The NHL All-Hate Team: We Hate These Guys
Feb 25, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media prior to the game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Hate. It’s the rawest of emotion, coming in all forms. Unlike “love” where we need a good reason for it, most times hate is completely irrational. And as hockey fans, we’re okay with that.
Let’s face it: we all love our teams and while we may not care for the opposition, we don’t necessarily hate them either. We want them to lose, but the mere sight of them doesn’t make your skin crawl and have you openly rooting against them. Well, for most players anyway.
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You see, there is a special group of players that transcend the rest and unless they are on your favorite team, you can’t stand to look at their face. In some respects we should be thankful for these players because they unite us all for the common good: to hate them.
Over the next several pages we’ll go through the “All-Hate Team” of current NHL players. For guys like Dale Hunter and Sean Avery, don’t worry. Your place is reserved on the all-time team.
(Note: Yes, I think it’s fitting that the first image for an All-Hate Team includes Gary Bettman. No, I didn’t differentiate between the forward spots, so we chose three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. And no, my editors wouldn’t allow me to go with six Rangers despite my pleas…)