Top 10 Most Hated Active NHL Players

by Fred Poulin on Jan 20, 2010 4:39 PM EST

This list about the most hated NHL players is only about active players, that’s why some notable retired guys like Claude Lemieux, Ulf Samuelsson, Jeremy Roenick, Marty McSorley, Ulf Samuelsson, Darius Kasparaitis and Chris Simon are not included in the list.

Please feel free to add your personal list of players you hate in the comments.

#10 Steve Ott
Steve Ott is a pesky player and a shit disturber. His job is to get under your skin and he is very good at doing it, but there’s a fine line between being a pest and being a scumbag. Steve Ott charges, hits high and gouges eyes. As with most pests nowadays, he only drops mitts against smaller players and turtles a la Claude Lemieux when he is confronted by a heavyweight.

Certified stupid moment:

Steve Ott charging Gregory Campbell

#9 Maxim Lapierre
One of the biggest yapper of them all, Maxim Lapierre is not the kind of player who plays dirty, but he is always in your face trying to push you to the max without ever dropping his gloves. And when he decides to drop them it’s against players like PJ Axelsson, Brian Lee and Petr Prucha.

Certified stupid moment:
Maxim Lapierre dropping his gloves, but not fighting.

#8 Mike Ribeiro
Sure Mike Ribeiro is a very hockey player with nice hockey skills, but he’s also the biggest diver in the league. Some people also remember when Ribeiro slashed Chris Osgood into the chest back in 2008 for no apparent reason. Ribeiro is one of the biggest talkers on the ice, but he never drops the gloves to settle things up. Ribs is a total disgrace to the game.

Certified stupid moment:

Mike Ribeiro faking an injury against the Bruins.

#7 Darcy Tucker
Now with the Avalance, Darcy Tucker is a cheap shot master, taking every opportunity he has to injure the opposing playert. Tucker doesn’t drop the gloves often since the Maple Leafs days and he is also a well-known turtler. But to be fair, once in a while Tucker is willing to fight players that do not usually fight like recently, when he fought Carolina Tuomo Ruutu and Montreal Josh Gorges.

Certified stupid moment:

Darcy Tucker destroys former Flyer Sami Kapanen.

#6 Chris Pronger
Captain Elbows, now playing for the Flyers, doesn’t have eight suspensions to his name for being a clean player. When Mount Pronger erupts, he doesn’t just use his elbows and he will use cheap shots, kicks and even stomps to make sure he gets his annual suspension from the NHL.

Certified stupid moment:

Chris Pronger trying to slice Ryan Kesler’s leg.

#5 Alex Burrows
From pulling hair in a fight to faking an injury to draw a penalty, this guy is a marked man in the NHL. And with what happened last week between Alex Burrows and referee Stephane Auger, Burrows has now many enemies among players as well as referees.

Certified stupid moment:

Hair pulling commences at the 1:23 mark.

#4 Jarko Ruutu
Tuomo Ruutu’s brother Jarko, is also a pesky forward know for his tendencies to talk a lot on the ice. And once in a while when Ruutu is tired of talking he bites. A cheap shot artist, Ruutu at least can drop the gloves and defend himself compared to yappers like Lapierre and Ribeiro.

Certified stupid moment:

Jarko Ruutu biting Sabres Andrew Peters.

#3 Jordin Tootoo
The #1 cheap shot artist, Tootoo has always been an agitator even when he was playing junior hockey in Canada. Tootoo likes to charge his opponents, to hurt them and to hit them blindsided. He has been suspended more than once for his conduct on the ice.

Certified stupid moment:

Jordin Tootoo sucker punches Dallas Stephane Robidas.

#2 Chris Neil
One of the most despised player in the league, Neil’s job is to get under the opponent’s skin and he’s fairly good at it. Known for his cheap shots, Neil also likes to drop the gloves and have a good scrap. He doesn’t mind fighting smaller opponents or even tough guys like Donald Brashear or Andrew Peters. However, his opponents must have their head up when he is on the ice because Neil’s elbows have a tendency to get very high and nasty.

Certified stupid moment:

Chris Neil blindsiding Buffalo Chris Drury

#1 Sean Avery
Sean Avery’s erratic behavior has made him the most hated player in the NHL. He is hated both by the fans and the other players. Avery is arrogant, and does not think things through. From his Sloppy Seconds remark about Dion Phaneuf to his turtling and diving and his insults about French Canadians, his goal seems to become the NHL’s villain and he reached his goal admirably. Avery would be more suited for a role in Hollywood than in the NHL. Avery even made a cameo appearance in the Rocket (movie about Maurice Richard) as former NHLer Barry Dill.

Certified stupid moment:

Sean Avery trying to screen Martin Brodeur.

Source: Hockey Independent

PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.

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you tube clips are something I have trouble with too, you have to view the page in HTML.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Jan 20, 2010 5:39 PM EST reply actions

Ribeiro and Ott are total punks. But I love them.

I’m not too crazy about the rest of the list, ESPECIALLY Sean Avery, Tootoo and Burrows. But whatevs. How I feel about those guys is probably how the rest of the league feels about Ribs and Otter.

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by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Jan 20, 2010 5:42 PM EST reply actions

a few more additions

ron hainsey – cant explain it, i just hate his face
patrick kaleta – grimey player, didn’t deserve his injury but still hate him
aaron ward – you sucker punched a guy. dick.
olli jokinen – stop looking so surprised… get some eyebrows.
brian mcgrattan – worthless goon, former sen.
rick nash – why did you sign in columbus? oh my god, i hate you forever.

…. NO WAIT I DONT! COME BACK PLEASE, I FORGIVE YOU…. (we need you so bad sob)
david koci – you tried to wreck the lambogreeni. for shame sir.
scott hannan – this might stretch the definition of “active” but is there a more irrelevant $4.5m defenceman?
kyle quincey – you had the power to stop joe elliott from desecrating the stanley cup. and you failed.
todd bertuzzi – hmmm, if only i could remember a reason why i dont like you….oh well, i’m sure one will sneak up on me.
mike comrie – i hate anyone who is an honorary president of ‘underachievers inc.’ also, hillary duff aint no carrie underwood.
keith ballard – you are crap and you almost killed your goalie. why aren’t you here instead of jeff finger??
jarrett stoll – how do you break off a marriage via text message? and rachel hunter is meow
jack johnson – you whined your way out of a post-season run with carolina and therefore a cup ring. you were rumoured to be on the trade block already in LA and nearly onto your third team in three seasons. you’re minus 18 on a team where the next-worst defenceman is a minus 2(!). you strike me as kind of a dick, and i wish you to have zero nhl success.
owen nolan – yes you had a sweet goal, but i want my boyes back.
pierre-luc letourneau-leblond – me & the devils’ name-sewer hate you for the same reason. cut that name, hippie!
wade redden – how can you live with yourself? how do you sleep at night?
mike fisher – carrie underwood. my god.
chris phillips – #1 picks are so awesome. i heard that brian burke’s cup ring gets drunk sometimes and leaves laughing messages on his voicemail.
scott hartnell – cut your hair, hippie!
dan carcillo – if philadelphia seceded from the usa, you would be on their money.
kurt sauer – i hate you for being the actual player ron wilson & cliff fletcher thought they were pursuing when they signed jeff finger, and for having the contract they should have given such a middling 9th defenceman.
matt cooke – you’re a cheapshot master, and you know it
dany heatley – whiner. you signed a contract in ottawa, you should have rotted there forever.
cam janssen – me & kaberle will never forget what you did.
steve downie – you run around taking out vulnerable players, and there is definitely something wrong with you. jarko ruutu is not someone you should be trying to emulate. see a shrink and take some meds before you paralyze someone.
andrew raycroft – you know what you did and you know who we lost because of you.
GM exception mike gillis – if there is a waaahhhhmbulance around, i know who’s driving it

and of course….
jason blake – see below
lee stempniak – see below
jamal mayers – see below
rickard wallin – see below
jeff finger – see below
vesa toskala – get off my team. get out of my city. i hate you forever. you suck. eat dick and die.

by Death_By_Leafs on Jan 20, 2010 5:43 PM EST reply actions

I whole heartedly agree with the bottom of your list.

by 6rick6 on Jan 20, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

Lee Stempniak....?

explain please.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

stempniak is:

terrible at making simple clears out of his own zone.
rarely noticable on the ice in a positive sense.
somehow worse at shooting than blake.
taking up cap space.
taking up a roster spot.

if you can name me one team that would like to have stempniak on their roster, i would be shocked.
he’s the kind of insignificant NHLer that i never want to see on the leafs again after burke is done shaking out the dust from the room. he should follow dominic moore right off a cliff into meaninglessness.
…..

steve ott is someone i’d actually like to see on the leafs. ditto ribeiro & pronger.

by Death_By_Leafs on Jan 20, 2010 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

If any of those three joined the Leafs, I’d be first in line for a Leafs emo jersey.

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by clrkaitken on Jan 20, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

Stempniak’s shooting % is higher than Blakes, so “somehow worse at shooting than blake.” is simply not true.

He’s 4th on the team for hits from a forward, yet is one of the least penalized guys on the team. So he hits clean, and he doesn’t give us any penalty trouble.

He has the second most take aways by Leafs forwards.

He also has the 5th most goals for a Leafs forward, ahead of Kulemin, Grabovski (injured but Stempniaks GPG is higher than Grabbo’s.) His Goals per 60 min played is sixth highest on the team..

Lots to like about the guy if you dig into his stats…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

Definitely

StempHate is misplaced hate.

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by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

truthiness reigns

honestly, i didnt know his stats. i just don’t like his game. i don’t actually hate him as much as the others, and i would just rather he was off the team. let stalberg make mistakes on the second line and learn his way around the nhl.

someone’s gotta score on the leafs, but it doesn’t mean he’s a worthwhile piece on our team heading forward. he isnt even the dominic moore of the 09/10 leafs, at least moore was contributing greatly to the team. 6th on the team is not even top-6 (assuming your top-3 players should be top of scoring 1-2-3, and your 2nd line wingers should be 4-5, then your 6th-best 60min scorer would have to be a third liner). qed, stempniak = meh whatever.

dont get complacent with underwhelming, underperforming, overpaid players, no matter how many positive stats you can find for him.

we need winners.

by Death_By_Leafs on Jan 20, 2010 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

he's a 3rd liner

putting up 2nd line stats.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

It’s not about whether he’s part of the future, because as a second liner he’s not, but let’s hate the guys that are underperforming at least.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 6:50 PM EST up reply actions

Stempy is your most complete player

He can protect the puck.
He plays on your PK and can clear the zone.
He has good stats.
When I watched the Pens game Geno almost had a 3 on 2 breakaway and stempy came off the left of my screen like a rocket and broke it up.
The only reason you don’t notice him is because your trying not to.

by Icion on Jan 20, 2010 10:31 PM EST up reply actions

Killer Cam Janssen

From St. Louis. With love.

by Icion on Jan 20, 2010 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

I think I just forgave Janssen for the Kaberle hit.

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by clrkaitken on Jan 21, 2010 8:16 AM EST up reply actions

Hopefully Stempniak can net us something decent at the deadline.

by 6rick6 on Jan 21, 2010 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

mmmm…. carrie underwood

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Jan 21, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Two Philadelphia pieces of poop

Dan Carcillo – What an asshole this puke is. His actions in that Philly/Leafs game where he bascially acted like a moron after scoring and losing a fight…

Mike Richards – A cowardly piece of crap. Willing to cheapshot and hit people then run away, but when faced with his own medicine he cowers behind refs and/or his own teammates.

"Luke Schenn is Stronger than Strength."
Truculence is Everything: A Leaf Blog of Righteous Indignation.

by Marc Pilgrim on Jan 20, 2010 5:46 PM EST reply actions

disagree

Mike Richards is all of the above, except when he’s on your team, then he’s awesome.

Carcillo on the other hand…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

cote is also a piece of scum

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 20, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

How the hell is Steve Ott only at #10 on this list?

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on Jan 20, 2010 5:53 PM EST reply actions

Ott is a douchebag and I want him to bleed.

by Icion on Jan 20, 2010 10:34 PM EST up reply actions

I also might be getting the time frames switched, but didnt Tucker fight Ruutu after Ruutu almost ended his career with a terribly dirty hit?

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 20, 2010 5:59 PM EST reply actions

Yeah

Ruutu hit him from behind and Darcy took exception to it. Weird.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

How much...

……did Steve Downie pay you to be excluded from this list…..nm you must be saving him to headline your “Douchebag of the Year” column.

"Would Jason Blake please come to centre ice for the presentation of the 2010 Conn Smythe trophy. ~ Gary Bettman"

by JimTheThird on Jan 20, 2010 6:17 PM EST reply actions

Welcome

Thanks for joining.

In Downie even in the NHL? That might be it.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

yup, he’s having a half decent season with the Lightening

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 20, 2010 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

I know I'll get strung up for this, but...

Steve Downie would make a fantastic Leaf someday.

I have a soft spot for shit disturbers…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

me too, which is why I secretly want the Leafs to get Ott

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 20, 2010 6:47 PM EST up reply actions

Ott and Downie on a line together?

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

with Orr
the take no shit line

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 20, 2010 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

The rationale on this list is hilarious. Jarkko Ruutu fights and Darcy Tucker doesn’t? Don’t make me laugh. Tucker fought Tuomo after that POS hit him from behind. And Josh Gorges is one more Montreal player that is long on yap and short on balls. And a cheap shot artist? The only cheapshot he’s dished out Mike Peca himself said wasn’t a cheap shot.

As for the YouTube video are you telling me that a perfectly clean hit was stupid? How could you NOT use the video of Tucker jumping into the senators’ bench? At least you balanced your Habs-tinted view by including the biggest wimp in the game today: Maxim Lapierre.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 6:53 PM EST reply actions

are you saying...

Ribs wouldn’t have made the list if he was still a Hab?

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 20, 2010 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Doubt it

I will point out that if it’s from the POV of the players that I would agree with most of list but the Tucker video is so off base.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

It was like they had to pick a leaf, but since none of the current ones have any sort of track record they can point at they went with a Leaf who was beloved when here to smear

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 20, 2010 7:03 PM EST up reply actions

Counterpoint: Darcy Tucker is a wretched little shit and that’s why you loved him.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 21, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

LIES

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 21, 2010 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Counter-Counterpoint

SHUT YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU’RE TALKING TO ME

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 21, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

REBUTTAL

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 21, 2010 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

and then later on this shift....

NOTHING HAPPENED.
EVENTS DID NOT TRANSPIRE THAT RUINED MY BIRTHDAY (game was on may 4).
Both teams simply shook hands to acknowledge that a hockey game had taken place. And Jeremy Roenick fell into a wormhole and missed the rest of 2004.

* * sigh * * *

by Death_By_Leafs on Jan 21, 2010 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

that’s how i remember it…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Jan 21, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

Tucker

he is also a well-known turtler

Show me proof of Darcy Tucker EVER turtling.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 7:07 PM EST reply actions

Does not fighting back count? Because: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJVBz7MzRms

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 21, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

Looks like that puke Lapointe started a fight when Tucker didn’t want one.

That would be like calling Ward a turtle for Walker’s punch.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 21, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I don’t know the context.

Then again Steve Ott does a lot of the “I’m not looking for a fight” thing too.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 21, 2010 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

Usually Ott does it

After he cheapshots someone then a really huge person steps up to punch his teeth in.

by Icion on Jan 21, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Neil

Neil also likes to drop the gloves and have a good scrap.

Really? Do you watch many s*nators games?

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Fixed for truthiness

Neil also likes to ~~drop the gloves~~ hide in fear and ~~have a good scrap~~ take cheapshots.

"Luke Schenn is Stronger than Strength."
Truculence is Everything: A Leaf Blog of Righteous Indignation.

by Marc Pilgrim on Jan 20, 2010 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

Neil also likes to ~~drop the gloves and have a good scrap.~~ make himself feel like a big shot by taking on 19 year old defencemen and letting more honorable punching bags get taken out by real men.

chris neil is everythign thats wrong with hockey. print it.

by Death_By_Leafs on Jan 20, 2010 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

There is nothing positive to say about Chris Neil – other than he is not a TML

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Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jan 20, 2010 8:24 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think Ribeiro is one of the most hated players in the game. Diving repeatedly and over-acting doesn’t make opposing players hate you, it just drops their respect for you in their eyes. In my opinion Carcillo and Downie are both far more hated than Ribeiro, yet not on the list.

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by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 20, 2010 8:46 PM EST reply actions

How is Matt Cooke not on the list?

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Jan 20, 2010 9:59 PM EST reply actions

Daniel Cocking Alfredssson.

Really.

The man’s responsible for more reprehensible acts than anyone this side of Tony Bliar.

Mike Richards is getting there. All the talent he’ll ever need married to the desire to hit people 14 seconds after the whistle. Let’s be honest, the man’s a bawbag.

Darcy Tucker. Only if you’re annoyed about cap hit. Okay, I never liked him as much as other Leafs fans, but – to be honest – he’s been Mr Irrelevant since the lockout. The inability to score more than 20 goals, married to an intense dislike of what goes on in the defensive zone? That isn’t evil.

Brendan Witt. Hate. That. Mother. Fucker.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Jan 20, 2010 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Brendan Witt. Hate. That. Mother. Fucker.

SUV’s all over North America agree with this statement.

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on Jan 20, 2010 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

Fuck the SUVs. I say that in solidarity with Nik Hagman.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Jan 20, 2010 11:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

dammit i knew i forgot one asshole.

by Death_By_Leafs on Jan 21, 2010 2:41 AM EST up reply actions

Brendan Witt

Amen.

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by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

bawbag

Just curious, what is a bawbag? Is it like an older form of douche bag?

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by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 21, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

It’s a scrotum. Ball. Bag. Only written as it’s pronounced in a Scottish accent.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Jan 23, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Plenty of players could have made that list, but I had to pick 10. Players like Carcillo, Richards, Bertuzzi, Crosby, Cooke, etc. would all had been good choices! Even Komisarek would have been a good choice! What do you think in Leafland? :-)

by Fred Poulin on Jan 20, 2010 11:30 PM EST reply actions

I think Komisarek is the only Leaf that could make it but based on his time with the Habs.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2010 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

Sean Avery

You’re confusing ‘Certified Stupidity’ with “Borderline genius move that was so effective and un-thought-of previously that they had to immediately change the rules of the sport.”

So Handsome.

by Archimedies on Jan 21, 2010 4:15 AM EST reply actions