Hawks rookie Ryan Hartman pops off helmet of Dainius Zubrus in big hit (Video)

February 13, 2015 at 9:57 p.m.

CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 13: Marek Zidlicky #2 of the New Jersey Devils hits Ryan Hartman #38 of the Chicago Blackhawks into the boards during the NHL game at the United Center on February 13, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)

Hello Ryan Hartman. Welcome to the NHL. You apparently were excited to be here so you leveled Dainius Zubrus in your first shift. Behold the Blackhawks rookie and 2013 first round pick (30th overall) completely slamming the Devils’ veteran.

Boom baby. And legal also. Hartman’s feet never left the ground. The hit was shoulder-on-shoulder.

Said CSN Chicago following the game:

Just a few seconds into his first shift the West Dundee product nailed Devils forward Dainius Zubrus. Hartman hit him so hard that he knocked Zubrus’ helmet off. Hartman said the big hit rid him of the nerves he felt heading into his NHL debut. Yeah, we imagine it did. Said coach Joel Quenneville, “you couldn’t get a better start than that.

This is from Chicago’s website, citing Hockey Prospectus on Hartman when he was picked:

On the forecheck, he can deliver good pressure, and the occasional big hit.

I'd say that was the occasion.

The only reason Zubrus’ helmet popped off was because of the force of the hit. At least from the video it did not look like a head shot. Welcome to the NHL Ryan.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

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