Steamer action.....any second now.

Apology?

So, one of our massive throng of international readers left me a very mean comment on this top-rated BLOG just the other day. I think they were mad about my list of the 15 most hated players in the NHL.
Our crack blog staff and I always welcome discussion about such topics. The comment, however, seemed mad that we incorrectly dubbed that non-stop-charmer Chris Chelios, as an I-talian. We apologize for this mis-label as he, amongst other things, is Greek. Let us extend an olive branch of sorts as an apology.......

Punks of the NHL / The AVS savior - part 1

Yes, this guy is the answer! Andrew Brunette for $2.5 million, or this guy for $2.2 (source: NHLPA site)? I always thought he was a punk, and pulling on an AVS won't change that. While he at least has "the seeds" to fight, his cheap shot elbow to the head on Scott Niedermayer in the playoffs was one of the all-time bush league moves.The picture shows him pouting and here is one of his proudest moments. Notice that he precipitates this by, what else, throwing a cheap elbow at Alexi Kovalev. As Pete pointed out, this really shows the insane skill of Kovalev.

A chip off the old........bitterman?

I imagine most of you saw this video of the melee involving the Canadian Junior team that Patrick Roy coaches. Roy and his son were suspended after the melee.

For my two cents - this is ridiculous and the suspension was totally warranted. I guess his son is unaware of the code that says you don't keep hitting a guy when his head is near the ice - especially when you jumped him! Notice the classy gesture while heading off the ice near the end of the donnybrook. The untold part is that the punching bag is one of the best goalies in the QMJHL and Roy's son is something of a sieve as indicated in this ESPN article.

That being said, if a fracas has ensued and you are standing there and someone comes skating towards you, go ahead and plan on fighting.

Punks of the NHL....part 2

You may love this guy if he is on your team. Otherwise you do not.
When Sean Avery got to Detroit as a rookie he came into the locker room and said "Don't worry boys the big dog is here." They then gave him the nickname "Pup."




Last year he said that French Canadians all wore visors because they were soft. When Ian Laperierre tried to fight him he backed down every time.
He is also the only player Peter Forsberg has ever started a fight with. You can also hate him because he is now a Ranger or because he dates / dated Elisha Cuthbert. Yes, she's "your type!"

Punks of the NHL....part 1

I am not sure why I hate Dion Phaneuf so much - but I do. He just seems so arrogant and seems like the type of person that kicks puppies.
See this turd getting clowned here.

Editorial # 3 - The 15 most hated players in the NHL

15. Darren McCarty - w- Calgary Flames - (nice picture) - Mike Haynes' most hated, you thought he'd finish higher. I always respected that, although a dick, he was him team's enforcer. On a team like the Red Wings, with 20 Captains, that can't be easy. But most importantly, he would fight, and Adam Deadmarsh totally respected him because he said McCarty would fight, even if he had a bad hand, when "Deadly" needed to give the Kings a lift.

14. Marty Turco - G - Dallas Stars - Just because he's a goalie, from Canada, played at Michigan, and I needed a Star on the list.

13. Martin LaPointe - W - Chicago Blackhawks- Same as McCarty, but half the heart. Plus, a Blackhawk needs to be on here.

12. Matthew Barnaby - W - Chicago Blackhawks - Oh, another Blackhawk. I just always hated this guy because he was such a dick with the Rangers and Sabres.

11. Jarku Ruutu / Matt Cooke / Brad May - Wings - Vancouver and Colorado - All sort of the same, average-talent, hack, agitator-types. Here is hoping the New NHL flushes turds like these.

10. Derrian Hatcher - D - Philadelphia Flyers - an American - which kills me - but what a white trash thug. He has made of career of being a cheap shot. Plus, he's from Michigan.

9. Alexi Yashin - C - New York Islanders - does anyone take more shifts off than this guy. He perpetuates the stereotype that Russians are lazy. Proof that guaranteed money may kill hockey like it has baseball and basketball.

8. Chris Gratton - C- Florida Panthers - huh? Because Pierre "the idiot" Lacroix loved this hack so much he mortgaged the future of the AVS blueline for him. Maybe not his fault, but did I mention that he previously played for the Flyers.

7. Keith Primeau - C - Philadelphia Flyers - had to get a Flyer on here and he is as easy to hate as any. I hated him as a Red Wing for breaking his stick over Peter Forsberg's ankle. It was an easy transition to the Flyers.

6. Brendan Shananhan - W - Detroit - what a prima donna. Anyone who is 6-03 and 225 lbs. should not whine like this complete baby.

.....ah, the Top 5, the guys who could be laying there choking and it would be all you could do not to step on their throats......

5. Sean Avery - C - L.A. Kings - He is a huge yapper that rarely backs it up. Ian LaPerrierre has been trying to fight him all year and he won't drop the gloves. When he got to Detroit he went into the locker room and said "Don't worry, the big dog is here." So, they nicknamed him "pup." He is also dating Elisha Cuthbert - which should annoy everyone.

4. Todd Bertuzzi - W - Vancouver - enough said. Moronic Canucks fans (I apologize for the redundancy) blaming Steve Moore's neck injury on Andre Nikolishin makes me hate this crocodile-tear-shedding bully even more.

3. Mike Ribiero - W - Montreal Canadiens - the biggest diver in the league, bar none. That flop against the Bruins in the playoffs was that of European soccer legend. An absolute pussy and he plays for the Canadiens.

2. Chris Chelios - D - Detroit Red wings - I hated this guy with Montreal and Chicago before he even went to Detroit. Another American who actually embarrasses me as the USA's Olympic captain. The fact that he is an Italian from Chicago does not help either. If there is a bigger cheap shot artist in the league I have yet to see him. The fact that he has played on my three most hated teams just adds fuel to the fire.

1. Kirt Maltby - W - Detroit Red Wings - This guy is the personification of "Napoleon Syndrome." While he is not that small, he stirs the pot and then runs and hides behind his teammates. He is the guy at the bar who "is about to kick your ass!" Too bad it was Vladimir Konstantinov and not him.

So there you have it. I reserve the right to adjust the list at any time and welcome any comments!

Bitterly yours - The Tripod