The 20 Most Painful on-Ice Injuries in NHL History

The NHL is arguably the most dangerous sport in North America and has its fair share of injuries, regardless of what rule changes the league makes to keep players safe.

The game is faster and players are more physical than ever before, so naturally the risk for injuries is pretty high.

Let's look at 20 of the most painful on-ice injuries in hockey history.

Note: Some of these videos contain content that may be hard to watch.

Pacioretty Checked by Chara

This is one of the more gruesome injuries the NHL has seen over the years. Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty was checked into a glass partition by Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.

Chara, interestingly, enough wasn't suspended for this play. I wonder how many games Brendan Shanahan would give him.

Darryl Boyce's Scary Nose Injury

Nose injuries are terrible, and rarely do the problems associated with the injury ever go away. Darryl Boyce of the Leafs smashes his face into the boards and lacerates his nose on this play.

Paille Hit in the Face

Bruins forward Daniel Paille is one of the toughest players in the NHL. On this play he takes a slapshot to the face, but luckily he is back playing for Boston now.

Stevens Drills Lindros

Devils defenseman Scott Stevens would have made regular visits to Brendan Shanahan in today's NHL if he hit players today like he did throughout his career.

Yzerman Injures Eye

This was a scary injury for the Detroit Red Wings, because eye issues are serious. Steve Yzerman suffered a broken orbital bone on the play, but thankfully his career was able to go on.

Ballard Slashes Own Goalie

In one of the more bizarre situations in recent years, Panthers defenseman Keith Ballard slashes his goalie Tomas Vokoun by accident after a goal is allowed.

Stamkos Takes a Puck to the Face

Steven Stamkos injures his nose after taking a slap shot from Johnny Boychuk, who has a rocket of a shot. Stamkos didn't miss a shift, if I remember correctly.

This play is also a good example on why wearing a shield can be really helpful.

Kurtis Foster Leg Injury

If the NHL gets rid of touch-icing, injuries like this might not happen as often.

Cooke Hits Savard

Matt Cooke's reputation as a dirty player grew tremendously after this vicious hit on Marc Savard. Savard came back later that year in the playoffs but hasn't played since January of 2011.

It's unlikely that he will ever play again.

Clint Malarchuk

The video will explain this injury.

Bill Masterton

Bill Masterton suffered an on-ice injury that resulted in a brain hemorrhage in 1968, which led to his death just two days later. 

Zednik Suffer Neck Injury

Richard Zednik has his neck cut by a skate and has to be rushed off to the hospital. Thankfully he survived, and his career prevailed.

Braydon Coburn Takes Puck off Face

Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn takes a slapshot to the face and needed many stitches to repair the injury.

McCleary's Lung Collapses

Trent McCleary of the Montreal Canadiens takes a shot to the throat which results in a few injuries, one of which being a collapsed lung.

Bryan Berard Eye Injury

Bryan Berard, the 1997 Calder Trophy winner, suffered multiple retina injuries on this hit. He later won the Bill Masterton Trophy for his perseverance after the injury.

Travis Moen Cut by Skate

Travis Moen takes a skate blade to the face.

Patrick Thoreseon Blocks a Shot with His...

Patrick Thoreson of the Flyers blocks a shot from Capitals defenseman Mike Green in an area that men never want a puck to hit.

Ouch.

Ace Bailey Fractures Skull

Bruins legend Eddie Shore delivered a huge hit on the Leafs' Ace Bailey that ended his career, but fortunately not his life. Bailey's skull was fractured as a result of the play.

Taylor Hall Face Injury

Taylor Hall was injured by a teammates skate by accident in warmup earlier this season.

Steve Moore and Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi should have been banned from the NHL for life after this hit. This incident is one of the darkest moments in the history of the sport.

The legal action resulting from this incident has yet to be resolved in Canada.