NHL players we love to hate
Maybe it's because long, stressful playoff series and the familiarity that goes along with them breed content or the longstanding rivalries and close proximity to divisional foes, but hockey seems to create a level of disdain for opponents and even fans' own team like no other sport. Case in point: There isn't a city Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby can go to without getting showered with boos outside the Steel City despite his brilliance and impeccable off-ice reputation. It's almost as if a healthy hate is embedded in the NHL's DNA.
Welcome once again to the Yardbarker NHL roundtable. Today, we embrace the strong dislike every true NHL fan has in his or her heart and put a 21st century twist on it as well.
What NHL player has made you so angry from his play you've considered unfollowing him on social media?
Chelena Goldman: I'll admit it, I've never unfollowed a hockey player on social media. It's one of those things as a writer where you put any type of fan feelings aside and look at any and all of what players choose to say on social media as a potential article topic. For example, I wasn't particularly keen on Phil Kessel's post-World Cup tweet, but that wasn't going to make me unfollow him — the guy is too interesting of a social media follow for me to not continue paying attention!
That being said, if a player engaged in strong hate speech, any type of speech that is harmful toward a targeted group, I would probably be pretty tempted to hit that "unfollow" button.
Laura Saba: I don't really follow any NHL players on social media (although I do keep lists) because I have a feeling their tweets would make me angrier than their play ever could. That said, Tomas Plekanec of the Montreal Canadiens has had a hopeless start to the year, which makes me sad as a Habs fan.
Joe Boland: Any Flyers goaltender. I shouldn't have to explain. Next question. (Although Steve Mason has played well of late, so I may rethink this.)
Sarah Sprague: I'll be the first to admit, I don't follow many players (from any sport) on my personal Twitter account, even players I adore and respect. That said, I find hating players I already dislike as a fan even easier with social media. You going to kiss up to Kobe all during his retirement, Ovi, just two ordinary dudes chumming it up with all those championships? OH WAIT…
Who is your least favorite player in the league, and what could make you change your mind about him?
Chelena Goldman: This is going to get me in trouble when I go to stand in the scrum after a game! Maybe instead of naming players individually, perhaps my least favorite behavior that certain players exude? Not owning up to bad behavior. If a player lays down a dirty hit, he needs to own up to it and not try to brush it off post-game as if nothing happened. Be an adult — take responsibility for your mistakes.
Laura Saba: Chris Neil of the Ottawa Senators. If he changed everything about himself completely, I might be tempted to give him a chance.
Joe Boland: Ryan Kesler. He went to Ohio State, and I'm a Penn State alumnus. He agitates opponents and plays a shutdown role despite a wealth of talent. What could change my mind? Well, he already plays out west, so out of sight, out of mind. But I guess if he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal to prevent either the Penguins or Rangers from winning it, that would suffice.
Sarah Sprague: Brad Marchand and the only way I'll ever like the slew-footing Bruin is for him to give up the game of hockey and take up, I don't know, real-life Quidditch matches so I never have to hear his name again.
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