NHL Top 10: Most Hated Players

Only a mother could love the next 10 people (and even that is questionable).

The following list shows the most hated players in the NHL. Every sport has it's class of lunatics, but the NHL has a very special class.

From cheap-shot artists, to whiners, and the flat- out insane, the NHL has seen it all. There seems to be a universal hatred for the following group.

Let's dive in. shall we?

10. Alexander Ovechkin

Being the best of the best is certainly a great accomplishment, but outside your own fan base you are certainly not going to gain many friends.

Ovechkin is simply and undeniably the best player in the NHL today.

This is a reason alone to hate him, but their is something more.

Ovechkin is a show boater. His over-the-top celebrations have diminished his likability among hockey traditionalists, who prefer a much more sensible game.

Ovechkin also has a certain cockiness that is bound to come with all the attention and fame he receives, and this attitude is why he slips in on the most hated list.

9. Colby Armstrong

Colby Armstrong plays a noticeably physical game.

This is especially noticeable when you are playing against him. One thing I can say about him is that you should never turn your back. Armstrong will use any chance he gets to take you out.

With high elbows, and hits from behind, Colby Armstrong graces this list at No. 9.

8. Jarkko Ruutu

Jarkko Ruutu can be a dirty little devil.

Ruutu is not one to shy away from the cheap shot. If an opportunity is available, he is going to take it. Just ask Justin Peters, who was the lucky recipient of a Jarkko Ruutu bite just last season.

What is keeping him lower down on this list is that he will defend himself. Ruutu usually does not shy away from a scrap, which is a good characteristic to have when you play like he does.

7. Darcy Tucker

Darcy Tucker is a player that no one likes. Even the fans of the Avalanche are starting to dislike his role with the team.

After having several good years putting in empty net goals with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Darcy signed with the Avs and has since done very little. Darcy is making $2.25 million and not producing at all.

Darcy is a cheap shot master, taking every opportunity given to take out the opposing player, and with very little hesitation at that.

The thing that gets me is that he is not an overly willing fighter (as evidenced in the picture). Darcy is a turtler extraordinaire.

But to be fair, he is willing to fight players that do not usually fight, and are smaller then he is.

This does not sit well with me, and is the reason he graces my list at No. 7.

6. Todd Bertuzzi

All hatred for Todd Bertuzzi stems from one of the most infamous moments in the league's history.

On one fateful night, Betuzzi was looking to seek some revenge on Colorado Avalanche Steve Moore for a dirty hit laid on Canucks captain at the time Markus Naslund.

Bertuzzi lined up behind the Avs forward and proceeded to punch him in the back of the head. As a result of the punch, the two were knocked over, and Bertuzzi ended up driving Moore into the ground. The fall broke Steve Moores' neck and finished his career.

Ever since that night, Todd Bertuzzi's once-high star has fallen rather significantly. The one-time 46-goal scorer has yet to produce that many goals combined over the past three seasons.

I have no ill will towards the forward, and I hope he can get his career back on track with the Wings.

5. Ray Emery

Ray "the rayzor" Emery is back in the NHL.

The former Ottawa Senators goaltender was run out of town by the organization because of his cancerous attitude.

The once highly-touted, very skilled goaltender slipped out of the hearts of Senators fans very fast.

Emery was late to practices, missed flights, fought teammates, and was overall a horrible player to have in the locker room.

His antics forced the Senators to buy the remaining years of his contract out, and see him on his merry way. Fortunately for the league, no team wanted to have him, and thus he was forced to play in the KHL.

After a years stint in Russia, Emery was the most dominant goaltender in the league, which inevitably raised his NHL value once again.

In steps the Flyers. Over the offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers signed the pesky goaltender to basically a try-out contract to see if he can once again regain form in the NHL.

The one good thing about him is that he can fight, which is a heck of a lot more then I can say about the rest of this list.

4. Dany Heatley

As an Ottawa Senators fan myself, I am very disappointed in what has transpired this past summer with Dany Heatley.

It's been said a million times what he did, so I won't repeat that whole saga, but I would like to comment on his recent conference call.

Dany was supposed to answer all questions regarding past events, and ended up dodging them, and really not giving any new or pertinent information.

When asked about the Senators, he just kept on repeating how he saw his role diminish since he signed two years ago. This is not entirely true, as he has received a letter and has been given a bigger leadership role. While his ice time did dip since Clouston was brought on board, it was obviously for the better as the Senators started to rebound.

Secondly, when posed a question about turning down the Edmonton offer, he kept repeating that he didn't have enough options. Just cut the crap Dany; it's not like you would have went their if you had more offers. I can't see why he couldn't just come out and say that he didn't want to go there.

Finally, he completely skipped the question regarding his assistant captaincy.

This conference call solved nothing, and in turn made him even more hated then he originally was. Good work Dany.

3. Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger is quite easily the dirtiest player in the entire league.

Pronger's hits range from knee on knees, hits to the head, hits from behind, and anything and everything in-between.

This alone would put him on anyone's s%$t list, but what puts him so high up is his lack of acceptance. In Pronger's mind, I actually don't believe that he thinks he is a dirty player. Every blow to the head he gives results in a "it's because I'm too tall" excuse, which is complete hogwash, because we still see players like Chara playing a clean game.

Also, what really gets me is that he can get away with it. Just because he is one of the premier players in the league means he is absolved of all wrongdoings.

This league really needs to get rid of Colin Campbell and bring in someone with an iron fist. Someone who is not afraid to punish everyone equally. David Branch would be my candidate.

This type of play puts him at No. 3.

2. Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby may actually be the most hated player in the entire league.

Being one of the best players in the league does have its disadvantages, and one of those is that you are not going to be liked. Sid the kid, however, has a certain "je ne sais quoi".

Sidney is known as one of the biggest whiners in the entire league. Whenever even the slightest thing goes wrong, he does not like it, and makes sure everyone knows. While he is the captain, their is a limit to talking to the refs.

Secondly, in his stint in the NHL, Crosby has become a rather proficient diver. As shown in the picture above (courtesy the Flyers' website) Sidney is showing his softer side as he rolls around on the ice. At the slightest touch he will go down like a rock, and pray for a call. This is an act many hate.

The media has blown Sidney way out of proportion. The marketing that has gone behind him is sickening. Constantly hearing about him and his accomplishments can make even the smallest of hockey fans groan.

One thing that really does not garner any respect is that he lives with the owner. When drafted, team owner Mario Lemieux let Crosby live with him, and he still does.

How he is captain of an NHL team I will never know, but one thing I do know is that he is one disliked person.

1. Sean Avery

Sean Avery's actions have made him the most hated player in the NHL.

What vaults him above the other players is his general dislike among players, and fans alike.

Avery is arrogant, and does not think things through. His goal was to become a villain in the league, and that's what he did.

With actions such as what transpired between him and Brodeur, as well as his "sloppy seconds" remark about his ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, Avery has grabbed the ire of everyone that plays in, runs, and follows the league.

Congratulations Sean: you are lucky No. 1!