The two most notable of these were both in 2007, both record-breaking at the time, and both due to a deliberate intent to injure another player." This McMeathead is known for two things: 1) an unconscionable two-handed stick swing that darn near killed Vancouver Canucks enforcer Donald Brashear late in a 2000 game and 2) an illegal stick penalty in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final that might have cost the Kings their first-ever league championship. "Like it was a high school gym test.". From the first puck drop, the defenseman played on the edge with a full complement of body blows, some of which were even legal. It wasn't that he didn't feel the official deserved the honor of being called the worst in the league, but rather that he felt St. Pierre would relish in it. Patrick Kaleta after a healthy scratch in 2013, Rob Ray to reporters asking him about a fight, New York Islanders general manager Billy Smith, Claude Lemieux to Cam Neely after Neely's cameo in the 1994 film "Dumb and Dumber", Sean Avery, talking about goaltender Martin Brodeur. You know, like the ever-so-subtle slew foot from behind, his favorite stunt. Fifty stitches and three implants later, he returned to the ice. The shortlist of victims: Mike Richards, Jared Ross, Nik Zherdev and Jakub Voracek. Like when he bit the finger of future Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron in a scrum, for instance. It takes no effort to be average. No wonder his act wore thin even on teammates. What do you call brain-dead penalties, half-assed effort and questionable injuries? Ex-NHL referee Tim Peel, Teams: Dallas Stars (2002-12), Buffalo Sabres (2012-14), St. Louis Blues (2014-16), Detroit Red Wings (2016-17), Montreal Canadiens (2016-17). NHL Player Poll Reveals The Most Loved, Hated, And Feared Players In The Game And Who Has The Best Hair. It was a pretty dirty play in my opinion. "St. Pierre may be the most arrogant human being Ive ever seen. It got so bad that the Bs installed plexiglass to separate their bench from the runway to the locker room to discourage any more of his lunacy. W hen picking the most hated hockey players in National Hockey League (NHL) history, it's a fine line between genuine hatred, downright jealousy and grudging respect. NBC Sports. Everyone was required to run two miles. And now the three worst officials in the league, according to players and . Research from Betway actually shows that since 2010/11 the Boston Bruins have been involved in the most fights (371). Even some Bruins pom-pom wavers are embarrassed by his act, but because the career overachiever puts up big numbers consistently, theres not much they can say out loud. Stan Fischler, Sports Illustrated, 1967, Teams: New York Islanders (1995-98), Vancouver Canucks (1998-2006), Florida Panthers (2006), Anaheim Ducks (2007-08), Calgary Flames (2008-09), Detroit Red Wings (2007, 2009-14). I put out a video about you which was insensitive, cruel and just plain wrong. For more player comments on the officials and the rest of the 2020 NHL Player Poll, head on over to The Athletic. SportsNet, Teams: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Anaheim Ducks (2005-19), Dallas Stars (2019-20), Montreal Canadiens (2020-21), Tampa Bay Lightning (2021-present). It seems there is a genuine hatred for St. Pierre around the league and some of the comments made by the players who were surveyed for this question, and you have to wonder how the man manages to maintain his position given so many of the players seem to have a disdain for him. "After several concussions, the doctors strongly recommend that I stop playing the game I love." Gov. Unfortunately for Fontinato, Howe remained conscious and was now incensed. Unlike players who covet power and lower-body girth, refs prefer to be leaner. We're not in position we want to be in. "We only go for 60 seconds. When the career fourth-liner didnt piss off opponents with dives and insults, he rankled teammates with hit-and-run tactics that pushed them into the fire. The numbers were pulled together only from English-language comments . Rody's feet are propped on a railing and he extends in a plank position, his face nearly grazing the floor. "It used to be that at 12:30 you'd have the biggest plate of pasta and chicken and then go nap, work the game, and then eat chicken wings and beer afterward.". I just kind of regret the whole situation. 2. Some hits are flat-out dirty. We also conducted a survey of 441 NHL fans about their perceptions of the most vulgar fan bases. Simon says his many failures were the result of brain trauma among other physical problems, but its hard to feel sorry for a lughead who willingly took part in more than 100 fights and was suspended for 65 games in his career. I refereed him and I know him personally and I can guarantee he is not trying to intentionally hurt any player." Admittedly most of the players surveyed refused to answer this question at all so that may skew some of the percentages here, however it was referee Justin St. Pierre who took this one, winning with a whopping 42% of the votes from the players who did in fact chose to answer this question. "Some teams have gotten better over the years in how they treat us," says O'Rourke, an 18-year NHL vet. He is reminded that, at this very arena five years ago, he suffered his goriest injury. He grabbed Fontinato's sweater with one hand, fired back repeatedly with the other. He did a pretty fair job of it, too all 5-foot-9, 175 pounds of him. He was known as a tough player who usually came close toand often went overthe line between annoying and dirty. Teammates loved Hunter, but opposing fans and players couldn't stand the tough center." When Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele did something out of character to one of their players last postseason, the Canadiens moaned to no end. Peel's career as an NHL referee came to a halt after his voice was picked up by a TV microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against the Predators during their game against the Detroit Red . Its honestly like he hates the players. It's better for everybody.". Powers does not include himself in this complaint. His sucker punch from behind left Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore unconscious, concussed and with three broken vertebrae in his neck. What did it say for the league that the Penguins needed an enforcer like this to hoist back-to-back Stanley Cups? (Have you ever seen the Flyers win the Cup? The big shooters and their fans grew to despise him, most notably normally mild-mannered Chicago Blackhawks star Bobby Hull, who tangled with him on more than one occasion. Oh, and he trolled Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell about their broken marriages. StanleyCupofChowder.com. In 1977, after the forward tried to behead Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Dennis Owchar with his stick, he became the first player to face criminal charges in league history. "Sometimes there's a hot meal waiting for us after the game, with a protein and vegetables. Referees, according to Powers, are not only the least appreciated of sports officials but quite possibly the most underpaid. Referee Beau Halkidis - 10 games as a linesman. Jordin Tootoo, Red Wings. Ott had value as a dogged defender, efficient face-off specialist and occasional scorer who could invade heads. Still wonder how the best sport can have the worst league? Just check out YouTube for a comprehensive list of Wilson's jerk moments, and theres plenty of time for him to move up on this list. It wasnt until Gordie Howe turned his schnoz into an S-curve that the reign of terror finally came to an end. We've got 20 guys without brains." Period.'" He simply has nothing to contribute and knows that he no longer has a place in the league." Zeidel and Eddie Shack were involved in donnybrooks 10 years apart. 4. He also tore a pectoral muscle while breaking up a fight. "To be able to step on the ice with the best hockey players on the world you would need to be conditioned accordingly.". They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Sorry, brah, wrong sport. 2023 Attraction Web S.E.C. No, more like Big Piece of Excrement. 2023 NHL Draft top prospect Zach Benson may be small, but he can do it all. Now, guess who could own the league record for most consecutive games played very soon? He tried to convince us that wasnt the real him in an emotional apology, but a lot of us knew better. 3." These are the professional hockey players you love to hate for all the right reasons. But I'm sure it's not easy to receive. Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers fans are gonna particularly love this. And your job becomes much easier for you.". "I hate picking (St. Pierre) because hell probably be happy if he wins it," said an unnamedplayer from the Metropolitan Division. "What are you, the fight doctor now or something? He's since gained a reputation as a careless player . After burning 1,000 calories in a regulation game, how else is he supposed to replenish without a protein shake? "After I was done playing, I was burnt out from all the strenuous lifting. He also riles opponents by running his mouth, delivering late and low hits, and has a flair for selling penalties like no other." The B's possess a 60 . Gary Ronberg, Sports Illustrated, 1966, Teams: Quebec Nordiques (1993-95), Colorado Avalanche (1995-96), Washington Capitals (1996-2002), Chicago Blackhawks (2002-03), New York Rangers (2003-04), Calgary Flames (2004-06), New York Islanders (2006-08), Minnesota Wild (2008). One of the most interesting questions posed to players this year was one regarding who the"worst referee in the league"currently is, and the response from the players provided some very interesting insights indeed. That's what it comes down to." When youre going to court for assault with a deadly weapon, it sounds like Im Charlie Mansons brother, he sniffed in a CBC interview. My personal two "hate" teams would be the Rangers, followed closely by Vegas. Chris Pronger, Teams: Philadelphia Flyers (1971-76), Los Angeles Kings (1976-77), Pittsburgh Penguins (1977-79), Buffalo Sabres (1979). When Walkom officiated in the 1980s, workouts weren't so vigorous. All the no-good adjectives apply here. The perpetrator issued a tearful apology afterward, but it was too late to undo the damage to the victim, the sport, the league and his legacy. The mammoth Washington Capitals forward is currently public enemy No. I kind of feel really upset. ", He'll also check in when officials cycle through Buffalo, where he's based. Chris Nilan, March 2022, after mocking injured Drouin in an internet rant, Teams: Minnesota Wild (2009-10), Chicago Blackhawks (2010-12), New York Rangers (2012), Buffalo Sabres (2012-14), San Jose Sharks (2014-15), Arizona Coyotes (2015), Montreal Canadiens (2015), Scott qualifies as the biggest goon in pucks' history in more ways than one 6-foot-7.75 of violence and a quarter-inch of hockey skills. "NBC Sports analyst Mike Milbury has stepped down from his role with the company for the duration of the Stanley Cup playoffs after making a sexist remark about women during an Aug. 20 game between the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals." PErhaps the most interesting aspect of the responses to this question however was the fact that one official won by a landslide. Welcome to the secluded and highly regimented lifestyle of NHL officials, who call themselves the league's 32nd team. ET; ESPN2, SNW . Currently, he shares his thimbleful of hockey acumen on team telecasts, and boy, are we the lucky ones or what? And when the prima donna didnt get his way and the refs allowed him to get away with a lot he resorted to enough elbows, high sticks and foot-stomps to warrant not two, not four, not six but eight suspensions. Danny Crawford, who got 30 votes. Referee Brandon Schrader - 10 games as a linesman. The 2003 first-round pick plays an aggressive style with a penchant for some nasty stick work, hacking and whacking opponents whenever he can. 3. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life and I know I made one on Saturday. This kid was an animal, I tell ya, said hockey personality Don Cherry, his roommate for two seasons in the minors. But nooooo, he chose to be the worst kind of coward, the kind that purposely tries to injure people and blames others for his behavior. Tootoo earned his shot in the NHL as a high-energy winger who could send a message with a thundering body check. February 9, 1995 - Tim Hunter The Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets combined for 248 penalty minutes, a total that included eleven fights. One would think that a defenseman with 6-foot-6 size and considerable talent would be a better human, but in the case of this ogre, one couldnt be more wrong. "(Lapierre) probably shouldnt even be in the league and is taking out one of the best players in the world. Evander Kane, Teams: Chicago Blackhawks (2011-16, 2019-21), Montreal Canadiens (2016-2019). New York Islanders general manager Billy Smith. "You run 20 meters out, then 20 meters back," Smith says. He also could speak French and English, which made him one of the most versatile smack talkers ever. Smug. So when Neil says he didn't mean to poke Blue Jackets tough-guy Jared Boll in the eye during their first period scrap Tuesday, it's hard not to believe him." It wasnt just that Lucic could beat opponents with a punch as well as a goal that pissed them off. The National Hockey League (NHL) currently employs four on-ice officials in each gametwo referees and two linesmen. While there are a ton of interesting questions and responses we jumped right to the questions on officiating. One is that they're passionate about hockey. . He seems to get away with that type of thing, and that seems to be what gets him going., "When I want to win a hockey game or walk down a dark alley, I know where Smitty will be. 1 around the NHL thanks to a list of transgressions most recently highlighted by a May 3 game at Madison Square Garden in. Referee Mitch Dunning - 5 games as a linesman. I talked to PK and he told me this is just a bad habit that has crept into his game. O'Rourke wraps an exercise band around a nearby forklift so he can use it to stretch (remember, he's resourceful). So far out did he stray to assault opponents that one thought his team had pulled the goalie. Do that in the NHL, and youre hailed as a tough guy. All he did was skate in circles and pick fights, even one with pansy Phil Kessel of all people. In ice hockey, an official is responsible for enforcing the rules and maintaining order. Steve Downie, Teams: Boston Bruins (2007-15), Los Angeles Kings (2015-16), Edmonton Oilers (2016-19), Calgary Flames (2019-present). Andrew Shaw, Teams: Philadelphia Flyers (2011-15), Boston Bruins (2015-16), Arizona Coyotes (2017-18), Nashville Predators (2018-19), Calgary Flames (2019-21). I intended to fight him. Included in the totals listed above: Referee Dan O'Rourke - 120 games as a linesman. "Some guys are down to 4.39 seconds. The guy had a huge Napoleon complex and the suspensions to prove it. Contrary to popular belief, this robocop defenseman did not end the career of Cam Neely with a reckless low hit. After the first shift, hes yelling at us from their bench that hes coming after us, and then he does that. The guy never played another game. While the guy had some talent, its the cold-blooded head hit that will forever be his legacy. Yahoo.com, Teams: New York Islanders (2001-03), Edmonton Oilers (2003-07),Columbus Blue Jackets (2008-10), Buffalo Sabres (2010), Vancouver Canucks (2010-11), Phoenix Coyotes (2011-13), San Jose Sharks (2013-14). Meets could be grandiose and dramatic for the team. "Cooke is widely known to be a head hunter and a dirty player. But other arenas "ESPN On IceGreg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan dish on potential conference realignment, Jaromir Jagr's future and much more. As always I do not own any of the clips provided and all rights goes to the National Hockey League! This Hall of Famer was a four-time Stanley Cup and one-time Vezina Trophy winner, but his most historic achievement was a dubious one he was the first goaltender to use the hockey stick as a lethal weapon on a permanent basis. Raffi Torres. The Hockey News, Teams: Quebec Nordiques (1980-87), Washington Capitals (1987-99), Colorado Avalanche (1999). A tough, 30-second test on the bike. For years, this gap-toothed Canucklehead was the most distorted and loathed face in the sport. Over the last 12 months, soccer fans have targeted him with an astonishing 10,141 negative posts, with a large chunk of those (3,000+) coming in August after he controversially gave Chelsea's Reece James a first-half red card against Liverpool - the . Di-no sucks! That guys got a history. Published on January 20, 2020 at 7:55 a.m. Stay ahead of the game with our exclusive hockey news, analysis and insider info. We like The Mad Slasher better. Teams: Boston Bruins (2006-09), Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-15), Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-19), Arizona Coyotes (2019-22), Vegas Golden Knights (2022-present), Career statistics: 1,232 games played/404 goals/563 assists/382 penalty minutes. O'Rourke, meanwhile, is a CrossFit junkie. Not only was this swordsman among the dirtiest players of his era Soviet team star Valeri Kharlamov could vouch for that but he had the face to match. "Dale Hunter made a career of borderline hits. Guarantee he is not trying to intentionally hurt any player. transgressions most recently by! Into an S-curve that the reign of terror finally came to an end, its the head! Guarantee he is reminded that, at this very arena five years ago he... `` you run 20 meters back, '' says O'Rourke, an 18-year NHL vet professional hockey you... And boy, are not only the least appreciated of sports officials but possibly... Returned to the ice bit the finger of future Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron in a plank position his... 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