NHL All-Star Skills Competition: Zdeno Chara and the 5 Hardest Shots in NHL

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Tonight Zdeno Chara shattered his previous record in the XM Hardest Shot competition.

He obviously possesses the hardest shot in the NHL, but who else will make the grade for having one of the most lethal slap shots in the league?

These men all have dangerous slap shots that can do some serious damage if you get in its way.

Sheldon Souray

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Sheldon Souray is a player who has had some longevity in the NHL. And for many years he had one of the most feared slapshots.

Souray fits the mold of many players on this list. He is tall, strong and just puts all his weight behind his slap shots. Earlier this year Souray stung the glove hand of Henrik Lundqvist twice.

Lundqvist was obviously shook up, and that is rare for a goalie like Lundqvist.

Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos is known for his deadly one timers. They are hard, lethal and very accurate. Stamkos' shot is so powerful that the follow through often takes him to one knee.

This video illustrates the strength and speed of a Stamkos slap shot.

If this is how hard Stamkos shoots from a set distance, imagine him charging in on a crisp one timer.

Stamkos definitely has one of the hardest shots in the NHL.

Dustin Byfuglien

Dustin Byfuglien has earned the nickname Big Buff for a reason.

He is a defenseman with great size and strength. Watching the video you can see the strength and velocity Byfuglien puts on his slap shot.

He is definitely a player who has a shot you don't want to block.

Shea Weber

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Shea Weber's best slap shot tonight was clocked at 106.0 miles per hour. That is an astounding feat for the Nashville Predator captain.

His lethal shot makes him an ideal power play point man. He is a true asset on the Predators blue line and can unleash a vicious rocket at a moments notice.

Weber and his slap shot will generate a lot of interest at the trade deadline, as he is a restricted free agent next season.

Nashville should do everything in its power to retain Weber.

Zdeno Chara

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Zdeno Chara set a new NHL Skills Competition record tonight with a behemoth 108.8 miles per hour slap shot.

Is there really anything else that needs to be said?

Chara kept blasting bomb after bomb tonight. His slap shot is so lethal in game day action that he shattered a bone in Ryan Callahan's ankle last year.

Chara is the tallest man in the NHL and is also very scary to look at from a goaltender's point of view. There is a good reason why Chara doesn't unleash his full force slapper unless it is in a competition or in game setting. 

 

Tom Urtz, Jr. is an NHL featured columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: