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A site dedicated to the career of one of And one of the best new Color Analysts in the game! |
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A site dedicated to the career of one of And one of the best new Color Analysts in the game! |
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Top 10 Agitators
Posted:
Thursday January 26, 2006 6:34PM Here's my list of the NHL's all-time biggest pests With the NHL's new rule book promoting more end-to-end action, there has been less fighting and fewer opportunities with which to get an opponent off his game. That's not to say the role of the pest has gone the way of Garth Snow's shoulder pads. Rather, today's agitator must keep up with the play -- and his running mouth -- lest he find himself commuting between minor league outposts. While our list of top 10 agitators ranges from a Hall of Famer to an active player with less than 250 career NHL games, no doubt most candidates are far more familiar with the penalty box than adoring fan mail. In other words, regardless of when they played, these are the types of players opponents loathe and teammates love.
1983-2003 Career: 1983-2003 (Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix, Dallas) Often referred to as the game's ultimate pest, the incessant needler and rugged forward made blood boil -- and often overflow. The pummeling Lemieux took at the hands of Darren McCarty in the 1996 playoffs (retribution for Lemieux's vicious hit on Kris Draper) was punishment many felt was long overdue.
1984-99 Career: 1984-99 (Edmonton, NY Rangers, St. Louis, New Jersey, Vancouver, Florida, Washington) As if Wayne Gretzky & Co. needed any help in Edmonton, Tikkanen often engaged the opposition to the point of opening up the ice for the likes of the Great One and Jari Kurri. It did not take long for the hard-driving Finn to become a fan favorite -- and Enemy No. 1 of those in the other sweater.
1978-92 Career: 1978-92 (Philadelphia, Edmonton, Boston, Toronto) The "Rat" made sure to get in the first and last shots while distracting his opponent up and down the ice. Linseman's antics often resulted in only the retaliatory infraction being called, further incensing his targets -- who often spent the rest of the game preoccupied with trying to get even.
2001-present Career: 2001-present (Detroit, Los Angeles) The active King Pest, Avery has been accused of spewing derogatory remarks on more than one occasion. He's making so many friends that Nashville's Darcy Hordichuk suggested Avery's own teammates want to pummel him. Avery has been called a chicken and a cheap-shot artist, but he's always taking somebody off the ice with him.
1989-present Career: 1989-present (Toronto, NY Rangers, Winnipeg) While his ability to give and take punches will forever be the stuff of legend, Domi's big head (on a 5-10 frame) and childish grin make him seem like a rather annoying cartoon character. Opposing enforcers do not find any humor when taking a fist to the noggin -- or when Domi goads them into dropping the mitts, then opts to turtle.
1992-present Career: 1992-present (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, NY Rangers, Colorado, Chicago) Barnaby has a knack for laughing at the most peculiar times, further prompting catcalls. Even after pestering an opponent into a healthy bout, he continues to agitate on his way to the penalty box. It's no wonder he is one of the most hated players in the league.
1969-84 Career: 1969-84 (Philadelphia) After getting under the skin of an opposing player and drawing a penalty, Clarke usually assisted on the ensuing power-play goal. If an opponent took exception to Clarke's tactics and sought to even the score, he was usually greeted by a band of Broad Street Bullies. So, it was usually a lose-lose situation for the guys in the opposite jersey.
1998-present Career: 1998-present (St. Louis, Phoenix) The 247th pick in the 1997 draft, Nash paid his dues by spending four years in the minors. For the past six seasons, this ball of energy has been making opponents pay the price with constant badgering, face washes and finished checks. Nary a shift goes by without him trying to rattle somebody's nerves.
1982-2001 Career: 1982-01 (New Jersey, Hartford, NY Rangers, Dallas, Detroit) He wasn't called the Little Ball of Hate because he topped 1,000 career points. His endless array of hooks, jabs, slashes and wise cracks complemented his offensive prowess. 'Beeker truly was a player the opposition loved to hate. Opposing players had to take inventory after the game to make sure they still had each of their digits.
1945-58 Career: 1945-58 (NY Rangers, Detroit, Chicago) Small (5-7) even by the standard of his era, "Mighty Mouse" was the super pest of the Original Six. There were plenty of hard feelings and seemingly endless blood-stained run-ins with the likes of superior talents Maurice Richard and (before becoming his teammate) Gordie Howe.
HONORABLE MENTIONS Theoren Fleury (1988-03); Darius Kasparaitis (1992-present); Ian Laperriere (1993-present); Darcy Tucker (1995-present); Tiger Williams (1974-88). |
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2.
Esa Tikkanen
3. Ken Linseman
4. Sean Avery
5. Tie Domi
6. Matthew
Barnaby
7. Bobby
Clarke
8. Tyson
Nash
9. Pat
Verbeek
10. Tony
Leswick