Biggest jerks in the NHL

[Crosby2010]

It all depends on the definition of a jerk. There are some guys who were warm individuals to the fans but in private were horrible. And I guess vice versa. I personally believe (don't throw tomatoes at me, hear me out) that Harold Ballard falls more into the category of the vice versa crowd. I think he publicly liked the idea of being a jerk, and he did do some bad things to players, but he had a shocking amount of charitableness to him privately that he never really let on. Not someone you think of as a philanthropist, but he was. It has softened my approach on him a bit to an extent. Still drove the Leafs to the ground though!

Terry Sawchuk sounds similar to this. Probably was dealing with some PTSD or depression. But he could be very difficult even with his own teammates at times. But there was a time in Maple Leaf Gardens that he gave a young fan who got a puck in the nose his goalie stick. He instructed teammate Marcel Pronovost not to tell anyone about this. He just wanted people to stay away from him. Maybe he'd have a Barrasso-like reputation if the internet existed then.

I'll ask this, is there a defense against Barrasso? Are there nice stories about him at all? Has he softened in later years? I know he had a bitter relationship with the media, and I can understand to an extent, and there is that post earlier in the thread about how he allegedly treated that young fan. But was there experiences anyone had of him of being nice to the fans? Taking time and being polite to them?

 

[eXile3]

The fact that the pens paid a whole bunch of money to settle the SA suit right before it went to court, taken together with the totality of circumstances, doesn’t reflect well on the actions of the FO. With Mario named personally as a defendant in that suit.

As for the specific details in the rape case, I can’t speak to those, but i know the girl in Mario’s bed testified that she heard the girl in the next bed crying and pleading “No” during the alleged rape. If that was true and Mario was in the room and did nothing, that’s a pretty damning indictment of his character by itself.

What led you to draw the conclusion that the claims were fabricated?

The lack of…what’s that called? Oh evidence.

 

[Reality Czech]

While that may be true, Berglund is not the nicest of guys either :/

……eh?

I haven't heard anything negative about Berglund and I've heard he was extremely well liked in St Louis. Having mental health issues doesn't make him a jerk unless there's something else I don't know.

 

[Hallonbroder]

I haven't heard anything negative about Berglund and I've heard he was extremely well liked in St Louis. Having mental health issues doesn't make him a jerk unless there's something else I don't know.

Can’t go into details here, but he really s**t the bed here in Sweden

 

[Nogatco Rd]

The lack of…what’s that called? Oh evidence.

witness testimony is certainly evidence

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

He was a dick to Gary Coleman

I can see Mess’ left nut

 

[Terry Yake]

aside from the usual suspects like bowman, barrasso, cherry, ballard, etc.....how about alan eagleson?

 

[The Shadow]

What did he do again?



Modano played 40 games in his final season, and that included the final game of the year. It isn't as if Babcock benched him specifically for a game that would have given him 1500 games. He missed half the season either because he was injured or he just wasn't really all that good anymore. I personally can't remember which one, but there seems to be this idea that he was right on the cusp of 1500 and then sat out that game just because Babcock felt like it.

I believe this was proven false already in this thread. Something like 4 games left in the season and the coach knew that Modano was close to that milestone and sat him intentionally

 

[Reality Czech]

Can’t go into details here, but he really s**t the bed here in Sweden

Oof, I just googled it. I hadn't heard that. Not good at all if true.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

No politics, folks. You know better.

 

[Paper]

Except besides the Tibetts thing none of that has been proven, and for the most part looks to be fabricated.

Don't believe rape victims and their eye-witness friends?

 

[Paper]

witness testimony is certainly evidence

As was the rape kit, and the police observation.

After going to the home of one of her friends, Doe went to a local hospital for a sexual assault examination and called police. The officer who questioned her noted a bruise or scratch on her left shoulder and another mark on her upper back.

Bloomington police commenced an investigation that included arresting Quinn, executing a search warrant at the hotel, and taking statements from the witnesses, including the three Pittsburgh Penguin players. The Bloomington Police Chief believed that a rape had occurred and urged prosecution. The Hennepin County Attorney, however, decided not to prosecute Quinn. The decision not to prosecute was announced two weeks after the incident. The North Stars fired Quinn for violating the team's curfew on the night in question.

 

[Enniskillen]

Nice try Tom

It’s was almost an extortion, call the cops! What a d.ck.

 

[elmaco]

WTF, I love Corey Perry now.

He's so douchy its funny, still a jerk tho.

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

Not that I have to explain it to you but I can give you some hints:

Tage - his SoMe content, especially early November

EK - worked around WCH 2016, he was an a** to some players, especially the Sedins

Marner - strikes me as an entitled child

Etc

What does this mean?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Thread is veering into lipstickalley territory where soon names will need to be disguised but hinted at lol. Still, I’m entertained

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Jacob Trouba is a crazy problem. The issue with him is his ego and feels he's entitled. Like he's not going to demand royalty. I have stories about him I can't say on these boards.

Evander Kane is no secret.

One of my best friends played in the NHL and has told me a shit ton of crazy stories about many players. But according to one of his old teammates, Brendan Shanahan was the biggest prick.

 

[Voight]

Scotty Bowman as Coach/GM in Buffalo.

Had to give permission for any of the guys on the team to be interviewed.

Once pulled his goalie with over 6 minutes left in a game because he wanted to embarrass them. Similarly, he pulled Tom Barrasso from a game against the Wings and after giving up an ENG, told Barrasso to stay on the bench rather than go in - which Barrasso rightly took personally - and gave up two more ENGs rather than let Barrasso finish the game.

The lawsuit from Rick Martin over forcing Rick to play with a bad knee that ended his career. It's that he was complicit in it - Martin settled out of court for $2 million.

Trading any player who he had beef with, often as far away as possible. Trading Larry Playfair to LA was a direct result of Larry telling Bowman he didn't want to fight any more after Playfair broke open one of the Sutter twin's faces in a game. McKegney traded to Quebec was another, Martin to LA. Dealing two captains (Gare and Schoenfeld) to the Wings where Schoeny said "I have nothing good to say about that man" on the way out of town. Gare had similar comments.

His feud with Real Cloutier that put Cloutier into the IHL and retirement - the talk at the time was he was still mad Cloutier had refused to play for him in Montreal and went to the WHA instead.

Having a direct line installed to the bench so in game he could call down to the HC and meddle in what was going on during home games when he was officially just the GM.

He had a moment where he called ever player on the team into a meeting one at a time to ask them if they had called a reporter to let the reporter know that Dave Andreychuk's supposed fall down some stairs that resulted in him missing the playoffs with a broken collar bone was due to Andy actually f***ing around on an ATV. He made every player come in to his office with the reporter there.

Made him so miserable that Perreault said he retired rather than play for him.

Yeah, great coach and an excellent eye for talent in personnel roles, but with control his ego was rampant and he lashed out like a child at anyone who he felt wronged him.

A lot of people now remember Scotty Bowman as the grandfatherly figure with the Wings Cup win in 2002. But he was a miserable SOB to players and everyone around him for most of his career.

Even Red Wings who remember him fondly overall talk about how he'd go months without saying a word to them. And they were thankful for it.

"You hated him for 364 days a year. And on the 365th day, you collected your Stanley Cup rings." - Steve Shutt on Scotty Bowman.

So yea, even going back to the dynasty days in Montreal players hated the guy, but dealt with it for obvious reasons.

 

[Voight]

I remember reading a story on reddit years ago, about how some dude was sitting near RNH (or possibly Hall) at a bar with some girls, and after a few drinks he sticks his debit card in one of their mouthes and goes "hey baby, how does $925,000 taste?" or something along the lines of that.

I'm not sure if it's true or not, but that story has always stuck with me.

There's numerous stories like this about Hall and Eberle when they were in Edmonton, they were the definition of douchebag jocks.

They'd kick people out of washrooms so they could get a quickie in with some girl they just met.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Admitted woman-beater Casey DeSmith should be up there if we are talking off-ice transgressions.

What does this mean?

I’m guessing SoMe = social media, never seen that before tho

 

[JuJu Mobb]

I heard Wheeler and Scheifele bullied Patrik Laine.

 

[Voight]

But hey he can go down as the biggest loser ever with 4 SCF losses.

Thats actually Brian Propp, with five finals losses.

 

[sensfan4lifee]

But hey he can go down as the biggest loser ever with 4 SCF losses.

He won a cup so he's not that much of a loser

 

[elmaco]

I heard Wheeler and Scheifele bullied Patrik Laine.

Paul Maurice is more of a friend of the players than a true authority. It is said Scheifele and Wheeler almost ran the team and they obviously didn't like the new kid.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I think unless it's a specific fan event, players dont owe you their time or attention. So if you get snubbed for an autograph or something then it doesn't necessarily make the player a jerk.

Lots of posts in here about waiting at practice or the like for players and them not giving you a sig...don't you have any sense of perspective? Maybe the player doesn't want to be singing autographs all the time. If it's for your child then...what the hell are you doing assuming you'll get one just because you're at practice or waiting after hours when the game is over in hopes the players walk by?

I once saw PK Subban across the street while I was at work. I dropped everything I was doing and ran across the street. He was on the phone with his dad (it was Father's Day), I said "Hey PK! Sorry man really quick just wanted to shake your hand and say you're one of my favorite players". He had a really big sigh and said "Sorry DAD one second". He was kind of a jerk about it but I also was invading his space and private time. I wish the interaction went better of course but maybe the guy has a hundred of these types of interactions a month and was just fed up with it that day? I don't know. I wouldn't say he was a jerk for it, just that I wish it was a cooler meeting.

The next year I went to "Keith Relief" in Chicago and there were a bunch of Hawks there. Said hi to a few of them and shook their hands. It was pretty cool. But that was also a thing that they agreed to go to specifically to be interacting with fans. We're not entitled to anything and I think fans forget that