NHL Players Speak Out: Top 10 Highlights of the NHLPA Player Poll

Every year Hockey Night in Canada conducts an anonymous poll with the NHLPA which consists of random questions concerning all things hockey.  This year's edition was eye-opening on many fronts and cliche` on others.

Let it be known that this is obviously not an Angus-Reid or Gallup poll.  You won't find proper sample sizes of 1000 or randomly selected participants.  There is also sure to be more variance than your usual +/- 3%.  This is fun, not science.

However, it doesn't mean we can't use these results as a quick off-the-top-of-their-head snapshot of what current NHL players feel about various topics of the day. 

With that, let's take a closer look at the top 10 highlights from the results..

10: Which Team Would You Least Like To Play On?

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TORONTO - SEPTEMBER 22: Goaltender Curtis Joseph of the Toronto Maple Leafs wears a 'Leaf Fans #1' jersey in warm-ups prior to the start of the NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Air Canada Centre on September 26, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The number one team selected by players was the New York Islanders, followed by the Edmonton Oilers.  Neither of these teams should be a surprise.   Evgeni Nabokov recently hung up on Islanders' GM Garth Snow and it looks like the rest of the league would do the same.

The surprising team in the top five was the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Yes they have been a bottom-feeder for a few years and haven't had any playoff success since man invented the wheel, but they are supposed to be the center of the hockey universe.

Someone might want to inform their fans that the delusions are over...

9: Which Team Would You Most Like To Play On?

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MONTREAL- JANUARY 21: An outside view of the Bell Centre in preparation for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game on January 21, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

The interesting part of these results is not the fact that Detroit, Vancouver, Chicago and the Rangers are among the top fives teams that players would most like to play for.  These same four teams were also in the top five for the question, "Which rink is the best to play in?".  

It isn't exactly clear what the criteria was that went into these choices, but they could range anywhere from the caliber of team, hockey history and tradition, city to live in, to the hockey market itself.  

Perhaps even more intriguing is the fact that the Bell Centre was the far and away winner for the best rink to play in at 40%, but didn't even sniff the top five teams that players would want to play for.  It seems the experience of playing there is more enjoyable than living up the expectations and pressure from the fans and media.

8: Which Coach Is The Easiest To Play For?

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals instructs players during practice for the 2011 NHL Winter Classic between the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 31, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Penns

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau tops this vote with 21%.  What are we to make of this?  Do players respect a coach that is 'easy' to play for?  Keep in mind Boudreau won the coach of the year honors not too long ago.

How much did his exposure on HBO's 24/7 have to do with this perception?   He dropped more F-bombs in that series than an old NWA album, but it appears like it didn't translate into a tough image. 

The most important question in all of this is whether or not the Capitals players themselves think he is easy to play for.  

7: Which Coach Would You Most Like To Play For?

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Dan Bylsma talks with players on the bench during the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field on January 1, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty

On the other end of the HBO series 24/7 was Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.  He topped this vote with 21%.   It throws a wrench in the theory that a coach easy or hard to play for translates into someone you'd want to play for. 

Dan Bylsma made both lists.  Players thought he was a hard coach to play for, but a significant amount of players also thought he was easy to play for.   Perhaps it is a tribute to his versatility as a coach?

The second coach that players would most like to play for is Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock with 18% of the vote.  Interestingly he was voted as the second most demanding coach as well. 

New York Rangers coach was voted the first most demanding coach, but didn't even crack the top five that players would want to play for. 

6: Which Coach Would You Least Like To Play For?

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OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 17: Ron Wilson of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks with the media after a loss to the Ottawa Senators in a game at Scotiabank Place on November 17, 2009 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

The coach winning this dubious award is Toronto Maple Leafs boss Ron Wilson at 24%.   Interestingly, he wasn't in the top five for easy or hard coaches to play for which begs the question - what is it about him that players don't like?

Maybe players just don't like the guy.   It's uncertain what his reputation is around the league, but if you aren't perceived as an easy-going or tough coach, it must be something personal about them that players shy away from. 

Maybe he is also a big part of the reason why Toronto was voted in the top five teams that players didn't want to play for. 

I'm sure Brian Burke is doing cart-wheels as we speak..

5: What Do Players Feel About Fighting?

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 24: Shawn Thornton #22 of the Boston Bruins and Kyle Clifford #13 of the Los Angeles Kings fight during the first period at Staples Center on January 24, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

This category was a two-part question.  First players answered whether or not they thought the instigator rule should be abolished.   I was a bit surprised that two out of three players thought 'no'.  It was a common perception that this league restricted the ability for players to police themselves, but there must be a major aspect of the rule that players like.  

Just in case there was any doubt about what players thought about fighting in the game itself, they voted a resounding 98% to keep it in the game.  It's clear that the majority of players themselves do not fight, so the fact that they almost universally agreed to have it says something about it's importance. 

When you see the results of the upcoming slide about referees, these results might be understood in a better context. 

4: Who Is The Best Referee in The NHL?

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 14: Daniel Carcillo #13 of the Philadelphia Flyers argues a penalty call with referee Stephen Walkom #24 during the game against the New Jersey Devils in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup P

The leading vote for this question was "None" at 15%.  I laughed when I saw this result, but it's tough to tell if it is a true reflection of the state of officiating today.

Many great old school referees have retired in the last few years so it might take more time before someone gains enough experience and subsequently, respect, from the players. 

At this time it looks like none of them have managed to gain that status as of yet - including head referee Stephan Walkom. 

3: Which Canadian Team Is Most Deserving of an NHL Team?

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OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 14: A Quebec Nordiques fan shows his support for their return to the NHL at a game between the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on January 14, 2011 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Image

There has been a lot of support for the city of Winnipeg to get the next available NHL team.  Yet, this sentiment isn't shared by the players.  The vast majority of them believe that Quebec City should be the next in line.

In my most recent article I had a reader comment that he isn't quite ready to be a fan of the Colorado Avalance until all former Quebec Nordiques players and prospects are completely gone for the organization, but do former Winnipeg Jets fans feel the same way?

The rivalry between Quebec and Montreal would be a welcomed addition back into the league, but I'm not quite sure what sets them that far apart from Winnipeg since both of them lost franchises. 

2: Which Are The Most Underrated/Overrated Teams?

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 29: Alexander Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals is introduced during the Honda NHL SuperSkills competition part of 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend at the RBC Center on January 29, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Harry How

Who do you think is the most overrated team in the NHL?   Personally I would go with a team like Tampa Bay.  They have been blown out more times than any other team this year and despite the recent addition of Roloson, seem very susceptible in between the pipes and on the back end.  The players disagree and overwhelmingly chose the Washington Capitals with 35% of the vote.

This means players around the league not only think they are overrated, but also have one of the easiest coaches to play for.   Is it any secret what players think is their weakness?   Leadership and toughness come to mind...

The most underrated team in the NHL voted by the players is the Nashville Predators.  I would strongly agree with this as they are consistently picked to miss the playoffs year after year. 

Sure they don't have the same caliber of scoring or big names in their lineup, but they are well-coached, good defensively, and have one of the best goaltenders in the entire NHL.   They were also the toughest challenge that the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks faced in last years playoffs.

1: Is The Crosby/Ovechkin Debate Still Alive?

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 05: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates during warmups prior to taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 5, 2011 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Based on the results of the poll Sidney Crosby has clearly surpassed Ovechkin as the league's top player.  Sid the kid dominates many questions including:

Toughest player to play against.

Who to start a franchise with.

Who is the best role model.

Who is the smartest player.

Yet, when they polled the goalies as to who was the toughest player to stop it was Alexander Ovechkin who topped the list.  This is quite the endorsement for number eight given the fact that he is only on pace for 30 goals.

We'll see how things shake out when the players take to the polls next year....

The rest of the results can be found here.