6 NHL Players Who Died During Their Playing Careers 

Pelle Lindbergh of the Flyers.

Add Adam Johnson EIHA, Pittsburgh Penguins died aged 29 when plating for the Nottingham Panthers (UK) vs Sheffield Steelers cut his neck. This was a major tragedy for his family and the lovers of hockey in the U.K.

There’s unfortunately a lot more such as Luc Bourdon of the Canucks, Michel Briere of the Penguins, Dan Snyder of the Thrashers and you could also argue Pavol Demitra and Ruslan Salei in that plane crash. Both were done their NHL careers at the time but were still playing professionally in the KHL.

Tim Horton played like 23 years

R.I.P. to all these players 🫡

I know he never played a game with the leafs but R.I.P Rodion Amirov

John Kordic of the Quebec Nordiques August 8,1992, after overdosing on drugs and being involved in a struggle with police at Motel Maxim in L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Kordic died of lung failure due to heart malfunction. He was 27. Wade Belak of the Nashville Predators August 31, 2011 however, on March 8, 2011, Belak retired. He was found dead in a condo at the One King Street West hotel in Toronto. Police did not confirm a cause of his death, but Toronto Police treated it as a suicide. His death was the third in a series of NHL players found dead in a four-month span, following Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien. He was 35.

always crazy when you remember helmets became mandatory only in 79 and even then players who played before that could opt out. Its honestly incredible only 1 player died from on ice hit to the head during all that time

One death that angered me greatly was Dan Snyder's of the Atlanta Thrashers, who died shortly after Dany Heatley was driving at excessive speed (I believe around 80 mph) through an Atlanta neighborhood on a narrow 2-lane road. Heatley lost control of his Ferrari and crashed. I'm glad Heatley survived, though I remember he was seriously injured. What's angering is that when Heatley returned, he received a standing ovation as if he was some sort of a hero. Never mind that his actions would've endangered anyone else who happened to have been in the same location. Do you think an ordinary citizen would have received the same warm welcome after committing 2nd degree vehicular homicide? I doubt it.

Pelle Lindbergh was a childhood hero of mine, and I was devastated by his death. 2011 we lost another Swedish goaltender in Stefan Liv. He didn’t have much success in his short NHL career, but in Sweden he was and still is a hero. He died 2011 in a plane accident that wiped out the entire Jaroslavl KHL team.

What about Bob Gassoff? He was killed in a motorcycle crash May 24th, 1977. He was only 24 years old.

I don't want to be that guy, but it's Masterton with a T, not Masterson.

Dan Snyder DOB Feb 23/78 died Oct 5/2003, six days after a single vehicle accident.

Sergei Zholtok (Playing career) 1992-2004 died on November 3, 2004 because of congestive heart failure. Zholtok was born in 1972 and was 31.

There are so many tragic stories such as this. RIP all ❤

No disrespect to any of the older players from way back, but I'm surprise Pelle Lindbergh wasn't on this list. I'd say his death would at least deserving of a mention.

Wayne Mackie (Canucks)from cancer . Keith Magnusson (BlackHawks) from car crash (passenger) . Luc Bourdon (Canucks) motorcycle crash .Tim Horton's crash came from trying to out run the police . His wife called the cops after a "domestic" dispute .

What about handful of former NHLers who played for Lokomotiv in the KHL when the team plane had an engine failure and crashed in 2011, the former NHLers were Ruslan Salei, Pavol Demitra, Josef Vacecek, Stefan Liv and just to name a few these guys were still young between mid to late 30's at the time of their death of a horrific plane crash.

howie Morentz was actually the nhl s first super star and died due to complication from broken leg which happened during a game.

I was about sixteen or so when Tim Horton died. I vividly remembering watching the game against the Leafs the night before on HNIC. They kept going to close up shots of him because he was newly stitched up due to taking a shot to the cheek in practice the day before. Still bandaged up, but in true Tim Horton fashion, it was nothing to him. It was strangely eerie, in hindsight, at how many times they went to him and a close up of his face during breaks in the action. He was an awesome player and leader, and also mentor to young defensemen and all the guys, both veteran and younger players.

Great video but you could also add Rick Rypien to this list. After six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, he signed a deal with the Winnipeg Jets in 2011, but never got to play a game because he passed away in August

Rip Adam 🕊️

Many others are missing. Bob Gassoff of the St. Louis Blues died in a motorcycle crash in 1977

Two things... * The Maple Leafs won the 1962 Stanley Cup several weeks before Bill Barilko's remains were found, so the curse angle doesn't hold up. * Terry Sawchuk and Ron Stewart, both divorced, were sharing the same house during the season. The dispute was over who was responsible for long-distance telephone charges. Sawchuk's career ended when the Rangers were knocked out of the playoffs by Boston. He was 40 years old at the time of his death. He was not going to play in 1970-71.

Luc Bourdon, Pele Lindbergh, Matiss Kivlenieks

Missed Don Ashby and Scott Garland

Dan Snyder would probably be on this list if longer He was joyriding in Atlanta with Danny Heatley and the car flipped and crashed, Snyder died 6 days after. He couldve had a great career, and already had a great AHL and IHL. 20th anniversary of his passing is coming up in October. Every Chicago Wolves fan misses ya, Danny.

its crazy to think what could have been

I swear RU-vidrs mispronounce names just to get engagement in the comments (it worked this time)

did you forget that flyer goalie named lindberg. died while racing his sport car mid 80's.

Bob Gassoff St. Louis Blues kill in crash

I was the boarder for the Boogeyman in jrs and he was a good man :( RIP Boogeyman

You forgot about Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh....car wreck, November 1985.

Pelli Linberg the great flyers goalie died in a car crash too.

They should have added Michel Briere to the list.

Why did you leave out Colby Cave and Rodion Amirov?? RIP both of them.

You missed Pelle Lindbergh

Whenever I hear Bill Barilko’s name, my brain immediately starts singing “Fifty Mission Cap” by the Hip

Tim Horton died driving drunk. I heard he lost control doing doughnuts in his car

🎵...I stole this from a hockey card.. I keep tucked up under... 🎵

Tim Horton died on February 21, 1974, His funeral was the 24th

Bill Barilko disappeared that summer He was on a fishing trip The last goal he ever scored Won the leafs the cup BUP BOW BUP BOW BUP BOW BUP BOW

Thank you for the video. In the interest of helping to bring a higher quality to your videos, please allow me to suggest a few pronunciation corrections. For Bill Masterton, his last name is pronounced Master-TON, not Master-SON. For Tim Horton, his last name is pronounced Hor-TON, not Hor-DONE. Derek Boogard's name is pronounced BOO-gaurd, not BOW-guard. Additionally, the phrase "across all teams" is unnecessary. You could have written the phrase: 'mandatory use of helmets for all NHL players,' instead, which would have made your video sound more believable. I have made these suggestions in order to try to help, as I know how difficult assembling and narrating videos can be. Thanks again. It was worthwhile listening. I wish you well.

You missed quite a few, not the least of which are Howie Morenz and Georges Vezina

The fact they were debating helmets after a player died on the ice after a head injury cause he wasn’t wearing one…

Bill balreco has song named after him by the tragely hip

You missed Michel Briere of the Penguins who died in 1971 from injuries sustained from a May 1970 car accident.

C’MON MAN. I watched this video for Pelle Lindbergh, who was not even mentioned. I have his hockey card and a replica of his goalie mask. I have fond memories of him playing.

Colby Cave, Edmonton oilers, April 11th 2020

You forgot to mention Bruce Gamble

I don't remember his name.a goalie for the Flyers died when he crashed his car into a wall (I believe near the start of a season) and also Floyd Smith was under the influence (because he had just been fired as coach

The Boogie man....😢

Inexperienced pilot, overloaded aircraft, adverse weather…what could go wrong?

Derek Boogaard so sad 😢

Missing Vladimir Konstatinov and Luc Bourdon.

John Kordic is another player

Masterton....not Masterson . Big difference

5:30 - That's Jordan Staal. What are you doing...?

0:11 or more accurately, life gets out-of-the-way

Fun fact I’m friends with terry sawchucks great grandson

Does Ray Emery count?

Brian Spencer!!

master TON

I never realized that Tim Horton was intoxicated during that drive home. Heard plenty of accolades on his career but my thoughts now say that he didn’t know when to retire, and played too long, in pain. Fantastic player and legendary strong man.

Michel Brìere, 1970.

the bluejackets backup

Also missing Dimitri Tertyshny of the Flyers

Colby Cave!!

Can anyone remember the last NHL player that didn't have to wear a helmet under the grandfather clause ?

*50 mission cap intensifies*

The Tragically Hip wrote a song involving Barilko's disappearance and how his remains weren't discovered until after the Leafs' next Cup win. I came up with a theory that Barilko's location was kept hidden and wouldn't be revealed until the Leafs could win another Cup, as that was what would happen in 1962. This was just speculation and has no evidence to back it up, however.

The man's name was Tim Horton not Hordon

Masterton, NOT Masterson

Did you steal that from a hockey card...Tragically Hip !

The many concussions that Derek Boogaard had received during his career had a LOT to do with his death.

Luc bourdon

Sounds like he's say Tim Hordon instead of Horton

Miss the Boogey man playing for the Wild

Michel Brière

Vladimir Konstantinov, Pelle Lindbergh, Dan Snyder

John Kordic

It's Boogaard not Bogard

Howie morenez

MasterTON. Not son. Sorry, but you’re a hockey channel. There’s literally a trophy named for the guy. Getting his name right seems a low enough bar to clear.

Billy-B scored that Cup winning goal, despite having a fractured leg. Did he not?

Roman Lyashenko

What's really sad is that most Canadians under 50 have no idea who Tim Horton is. A lot of comments here about Pelle Lindbergh, I'll try and fill in the blanks. The Porsche 930 Turbo, aka The Widow Maker, was a barley street legal race car with none of the super sticky tires or computerized traction and stability controls we enjoy now. Pelle should have taken high speed driving lessons and started with a Corvette, that car was an overpowered monster. At least his family donated his organs, the only good thing about a terrible tragedy. Why was Tim Horton still playing at 44? Cheap NHL owners?

Pelle Linburgh?

“Outmost”? Do you mean utmost?

Could you at least pronounce Masterton's last name correctly?

Pelle Lindbergh

No Colby Cave. Dam :(

Michel Brière, car accident

Ontario Street in St, Catherine's, near the Buffalo border. HAHAHA! Who writes this BS? Please let me do it. I'll do so much better...and I could use the cash. I'm on a fixed income...and this site needs to be fixed.

Pelle Lindberg?

Boo boo boo gard not Bogard. You even have it spelled correctly in the video.

I had a Counselor, he played hockey during the original 6. He didn't make it to the show, his wife divorced him. To top all that off, he had lung cancer. He was so depressed, he became a drunk. He took his car & jerry can of gas, he went out in the middle of nowhere. Lit himself and car on fire. Sometime later, someone came and pulled him out of the car, saving his life, but burned badly. After all that, sitting in the fire, cured his cancer. The following year or 2, more teams were added to the NHL. He could of made it then.

Jimmy hayes, brother of kevin hayes. Colby cave

john kordic and wayne maki not on this list?

Then Boogard's family sued the NHL over their cokehead son's death. It was thrown out, rightfully so.