In the theatrical masterpiece The Dark Knight, there are clearly defined roles of the villain (the Joker) and the hero (Batman). The obvious costumes, hairstyles and visible scarring made it easy to see whom we were supposed to root for, but that isn’t always true in the world of sports.
In almost any and every athletic competition there are the “good guys” and the “bad guys”. Since all team sports require a uniform and most makeup and eye patches are prohibited, it isn’t always easy to pick out the villains. However, through the course of play and their actions before and after the whistle, certain players draw the ire of the opposition and their fans.
Hockey in particular has a long list of players who would wear the black hat if hockey were a random cowboy film. Names like Claude Lemieux, Darcy Tucker, Esa Tikkanen, Ken Linseman, Brian Marchemant, Sean Avery and Dale Hunter all evoke images of douchebaggery and emotions of hatred.
The NHL doesn’t currently have guys that rank among these players that we all loved to hate, but the playoffs and the emotional imbalance generated create a whole new crop of bad guys. Here are the top five villains of the 2013 NHL playoffs.
5. Andrew Shaw - What gets Shaw mentioned on the list is his gritty and grating style. For such a slight player (5’ 11”, 185), Shaw always seems to find himself embroiled in post-whistle scrapes and marginally legal hits. The most infuriating part of Shaw’s game is that he is a very gifted offensive player and can make you look pretty foolish if you decide that you want to go after him.
4. Milan Lucic - Quite possibly one of the most hated players in the league and one of the toughest, Lucic can beat you down with his fists or his mitts. He is the quintessential power forward in the NHL today with a mean streak a mile wide. He polices the top line for Boston with a wicked awesome scoring touch as well.
3. Bryan Bickell - With size and very underrated hands, Bickell has taken over the goal scoring lead for the Western Conference Champions. With his eight goals and five assists Bickell is just a point off the scoring lead for Chicago. By parking himself in front of the oppositions’ net, Bickell serves as a massive screen, general annoyance and garbage man collecting the dirty goals when there is a scramble in front of the net.
2. Chris Neil - In case you were thinking I was just going with the Stanley Cup finalists, you’re incorrect. I could probably shuffle the list and throw David Bolland or Shawn Thornton in there. Neil is probably a half tick behind as the most hated player in the game. He loses points because he is such a good guy off the ice. When Neil is on the ice you better believe that opposing players have their head on a swivel.
1.Brad Marchand - The “Little Ball of Hate” has made a career out of being the heir apparent to Sean Avery as the most annoying and hated player in hockey. Marchand’s hustle, determination and sheer will to succeed cannot be denied, but it’s the extracurricular stuff that draws the crosschecks from opponents and vitriol from their fans. If ever a player thrived off of being despised, it’s got to be Marchand. He will be public enemy number one for Chicago Blackhawk fans starting Wednesday.