It's unfortunately that time of the year for hockey fans. Not a lot is going on right now. The NHL Entry Draft is over and the Free Agency has gone away. As we look forward to the start of training camp let's take a trip down memory lane and check out some of the most hated hockey players in recent memory.
None of the attached videos are too violent, but they do involve some cheap shots. If you have very little kids with you, I suggest you view the video yourself first. Enjoy.
Honorable Mention: (It was just too hard to leave some of these guys out)
P.K. Subban- Only entering his third season in the NHL, the Montreal blueliner has alienated fans and opponents with his cocky attitude. Sports Illustrated has a great article on Subban and his perception around the league. Check it out at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1179940/index.htm
Alex Ovechkin- Yeah he’s a pretty good player, but I strongly encourage you to objectively assess some of these hits. Check them out here.
Eric Lindros- After being taken first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, the 18-year-old Lindros refused to put on their jersey and stated that he would never play for the Nordiques because his star wouldn’t shine as bright in a small market like Quebec. Quebec traded Lindros to Philadelphia for Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, and others. The Nordiques became the Avalanche and won two Stanley Cups while Lindros failed to win a cup in his 14 seasons.
Dale Hunter- The former Washington Capitals center played the game hard and occasionally crossed the line. He did, however, jump the line when he elbowed Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon lit the lamp in a 1993 playoff blowout. Check it out here.
10. Claude Lemieux- This agitator easily got under opponents skin, but he is most hated for his blindsight hit on Kris Draper that started the famous Avs-Wings rivalry.
9. Tom Barrasso- His hatred of the media and fans don’t make for a very likeable player. Was a decent goalie, but overall he is widely considered to be self-centered and arrogant. Who doesn’t sign autographs for kids? C’mon.
8. Tie Domi- From this boxer’s post-fight gestures to flying elbows to showboating to enticing a fan to fight by spraying him with a water bottle, Domi became one of the league’s most hated villains.
7. Chris Pronger- Such a big guy should know he can do serious damage, especially if used in the manner we’ve come accustomed to. Among other suspensions, stomping on another player’s leg has to be one of his all-time lows.
6. Brad May- A two-handed slash to the head resulting in a 20 game suspension, placing a bounty on Steve Moore’s head (Moore suffered a career-ending injury that game), arrested for disorderly conduct at a nightclub, knocking out an unsuspecting Kim Johnsson during the playoffs resulting in a 3 game suspension. That’s quite the rap sheet for big Brad May
5. Chris Simon- Simon slid to #5 because I find it hard to call him a hockey player instead of a criminal on skates. His laundry list of suspensions are too long to list here, but a sample of his career includes swinging a stick into Ryan Hollweg’s face and stomping on the leg of Jarkko Ruutu.
4. Ron Hextall- Not a bad goalie, but his two-handed slashes have become more legendary than his career. Hextall epitomized what it meant to be a member of the “broad street bullies.” Check them out here.
3. Marty McSorely- Two handed swing to Donald Brashear’s head was a black eye for hockey and all of sports.
2. Todd Bertuzzi- The sucker-punch that ended Steve Moore’s career should have landed Bertuzzi behind bars and banned from the NHL. Punching a guy in the back of the head and breaking his neck by driving him into the ice crosses the line. His “heartfelt” apology was Emmy worthy. He obviously shows no humility.
1. Sean Avery- This smack talking “aggravator” made a career out of having players hate him. Numerous suspensions from on-ice play and off-ice comments have this pest on many players’ hitlists. Look him up on YouTube and you’ll see why. His most recent controversy came just over a week ago when he shoved a police officer after they shut down a party at his home in Los Angeles. He then reportedly called the officers “fat little pigs” when they promptly arrested him. After posting the $20,000 bail, Avery told the media that “It’ll all work out at some point.”
Back to the Colorado Avalanche Newsfeed