Head Game Vicious! The NHL's Most Brutal Cheap Shots of 2009-10

As we gear up for the start of the NHL playoffs, let's summarize the regular season that was: dominant teams (Washington, Chicago), an epic Olympic tourney, and a tightly contested scoring race (cheers, Henrik Sedin). But perhaps the most lasting memories from the 2009-10 season will be images like the one of David Booth above: players prone on the ice after receiving vicious shots to the head. In fact, the headhunting got so severe that the league fast-tracked a new rule last month banning head shots altogether. That means the brutal collisions you're about to see will (hopefully) soon be extinct. Until then, here's a look at the NHL's worst cheap shots of 2009-10...

Date: 10/21/2009

Hit by: Willie Mitchell, Vancouver Canucks

Injury/Punishment: Toews missed the next six games with concussion-like symptoms. No penalty for Mitchell.

Complex Says: This is actually pretty much a clean hit, but because the victim is a high-profile star, it was a bit controversial. Note Toews' Zab Judah crip-walk after the collision.

Date: 10/23/2009

Hit by: Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina Hurricanes

Injury/Punishment: This hit sent Tucker to the hospital with a concussion and forced him to miss the next eight games. Ruutu was suspended three games for the hit.

Complex Says: You can call it karma for a player notorious for being an asshole, but any way you look at it, Ruutu's hit was pretty malicious.

Date: 10/24/2009

Hit by: Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers

Injury/Punishment: Booth left the game with a concussion and missed 45 games afterward. Richards received a five-minute major for interference and a 10-minute misconduct.

Complex Says: This early-season ethering basically opened the dialogue about headhunting.

Date: 10/31/2009

Hit by: James Wisniewski, Anaheim Ducks

Injury/Punishment: Doan didn't miss any time as a result of the hit, but the league came down on Wisniewski with a two-game suspension.

Complex Says: Oof, WHIPLASH!

Date: 1/11/2010

Hit by: Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh Penguins

Injury/Punishment: Despite the hit, Clutterbuck remained in the game while Gonchar received a five-minute interference major.

Complex Says: Gooch's hit on the pesty Clutterbuck will definitely be a suspendable offense next year. Oh wait, that's right...he's on the Penguins. Never mind.

Date: 1/29/2010

Hit by: Mike Green, Washington Capitals

Injury/Punishment: Frolik stayed in the game but left later with an unrelated knee injury. Green was later suspended for three games for elbowing Frolik.

Complex Says: Pretty standard elbow to the dome from Green. Ho-hum.

Date: 2/8/2010

Hit by: Jeff Carter, Philadelphia Flyers

Injury/Punishment: After being carted off Salmela missed the next two games, but Carter was neither penalized nor suspended.

Complex Says: Whether or not you think this is a clean hit or a cheap one probably comes down to your team allegiance. So yeah... Cheap shot!

Date: 3/7/2010

Hit by: Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins

Injury/Punishment: Savard suffered a grade 2 concussion and has yet to return. Cooke received no penalty or suspension.

Complex Says: The Booth hit may have opened the discussion about the need for a head-shot rule, but the Savard hit sealed the deal. As for Cooke? He may have escaped punishment by the league, but definitely not from Evander Kane. POW!

Date: 3/17/2010

Hit by: James Wisniewski, Anaheim Ducks

Injury/Punishment: Seabrook sat out the next two games with a head injury while Wisniewski was handed an eight-game suspension.

Complex Says: Watch this entire play unfold...Wisniewski comes flying in like a heat-seeking missile. Scary.

Date: 4/1/2010

Hit by: Colby Armstrong, Atlanta Thrashers

Injury/Punishment: Perreault sat out for a few shifts but returned later in the game. Afterward, Armstrong received a two-game suspension.

Complex Says: This flying elbow would have been illegal in any year.