Sean Avery and 5 Players Philadelphia Flyers Fans Would Hate to See in Philly

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Every NHL team has their rivals and certain players who always seem to be a thorn in their side. Sean Avery may be more of a notable player than most, as he seems to piss just about everyone off at one point or another. 

There are just some players who were never meant to play with certain teams, and players who would never last in certain cities.

I got to thinking about how Philadelphia Flyers fans would react to certain players being traded to Philly, so I figured this might be a good opportunity to make a quick list and see just how many people agree with my assessment. 

In this slideshow, I'll list five players that Philadelphia Flyers fans would hate to see put on the orange and black, or just flat-out wouldn't last in Philly.

I hope you enjoy the read, and as always, feedback is much appreciated.

5. Sean Avery, New York Rangers

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Sean Avery is a well-known pest in the NHL.

He knows how to get under just about anyone's skin, and he doesn't really care what he says or does.

How could anybody forget the "sloppy seconds" comment? Or the numerous dirty hits he's gotten away with?

Maybe that's why Avery has played for four NHL teams.

As if Philadelphia fans didn't already hate him enough, now he plays with the Rangers, one of the Flyers' biggest rivals.

It certainly makes the Winter Classic a little more exciting when you have two teams that hate each other squaring off.

That being said, I'm almost positive that if Sean Avery were to be traded to Philadelphia, it would cause a major uproar. I don't think Philly fans would accept it at all, and I wouldn't give him more than a few months before he was making his way out of town.

4. Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals

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Lovely picture, eh?

Alexander Semin has loads of talent, there is no denying it. He's a great player and he knows how to find the back of the net.

That being said, Semin has started to wear out his welcome in Washington with his lazy play and lack of effort.

Semin has a reputation for being another "lazy Russian" in Washington, and I can't really say I disagree.

Everybody knows he is more talented than he lets on, yet Semin doesn't really seem to care too much. 

Philadelphia Flyers fans are used to the "lazy Russian" routine, having signed Nikolay Zherdev last season, and seeing it firsthand.

Most Philly fans were pretty harsh on Zherdev last year, which is probably part of the reason he's no longer with the team.

The Philly media can be harsh, and I don't think Semin would last more than a few months in Philadelphia. His play may be acceptable in Washington, but he would never be able to get away with the stuff he does in Philly.

3. Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins

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Like Sean Avery, Matt Cooke is pretty much known league-wide as a dirty player.

There have been numerous instances where he probably should have been fined or suspended and wasn't, but there's nothing that can be done about it.

Matt plays a very physical game and doesn't care who he runs over or cross-checks in the process.

Even after being punished a few times, Cooke's game has not changed, and don't expect it to anytime soon.

He's one of those guys you love to hate, but in this case, Philly fans would be disgusted to have him on their team. 

It doesn't exactly help that he's playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of the Flyers' biggest rivals, but Cooke always seems to play a bit dirtier when matched up with Philly.

Now, some Philly fans may embrace him for his physical play, but I'm pretty sure most fans would absolutely hate acquiring him, as most Flyers fans (including myself) have lost all respect for him.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Cooke has a career in Philly.

2. Milan Lucic, Boston Bruins

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Milan Lucic is another player who plays a very rough, physical game and has been known to dish out some pretty dirty hits in the past, but somehow manages to avoid suspension time after time.

Don't get me wrong—I think Lucic does have some talent, but I believe for the most part he's overrated, and he's certainly more of a goon than a goal scorer.

I'm sure Bruins fans everywhere love him, and I'm pretty sure most other hockey fans elsewhere hate him, for one reason or another.

I wasn't even going to put Lucic in this slideshow, but to me it seems more recently that he's becoming even more gritty than before, and I think people are finally starting to see that he's really not much more than a goon on the ice most times.

What I hate to admit is the fact that Milan Lucic might be just what the Flyers are lacking. However, I think for the most part Philly fans would be pissed to see him in a Flyers sweater, especially since he's probably not even worth a draft pick to many fans.

1. Steve Downie, Tampa Bay Lightning

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It's a little ironic that I even put Steve Downie in here, seeing as how he actually was a Philadelphia Flyer.

That being said, I think there's pretty good reason that he isn't anymore, and if you watch some Tampa Bay games, it may or may not become obvious to you.

Downie has been a firecracker since he first broke into the league, but his temper can be something that gets your team in a heap of trouble fast.

In all the years he's been in the NHL, he still hasn't really found a way to cool his temper other than dropping the gloves and taking stupid penalties.

The Flyers are already chock-full of guys who take stupid penalties, so it wouldn't make much sense for them to ever look back at trading him.

Now, don't get me wrong—Downie has shown before that he can put the puck in the back of the net, most notably in the 2009-10 season, when he notched 22 goals and 24 assists, but I think that season was more of a fluke than him showcasing his talents.

Some Philly fans still like Downie because this is where he came from, but if you ask me, I wouldn't want him anywhere near this team ever again. Let Tampa Bay figure out what to do with him.

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