NHL: The Good Boys?

There are no athletes quite the same as hockey players. If you look throughout NHL history, you can find very few reputational flaws of those in the NHL. NHL-ers have always been thought of as gentlemen who have respect for one another and for life.

With guys like Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman, Jerome Iginla, Gordie Howe, and Bobby Orr, how could you go wrong?

Statistics have shown that hockey players, of all professional athletes, are to be most faithful and committed to marriage and law. Yes, the NHL has a much better track record than the NBA, NFL, and even MLB.

The NBA's bad boys like Alan Iverson, Dennis Rodman, and Qyntel Woods have caused the NBA to have its hands full. The NFL's trouble makers—Mike Vick, O. J. Simpson, and Adam Jones—have caused some sad days.

It seems like the NHL has a squeaky clean record compared to these other leagues. But will it last? In the recent years there have been many issues popping out of the NHL.

Controversy of Alan Eagleson has had its time in the news.

What about Mike Danton? He is not to be forgotten; only a murder attempt on a former agent's life (whether he deserved it or not)!

NHL's Rick Tocchet has caused his share of laws broken with illegal gambling.

The NHL has had its recent bumps. Is there any chance that the NHL will stop its slide into the downward spiral of bad example athletes like the other professional leagues in North America? Probably not, but with the refusal of all clubs to sign a player like Ray Emery (who seemed to be a loose canon to his Ottawa Senator team), there could be hope or at least a slow down.

When the NHL starts to allow players to live without conscience, there will be no North American good-old-boys to look up to.