Scott Hartnell announced Monday that he is retiring after 17 years in the league, 7 of them with the Philadelphia Flyers. Hartnell was a net-front force, amassing 326 points in 517 games with the orange and black, and 707 points in 1249 career games. Scotty brought a unique style of play to each team he played for, but also a very unique type of charisma as well.
From #HartnellDown to HartnellMania, Scott Hartnell was an enigma during his tenure with the Flyers. He made fans laugh hysterically, but made those same fans pull out their hair at times. Speaking of hair, the Flyers made wigs of Scott Hartnell hair and gave them out during a game. Hartsy was beloved by the fanbase, and seeing him hang up the skates is bittersweet. Let’s take a look back at his 5 greatest moments in a Flyers sweater to help ease the pain.
5) #HartnellDown
So #HartnellDown isn’t exactly a single “moment,” but it needs to be included on this list. If Scott Hartnell was famous for anything, it was his knack for losing his footing and falling down onto the ice. From taking out goalies, to taking out his own teammates, Hartnell always found a way to end up sliding across the ice on anything but his skates. Check it out in this YouTube tribute. Towards the middle of the video, you’ll see exactly what I mean.
4) Scott Hartnell Throws His Glove to Stop a Ryan Malone Breakaway
While taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning, both teams were tied at 3 with seconds left to play. Ryan Malone got the puck just past center ice and there was nothing in front of him. As he was being chased down from behind, Scott Hartnell took his glove off and threw it in front of him, trying to distract Malone from icing the game for Tampa.
While very bone-headed, it worked.
Malone missed his breakaway attempt, and Martin Biron even stopped him on the ensuing penalty shot. The Flyers went on to win that game in overtime, but not before Hartnell almost, literally, threw the game away with his glove.
3) “Suck it, Phaneuf. WOOO!!!”
Scott Hartnell was amidst his best statistical year ever, and was finally voted into the NHL All-Star game for the first and only time in his career. Hartnell was drafted onto Team Alfredsson, and put onto a line with the Sedin twins. Hartnell got a pass down low, slid it across the front of the crease to Henrik, who put it past Jimmy Howard.
Hartnell was mic’d up for his time on the ice, and he was elated that his line scored. On his way back to the bench, he spotted a familiar foe (You’ll understand after #2). Hartnell took his shot, and while skating by then-Toronto Maple Leaf Dion Phaneuf, he yelled, “Suck it, Phaneuf. WOOOO!!!”
If Flyers fans weren’t already in love with Scott Hartnell, that moment was probably the tipping point.
2) Hartnell Scores, Hartnell Fights
It was February of 2012 and the Flyers were taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs at home, and the game was tied with about 5 minutes left in the first. After a shot from the point missed, Hartnell got the rebound and jammed it home for the first goal of the game. He wasted little time going after the second third of his Gordie Howe hat-trick, instantly dropping the gloves with none other than Dion Phaneuf.
Obviously there seems to be a history between the two, but they both just happened to be at the right place, and at the right time, for this beautiful event to take place. As if the Wells Fargo Center wasn’t rocking enough after the goal, Hartnell sent them into a tizz after he ended up on top of Phaneuf when all was said and done. Stick taps for you, Scotty.
1) HartnellMania Running Wild!
Scott Hartnell’s best moment as a Flyer just has to happen against the Flyers’ biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 2011-12 regular season ended with a bang, setting up an intense showdown with the cross-state rivals in the first round. After a dirty hit by James Neal on a puckless Sean Couturier, chaos ensued. Chirps, fights, everything in between, the two teams were not happy with each other. The best, however, was yet to come.
After heckling the Flyers from behind their own bench, Hulk Hogan look-a-like Cy Clark got a taste of his own medicine. After waving his hand and holding it up to his ear, much like the Hulkster himself, Scott Hartnell decided to follow suit. Hartnell did it twice, and with those two actions, became a Philadelphia icon.
Just to clarify as well, Cy Clark passed away later in the year due to his bout with cancer. Hartnell was one of the first to reach out with his condolences, showing no harm, no foul, and that his Hogan gestures were all in good fun.
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
