Chris Pronger, Adam Burish, and the 25 Biggest Trash Talkers in the NHL
It's inevitable in sports; you're always going to have some good ol' fashioned trash-talking.
Some get burned, some back up their big talk, some just end up looking like children.
Giant, 250 pound children.
These agitators know how to get under not only their opponent's skin, but under the skin of fans too.
Sometimes, all we really want to do is punch them in the face. It's doubtful that would shut them up.
So, mirror mirror on the wall, who has the biggest mouth of them all?
25. Dan Ellis, Tampa Bay Lightning
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I debated putting Dan Ellis (THE Dan Ellis of "#DanEllisProblems"???) on this list. I mean, is it whining or is it trash talking?
Probably more whining than anything.
However, why not Internet-shame this guy some more?
When he's not busy trash-talking that pesty government that insists on taking his money (Ellis: it's called taxes. You're welcome), he's busy trash talking those who score on him.
"What the hell guy!?!? Why did you go and do that!? What makes you think you can score on me!?!?."
Well, Mr. Ellis, your 5-hole was wide open. It also had some flashing lights and giant arrows pointing towards it.
What else is one to do?
When Linus Omark made a sweet little move on Ellis in a shootout December 10th, Ellis remarked, "You come into a league, a respectful league like this, and you try a little move like that. It's not a very classy thing. That's just the kind of person he is."
Sorry to break it to you Danny, but I'm pretty sure that it's just that being a goalie is a #DanEllisProblem.
24. Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
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Captain "I hate Canada, but I play for Vancouver," has had a few good trash talking moments. His greatest probably being the Olympics, only to soon feel shame after being handed that shiny silver medal.
Ya, trash talking often comes back to bite you in the a**.
Oh, and apparently some girl named Kelly has given him trash talking ammo in the past. Just ask the St. Louis Blues.
23. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
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Most of Alex Ovechkin's trash talk is plainly hilarious.
Saying things like Sidney Crosby "talks too much," or that Jaroslav Halak was "obviously nervous" to be playing in the playoffs (that one came back to haunt him), he's always good for a great quote.
Most of it is pretty harmless, but also effective.
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22. Ian Lapperriere, Philadelphia Flyers
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Admitting that he decided a long time ago to chirp his way through the NHL, Ian Laperriere is a pro at the trash talk. Not only that, but he'll do it in French and English. Take that!
The fact that his nose is now sideways shows that he has had to back up that talk more than a few times.
21. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
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Tim Thomas has been no stranger to raging outbursts while in net.This typically is harmful to a goalies game, but it's definitely part of Thomas' character.
One can always see him yapping after the play stops.
20. Alex Burrows, Vancouver Canucks
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Put him and Ryan Kesler together and the two will trash talk the crap out of the opposition's bench. He basically will never stop talking.
While he's had a few good on-ice quotes, he's mostly just a fan of hitting from behind and the occasional hair pull.
After that incident with Duncan Keith, does Burrows really have the right to trash talk anyone?
19. Ryan Clowe, San Jose Sharks
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Often taunting, yelling, and mocking, Ryan Clowe loves the trash talk.
Admitting it can sometimes get out of hand, Clowe tells reporters that he can't offer quotes for some of the stuff he says, saying "it’s just spur of the moment and you just spit something out."
18. Dustin Byfuglien, Atlanta Thrashers
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Loathed by Vancouver Canucks fans, Dustin Byfuglien has had some brilliant trash-talking performances and has backed it up by scoring goals.
Roberto Luongo can thank his lucky stars that Byfuglien is now in the Eastern Conference, as a mental breakdown probably would have ensued if Lu had to face him again in the playoffs.
Fact is that Byfuglien won't back down, even resorting to taunting the crowd and it has done some great things for his career.
17. Andrew Ladd, Atlanta Thrashers
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Famous for landing a solid punch on Kesler's face and then repeatedly pointing it out to him, Ladd got under the skin of many during last year's playoffs and continues to do just that.
16. Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Dion Phaneuf doesn't give the greatest interviews, often just repeating himself and giving the same old run-of-the-mill answers.
On the bench however, he'll never stop talking.
Phaneuf definitely possesses a cocky swagger, and he lets everyone know it. One can always see him chirping from the bench, and he'll often back it up with a huge hit and a couple fights.
15. Paul Bissonnette, Phoenix Coyotes
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What's the best thing about Paul Bissonnette? His Twitter account of course!
While Bissonnette will trash talk on the ice as well, the best source for his remarks is Twitter.
Perhaps his best and most controversial trash talking tweet came about after Ilya Kovalchuk's initial contract got rejected. Calling him a "Communist," he then told him to go back to "soviet."
Yes, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's still hilarious.
For those of you wondering, his Twitter account is @BizNasty2point0.
14. Ben Eager, Atlanta Thrashers
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In the trash talk battle between Chris Pronger and Ben Eager in last year's finals was definitely won by Eager.
Able to get under the skin of others and often sounding like the biggest jerk possible, Eager can often keep his cool while getting in these heated discussions.
As for Pronger? Eager told him to keep the pucks he kept stealing. And then Eager and the Blackhawks took the Stanley Cup.
13. Patrick Kaleta, Buffalo Sabres
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Known league-wide for being an agitator, Patrick Kaleta is an enemy of many.
One reason he's so vital to the Buffalo Sabres? He really gets under the skin of his opponents.
12. Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Probably the most hated guy in the league, Matt Cooke has certainly made a name for himself.
Most ironic and hilarious of all are his comments going back to one about P.K. Subban, accusing him of being a dirty player.
HA! Apparently Matt Cooke is also a comedian, because we all know there are none more dirty than him.
To say he's an agitator is an understatement; he's a downright extremely aggravating dangerous player.
11. Jarkko Ruutu, Ottawa Senators
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What's Jarkko Ruutu's best form of trash talk? Probably that damn smile many would love to punch off his face.
Not much seems to shake this guy, and his trash talk is often accompanied by hitting from behind, cheap shots, and elbowing.
I'm pretty sure Chris Simon had a legitimate reason for kicking him.
10. Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
16 of 25So many people hate Corey Perry, and it's for good reason. Not only is he a great player, but he's a fantastic agitator.
Here, he let's Mikael Samuelsson and Pavel Datsyuk that they're "gonna get it."
Well, give credit to Perry, because he eventually provoked Datsyuk enough to get Mr. Lady Byng to fight this season.
That's impressive.
9. Maxim Lapierre, Montreal Canadiens
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Daniel Carcillo may have trouble understanding him, but that won't stop Maxim Lappiere from incessantly talking; and doing nothing to back it up.
Actually, no. He'll dive and your favourite team will get called for hooking/tripping/etc.
That's sort of like fighting, right?
8. Cal Clutterbuck, Minnesota Wild
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Talk about wit! Cal Clutterbuck has given us some of the most hilarious trash talk we could hope for.
My personal favourite?
"What does it feel like to have your nose resting against your visor the whole game?"
Yes, he actually said that to Ryan Kesler. Glorious.
7. P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
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I think P.K. Subban has successfully gotten under the skin of the Philadelphia Flyers.
After all, isn't that the goal of trash talking? Unfortunately for Subban, he has failed to back any of it up.
He really has to remember: it's hard to hear him from the press box.
Maybe it's time to tone it down, or actually do something about it.
6. Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers
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I think the most hilarious thing about Mike Richards' trash talk is that he's pretty keen on calling out other players for doing the same thing that he does.
Unlike Subban, however, he has earned his respect, dropping the gloves against anyone and yes, he's actually a really great player.
His complaining about everyone on the Pittsburgh Penguins "falling down easy," and other similar comments comes across as whiney though.
Richards could possibly benefit from talking to the media less often.
5. Daniel Carcillo, Philadelphia Flyers
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Here's a display of Daniel Carcillo in his prime; falling over, waiting for the refs to do something about it, then complaining when nothing happens.
That's pretty much essential to Carcillo's game, but so is trash talking.
During last year's playoff match up against the Montreal Canadiens, he claimed things like he couldn't understand Maxim Lapierre's chirping and then called Mike Cammalleri's taunting "embarrassing," adding that the last time he was teased like that it was "probably a girl, a pretty one, too.”
Sorry Carcillo, no one believes that.
4. Adam Burish, Dallas Stars
22 of 25Who could forget Adam Burish's war with Chris Pronger in the Finals last year? Hilarity!
Though Burish may have gotten the last laugh in the form of a Stanley Cup, his trash talking game is weak at best. This doesn't shut him up though, unfortunately.
Whether he's allegedly spewing racial slurs against the classy Jarome Iginla or telling Pronger he's "the biggest idiot in the league" and that he's "terrible," Burish always comes out the loser in the game of trash talk.
Few have been less deserving of a Stanley Cup than him. And Matt Cooke.
3. Steve Ott, Dallas Stars
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Steve Ott is the definition of an agitator. A really dirty agitator.
Headbutting? Check. Eye-gouging? Check. Hits from behind/to the head? Check. Apparently learning to trash talk in multiple languages? Check.
Let's put it this way: Ott's mouth is definitely not the only lethal weapon he possesses.
2. Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
24 of 25I really hate Chris Pronger. I mean I loathe Chris Pronger.
I'm Canadian and couldn't even support Pronger in the 2010 Winter Olympics. But that's how good he is at trash talking; people who don't even know him can genuinely hate him.
One of the most annoying things about Pronger's trash talk is the fact that he's so clearly proud after everything he says, even though he often just sounds like a child.
His burn on Adam Burish? Amazing. Really though, is it all that hard to burn Burish?
How about stealing pucks in the Stanley Cup finals? Weak.
Then there are his comments to refs. "I'm not getting into a he-said she-said with the refs, and I'm the 'he'." Really Pronger? Did you just call the ref a girl? Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize we were back in elementary school.
While Pronger is good at the trash talk, he's mostly a dirty player and that's what is most agitating about his game.
1. Sean Avery, New York Rangers
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Look at me! Pay attention! I'm extremely insecure!
Let's face it; this is all Sean Avery knows how to do. Sure, he can occasionally score, but really, what is he most known for?
The fact that he NEVER backs up his trash talk has lost him respect league-wide.
Always looking for a reaction, Avery will never shut up. However, he's rarely even getting that anymore. Yes, Avery, it's getting old.
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