Hockey has always been a sport of skill, grit, and the occasional flying elbow. But sometimes, things escalate past the point of a casual cross-check or chirp, and full-blown vendettas are born.
Whether it’s bad blood between teams or feuds that span decades, the NHL has seen its fair share of grudges turn truly nasty. Here are 17 hockey beefs that went completely off the rails.
17. Zdeno Chara vs. Max Pacioretty
What started as a regular-season collision turned into a nationwide controversy. The hit was brutal, the aftermath was ugly, and the bad blood lasted for years.
16. Claude Lemieux vs. Kris Draper
You don’t smash a guy’s face into the boards and expect forgiveness. This one gave birth to an all-out war between the Avalanche and Red Wings.
15. Patrick Roy vs. Jeremy Roenick
These two couldn’t keep each other’s names out of their mouths. Roy’s savage mic-drop comebacks only added fuel to the fire.
14. Marc Savard vs. Matt Cooke
Cooke’s hit changed Savard’s career and sparked a heated debate about player safety. The Bruins never forgave or forgot.
13. Luke Richardson vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
A baseball swing to the head? Yeah, that’ll do it. This feud was personal, ugly, and unforgettable.
12. Sidney Crosby vs. Brandon Dubinsky
Dubinsky made it his life’s mission to torment Crosby. From slashes to chirps, it was pure chaos every time they met.
11. Sean Avery vs. Everyone
Avery didn’t have enemies — he had a hit list. From Brodeur to Phaneuf, he made sure nobody left unscathed.
10. Tie Domi vs. Scott Stevens
Two old-school enforcers with zero chill. Their battles were must-watch TV, filled with fists, fury, and anger.
9. Wayne Simmonds vs. Chris Neil
Both guys played with an edge, and their tempers often boiled over. This grudge featured more than a few line brawls and not-so-subtle shots.
8. Brad Marchand vs. Leo Komarov
Marchand’s antics are well-known, but this one got really weird, really fast. He literally kissed Komarov mid-game — not exactly a peace offering.
7. Jarkko Ruutu vs. Andrew Peters
Peters wanted revenge. Ruutu just wanted to be annoying. Unfortunately, both got what they came for.
6. Todd Bertuzzi vs. Steve Moore
This one wasn’t just vicious — it was tragic. A feud that led to one of the darkest moments in hockey history.
5. Ryan Reaves vs. Evander Kane
Reaves doesn’t back down from a fight, and Kane knows how to stoke a fire. Their feud has spilled across multiple teams and social media timelines.
4. Chris Pronger vs. Jeremy Roenick
Trash talk and bone-crunching hits made this rivalry absolutely feral. Neither guy knew how to turn it down.
3. Milan Lucic vs. Alexei Emelin
Every hit felt like a grudge punch. Lucic treated every shift against Emelin like a personal vendetta.
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2. Marty McSorley vs. Donald Brashear
This one ended with a stick to the head and a criminal charge. It’s still one of the most notorious moments in hockey grudge history.
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1. Red Wings vs. Avalanche
There was blood, brawls, and broken bones. This wasn’t a rivalry — it was an all-out war that defined a generation of hockey.
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