left a mark: his long, bushy hair inspired a team promotional night where fans received wigs resembling his hairstyle, and he later cut and donated his hair to Locks of Love. His legacy includes being part of a memorable line with Daniel Brière and Ville Leino during the Flyers' playoff run, and his return to Nashville for a final season before retirement. The buyout by Columbus and subsequent one-year contract with the Predators bookend a career defined by consistent physicality and occasional eccentricity.
Did You Know?
- He scored a natural hat-trick against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers on January 10, 2008.
- He once threw his glove at an opponent to stop a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot.
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