Scott Hartnell

Lore & Background

Hartnell was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Lloydminster, Alberta. He was known as a gritty power forward and an enforcer, with 1,809 career penalty minutes. He was drafted sixth overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2000 NHL entry draft. He played for the Predators from 2000–01 through 2006–07, then for the Flyers from 2007–08 through 2013–14, and finally for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2014–15 through 2016–17. He returned to the Predators for the 2017–18 season before retiring on October 1, 2018.

In Their Own Story

The ice at the Nationwide Arena was slick with a thin film of snow from the Zamboni's last pass when Hartnell skated out for the second period. The scoreboard read 1-0, Columbus down, and the opposing winger—the one they'd been trying to neutralize all game—was lining up on the power-play dot. Hartnell felt the familiar tightness in his shoulders, the kind that meant a long shift was coming. He lined up on the blue line, stick low, eyes locked on the puck carrier two boards away. The pass came. He met it with a body check that echoed off the glass and sent the puck spiraling toward the boards. He chased it, corralled it, and dumped it deep. The crowd noise swelled, not a roar but a steady, satisfied hum—the sound of a team that trusted its defenseman to do the dirty work. He skated back to the bench, caught his breath, and tapped the glass. Ten years of this. Ten years of being the guy they sent into the fire. And ten years of knowing, when the shift was over, that the net was still standing.

Reader's Guide

Hartnell was a left winger, not a defenseman. He played three seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2014–2017), not ten. He was not drafted by Columbus; he was drafted by Nashville. He did not play for Columbus during the 2009 or 2010 playoffs; he joined the team in 2014.

Did You Know?

• Hartnell scored his first career hat-trick on February 4, 2006, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
• He was suspended for two games in his first season with the Flyers for a hit on Andrew Alberts.
• Hartnell donated his long hair to Locks of Love on October 23, 2010.
• He helped Vålerenga win the Norwegian Championship during the 2004–05 NHL lockout.