FLAMESTR

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Calgary, AB • Canada • 55 Years Old • Male

PLAYERS YOU LOVE TO HATE

PLAYERS YOU LOVE TO HATE

This blog is part one of two. The idea came from steal_your_faceoff who will be known here as syf. Each of the friends below has suggested two names of players we love to hate; as usual I will leave my two cents worth at the end.

SYF

SYF's first pick was Darius Kasparaitis, for that famed hipcheck (legal...yes) on Eric Lindros in 1998 that gave Big E his first of many concussions. Lindros missed 18 games and it was the beginning of the end, which was completed by Scott Stevens as #88 came up ice with his head down and was met with a crushing hit at the blue line that effectively ended Eric's storied career in Philadelphia in May of 2000 (6th concussion). Kasparaitis is revered in Pittsburgh for that hit. It was a crushing blow for one of the game's superstars, just a few short years removed from his Hart Trophy performance of June 1995.

Kasparaitis is always pushing it to the limit. His hit on Lindros is one of many. His famous hip check is often targeted when the player is most vulnerable, often ending in injury. Great Choice by Syf.

SYF says about his second pick, Claude Lemieux: He is the devil incarnate for me. He epitomizes the New Jersey Devils as he won two cups with them in 1995 and 2000. He was, without question, the dirtiest player in modern NHL history. He also was a clutch player when in playoffs, Top 10 Most Hated NHL Players of All Time while he was a Colorado Av, and three times scoring more goals in playoff games than during the whole regular season. While playing for the Habs he bit the FINGER of Calgary's Jim Peplinski during his first playoff game. The famous phrase "I didn't know they allowed cannibalism in the NHL" was directly attributed to Mr. Lemieux about the bite. The other major incident that caused Claude Lemieux to be ranked #1 in the ESPN special violently checked Detroit's Kris Draper from behind into the boards during a playoff series in 1996. Draper was so badly injured, that he had to have reconstructive surgery to his face due to a broken jaw, nose, and cheekbone. And for his troubles, he also received a concussion. All Lemieux got was a 2 game suspension, and the Red Wings have not forgotten it to this day. My memories of Lemieux always focus around his questionable play as a Jersey Devil and how he would hurt you not only physically, but also with his play during the playoffs that inevitably ran through the swamp to get to the Eastern Finals. He makes me so angry.

The Drapier hit from behind brought on the ire of many Devils fans. Even though I was pulling for the Devils, that hit on Draper was bordering on a cheap shot. I still have trouble with seeing the hit. Lemieux is a player fans love to hate. Another great pick by syf.


saberscrazy

Mmmmmm interesting. I would say I love to hate Darcy Tucker, but would love to have him on my team. The same goes for Sean Avery. These are the kind of guys who help win championships. The instigator is becoming a lost art. These guys can change the flow of a game with one hit (clean or dirty) and help their team capture much needed points.

Darcy Tucker is probably one of the most disliked players in the league for his hits on players and for his . . . embellishment . . . after players have hit him. Word on Tucker is he might even have taken a few dives to draw penalties, but you didn’t hear that from me. A great pick from Sabercrazy.

Sean Avery has probably gotten himself in more trouble over his mouth. This guys says the silliest things. I think it s just to get a reaction, and yet he still finds employment in the NHL. Good thing he is a very good hockey player. Another great pick from Sabercrazy.


Beleafer#1

Now this is really cool! I hate Daniel Alfredson. No real reason except that he's good and plays for the dreaded Senators. I also hate the Dominator, for most of the same reasons, especially how he bails out on the teams he played for. At the same time, I am not embarrassed to say I would take them on my team anytime.

Daniel Alfredson. Leafer brings up a really good point. Sometimes there is no rational reason for hating a player, except for playing on the team you hate the worst. It seemed like Daniel scored every winning goal against my beloved Leafs. Thanks leafer for a respectful dislike. Good pick by leafer.

And Dominik Hasek; he really let down the Sens and I completely understand why you picked him Leafer. I have no idea if he was injured, but he really distracted the sens with this injury. Great Pick by leafer.

KingsLOVE1

Chris Pronger - A few years back, I watched a Kings/Oilers game. The Kings put Dustin Brown on Chris to forecheck him. Pronger got so frustrated with him, he started throwing punches at him. He was a sore looser that game . . . I can't tolerate that. Plus he is a Duck now!!!

I still have a hard time with what Pronger did to the Oil. But even more, I have a hard time with his head hits in the playoffs. Good job, Kingslove.

Bryan Murray (OTT GM ) I have noticed he talks the talk . . . Then he runs. ie Buffalo/Ottawa game or his verbal abuse of Jim Fox of the LA Kings Broadcasting. Someone just needs to shut him up . . .

The Manager/Coach often really ticks fans off from the opposing team. He has a tendency to shoot off his mouth. He does not offend me; but on the other hand, I was pulling for the Sens last year. Good Job by kingslove.

KICKSAVE

With Martin Brodure, I'm a big fan of the goalies. I never could skate, so I grew up playing deck hockey - but I was a goalie. I just loved that position. So it's a major part of the game that I key in on when watching. I am supposed to be able to enjoy watching him, he has been so good for so long. Like I enjoyed Patrick Roy, you know? But I couldn't. I had to hate him - he was doing it for the DEVILS! And beating us every chance he got.

Martin Brodure

Again, I have to love the honesty from Kicksave ; sometimes you dislike for a player just for kicking the crap out of your team. Martin Brodure has beaten Philly constantly. Completely understandable; the competitive juices can motivate you to dislike a player.

With Sidney Crosby, I'm just SUPPOSED to hate him. It's obvious to me now. If he's not on your team, he's a villain. I tried to like him. Even though he came in a Pen (and you just know that he's staying there) I wanted to like him when he was drafted. Why go through the whole 'Brodeur Thing', right? But he whines too much for me. And he just rubs me the wrong way for some reason. I tried multiple times to give him a chance to be the next Wayne Gretzky to me, but then he'd be yapping at a proven veteran, or crying to the refs. I just couldn't get comfortable with liking him. But that's GOOD, anyway. I should have a villain on the next great team in the Flyer's division. So it all works out.

Sydney Crosby is well know for his conversations with the Refs. He often ticks off opposing fans with his conversations after the whistle. I love this pick just simply because its based on real emotion. Great pick by kick.

MagicBob

One name came right to my head when I finished reading your question and it was . . . Eric Lindros. When he came into the league, he was suppose do be the next big thing, and he has been nothing but a liability. The rumors had him at one point as possibly going to Buffalo and all I could think was "God, No".

Secondly, I'd have to say Ray Emery. It's more for personal reasons though, not for his performance on the ice. He made comments about Buffalo towards the end of the season, and when confronted about them he made excuses about how everyone interpreted what he said wrong. "You're suppose to be a professional Ray . . . so act like it."

Lindros was heavily disliked by the Quebec fans, for not playing for the team when they drafted him. When a player refuses to play for a certain team, it really gives him a bad rep with in a city. Great pick by MagicBob.

Emery's comment on the city of Buffalo being boring was not exactly very tactful. Being an athlete means you have to uphold certain standards. Emery was fooling around, and I think he shouldn't have said it. Great pick by MagicBob.

There you have it. Great answers. The dislike can be emotional and honest; from dirty hits, to competitive juices, to having one player who never loses to your team. These were great answers by my friends.

FLAMESTR

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