Andrei Svechnikov destroyed by open ice hit at center ice.

This was one of the biggest hits of the preseason and it should come as no surprise that it came from a young man hoping to earn a roster spot with his team for the upcoming 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season.

It was the overtime period of a preseason clash between the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators and most of the players on the ice likely thought this one was all but over with just over 1 minute left on the game clock. At least that may have been true of players not named Joakim Kemell. Kemell, who has only appeared in 2 NHL games since being drafted 17th overall by the Predators at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, took the opportunity to instead deliver a truly punishing hit on an experienced NHL veteran.

Kemell absolutely destroyed Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov with a massive open ice hit at center ice, the kind of hit that most players only dream of making during their careers. Kemell caught Svechnikov with what appeared to be a clean hit but it was a hit that sent Svechnikov flipping through the air before he came crashing down hard on the ice.

To make matters worse, Svechnikov had a very awkward landing that saw him absorbing the brunt of the impact with the ice with his head and upper body.

Here is a close up replay of the hit:

And here is how it looked in real time:

Certainly one way for a 21 year old rookie forward to make a lasting impression on his team, and perhaps on Andrei Svechnikov as well.