Breaking: One of the greatest fighters in NHL history has passed away

This is a brutal hit to the face of many hockey fans as the family of former National Hockey League left winger Dan Maloney has revealed to the NHL Players' Association that the 68-year-old man has passed away. 

Maloney was "known as having had one of the hardest right-hand punches in his day, and is considered by many hockey fans to have been the greatest fighter (along with the Flyers' Dave Schultz) in NHL history." 

The two men finally squared off in a fight in a game in Los Angeles on January 4, 1975, and Maloney was considered the winner at the end of the bout. Maloney was however more than a fighter, as he tallied 27 goals in back to back seasons (1974–75 and 1975–76).

Drafted 14th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks back in the 1970 NHL Entry Draft, Maloney played two seasons for the Hawks and later dressed for the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring a total of 192 goals, 259 assists and 451 points in 737 games over the course of his career. A feared fighter in his day, he piled up 1,489 career penalty minutes. He was part of the trade that sent Marcel Dionne from Detroit to the Kings. Schultz was traded to the Kings a year later to replace Maloney as their enforcer since he had left a huge void on the roster. 

After he hung up the skates, Maloney was offered an assistant coach position with the Maple Leafs in 1982, and was promoted to head coach in 1984. He remained behind the bench in Toronto for two years, and was then named the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets from 1986 to 1989. He led the Jets to the playoffs in two straight seasons, winning a Smythe Division semi-final over the Calgary Flames in 1987.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Maloney, who was described to be a competitive and kind man by Sportsnet's John Shannon, following the tragic announcement of this death.