The NHL's All-Personality Team and the Interviews to Back Them Up

The NHL is filled with athletes who have talents that are displayed on and off the ice. These players are under the spotlight all the time and have a duty to conduct business with the media. Often times, players give straightforward interviews, but from time to time, a player will mix things ups.

This slideshow will take a look at some of the NHL's most personable players and the interviews to back them up.

If you can think of some current players, coaches or authority figures missed on this list, leave a comment below.

Ilya Bryzgalov

This interview screams personality. Bryzgalov took a lot of flack for the zaniness of this interview during HBO's 24/7, but he does have personality.

He is knowledgeable in a few different areas, and his interests in the universe, animals and Russian liquor are quite interesting.

Drew Doughty and Luke Schenn

This interview featured two young defenseman and touched on a variety of subjects. The clip is rather long, but there are some solid moments worth listening too. Doughty and Schenn really were laid-back and had some fun moments with Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Kevin Bieksa

Kevin Bieksa drew a lot of laughs from fans, teammates and other media members for this impersonation of Ryan Kesler. The funniest thing about this interview is that the reporter actually thought Bieksa was Kesler.

If that level of charisma and commitment doesn't scream personality, I don't know what does.

Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas has a strong political personality. He was a great interview subject for the Boston Bruins during their Stanley Cup run. This season, Thomas made headlines when he "snubbed" President Obama during the Bruins' visit to the White House.

Thomas showed that his was firm in his political beliefs during this interview, and he wouldn't give in to media pressure.

Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger is well known for his top defensive play, his hard hits and his physicality. Pronger is also quite the jokester when it comes to dealing with the media.

Pronger is quite playful, fools around with the media and has some fun deflecting questions and picking on reporters.

The Philadelphia Flyers' captain really has a ton of personality.

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin is a skilled player and is also comedic and witty in some of his interviews and television commercials. This interview during All-Star weekend in particular was pretty funny. Ovechkin always seems to take control with the media and often tries to lighten the mood. 

Henrik Lundqvist

When Henrik Lundqvist isn't backstopping the Rangers, playing guitar with John McEnroe or dropping F-bombs at award ceremonies, he is conducting normal interviews like this.

However, this interview took a comedic left turn when Stan Fischler got close enough to Lundqvist that the All-Star goaltender tried guessing what cologne The Maven was wearing.

John Tortorella

Does anything really need to be said about John Tortorella? He is straightforward, brash, honest and full of personality. He hates reporters who try to coach his team, he hates stupid questions and he doesn't like dealing with the media.

Torts is full of personality, and he brings a lot to the table as head coach of the New York Rangers.

Scott Gomez

Scott Gomez may be known for his terrible contract, his year-long goal drought and other negative traits, but he is pretty personable during interviews.

During this interview with Elliote Friedman of CBC, things were going normally until Gomez started talking about what he wanted for Christmas. It was pretty funny, and it shows the Gomez can lighten up from time to time even when things aren't going his way.

Jonathan Toews

Jonathan Toews sometimes cannot contain his emotions and feelings. This interview features Toews expressing how $%^&* good it felt to win. After watching this interview, it is probably a good thing that there were not that many live microphones on the ice after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

Scott Hartnell

Scott Hartnell made a splash when he challenged "Hulk Hogan" in Pittsburgh during the playoffs. Claude Giroux is one of the Philadelphia Flyers' best players, but Hartnell, and his fun and joking personality, had to mess with Claude Giroux.

This was a pretty funny moment for all parties involved, and it shows tons of personality on the part of Giroux and Hartnell.

Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen is quite the character. He has earned internet fame for a lot of GIFs featuring him eating waffles, scaring children and punching a Happy Meal out of a girl's hands. Speaking of a McDonalds Happy Meal, Jokinen showed some personality and levity when asked about his big performance.

His response to reporters: a Big Mac meal. 

Keith Yandle and Paul Bissonnette

Paul Bissonnette and Keith Yandle are members of the Phoenix Coyotes. BizNasty has a resounding presence and personality on Twitter, but Keith Yandle held his own here.

This interview was pretty funny as it featured two teammates who are comedic and full of personality.

Brian Burke

Brian Burke is never at a loss for words. He is full of character and personality that comes across in his interviews. He can be funny, sardonic and at times very straightforward. This assortment of clips deals with his opinions on his own players, opposing coaches, the NHL and the many captains of the Detroit Red Wings.

Love him or hate him, Brian Burke is full of personality.

Pavel Datsyuk

Pavel Datsyuk is a flashy forward with tons of moves. He is also a pretty interesting interviewee. In this interview, Datsyuk talks about his defense and jokes that it is easy to be a defensive forward with Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios on the backend.

Datsyuk likes to crack jokes in a subtly and dry way, but he really has a great personality.

Bruce Boudreau

Bruce Boudreau made a name for himself during HBO's 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic, but he is a very straightforward and personal coach. He always tells you what is on his mind, and he doesn't pull any punches.

Boudreau complained about some of the diving that goes on in the game, and he is very sardonic and opinionated in his analysis.

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby is the ultimate extreme player in the NHL. He is also like Justin Bieber in the sense that either you are completely enamored with him or you can't stand his guts.

Either way, Crosby really couldn't stand the Flyers in this interview. He is very straightforward with the media about his disdain towards Philadelphia. 

There is always a lot of personality whenever Sidney Crosby addresses the media, and this is just another example of that.