ESPN Body Issue: 5 Hockey Players That No One Wants to See in the Buff

ESPN The Magazine released its annual "Body Issue" last week.  Representing the NHL in the magazine was Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks. While there is no doubt Kesler is in great physical condition, the premise of the magazine made me think, "What players would you definitely not want to see in this edition of ESPN The Magazine?"

One would think in the days of multimillion dollar contracts and in-house personal trainers there couldn't be NHL players that don't take their physical conditioning seriously. Alas, there are still a few players who have not jumped on board the year-round conditioning bandwagon.

The following is a tribute to those few holdouts.

Alex Ovechkin

The above picture form a video interview that Alex Ovechkin took part in made the rounds this offseason and it made many wonder exactly what type of summer conditioning program the "Great 8" was using to prepare for the upcoming season. 

In an interview posted on Puck Daddy, Ovie blamed the bulge on a bad camera angle and his sitting posture.

Tim Thomas

Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas can probably walk down the street in almost city (other than Boston) and not be recognized as an NHL goalie that has a Stanley Cup, Vezina Trophy and a Conn Smythe Trophy to his name.

He just does not resemble an elite athlete—he looks more like your shop teacher. 

None of this is to knock his tremendous talent in net, but it's doubtful that a body of a Greek god resides beneath those pads.

Martin Brodeur

During the 2008 NHL playoffs, New Jersey Devils goaltender skated past the New York Rangers' Sean Avery without shaking Avery's hand following the Devils' elimination at the hands of the Rangers.

Brodeur's passing Avery by during the post-game handshake resulted in Avery calling Brodeur "fatso" during an interview. While the name-calling is juvenile and uncalled for, I don't think anyone is clamoring for Brodeur to be the cover model for an upcoming edition of "The Body" Issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Drew Doughty

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

During his draft year, ESPN profiled the soon-to-be member of the Los Angeles Kings and offered up the fact that the young player was pushing 220 pounds at 6'0".

Maybe that extra weight was just baby fat, but when this year's The Magazine model Kesler is two inches taller and 10 pounds lighter than the 212 pounds Doughty was listed at last season, well, the chances of Doughty getting the call next year are—ahem—slim.

Dustin Byfuglien

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Over the summer Dustin Byfuglien was arrested and one of the surprising facts that was reported was his weight: 286 pounds.

That would put him at 26 pounds heavier than the 6'9" Zdeno Chara while being four inches shorter.

Odds are that The Magazine will pass on Mr. Byfuglien to grace its pages in the future.