The NHL's most hated player still yet to join a new team
The NHL has plenty of players that are hated by opposition players and fans alike, but none more than Nick Cousins, who is yet to garner interest in free agency.
The Florida Panthers went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 2024, and unsurprisingly, many of the key contributors that team went on to sign huge deals in free agency shortly thereafter. One player that hasn't drawn that interest however is Nick Cousins, who remains a free agent after proving in 2023/24 that he is the dirtiest player in the league.
That style of play, that is significantly different to the hard nosed style of a Matt Rempe or a Ryan Reaves, was called out in a big way by Sportsnet's Kevin Bieksa, and it could be this feeling from many that keeps him a free agent.
"What people don't wanna watch and see is kneeing, hitting a guys head into the boards, ramming a guy from behind and that is a common theme for [Nick Cousins]," said Bieksa back in January. "I have never done this before but I have to do it, because this is a trend with this player."
"There's no place in the game for this and what is the common theme in all of these? Him at the bottom of the pile in a turtle position," said Bieksa with disgust. "This has been a common theme with this player... somebody in that organization or somebody that he respects has to sit down and say 'Enough of this' or the NHL has to come down and hammer this guy."
"Somebody has to hammer this guy from the department of justice and put an end to these crappy hits because I hate em and that's a rat to me," said Bieksa. "I'm sorry it is."
"There's no place in the game for this and what is the common theme in all of these? Him at the bottom of the pile in a turtle position," said Bieksa with disgust. "This has been a common theme with this player... somebody in that organization or somebody that he respects has to sit down and say 'Enough of this' or the NHL has to come down and hammer this guy."
"Somebody has to hammer this guy from the department of justice and put an end to these crappy hits because I hate em and that's a rat to me," said Bieksa. "I'm sorry it is."
While others are confident in their rough style of play that forces them into fighting, Cousins is the exact opposite, and while teams need toughness, they just don't need a player like Cousins, who could remain unsigned all the way until the season begins.
Source: Hockey Feed
The most hated man in the NHL is still unsigned.
The most hated man in the NHL is still unsigned.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 28 | 308 ANSWERS The NHL's most hated player still yet to join a new team Will Nick Cousins find a team before the 2024/25 regular season? | ||
| Yes | 183 | 59.4 % |
| No | 125 | 40.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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