NHL players name the Top 5 “Dirtiest player in the league.”

Who made the list?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
NHL players name the Top 5 “Dirtiest player in the league.”
Anthony Nesmith/CSM/Zuma

Every fan and pundit around the National Hockey League has an opinion on just about everything that is hockey related, but one group that we do not often get to hear from on interesting topics surrounding the game are the players themselves. Thankfully The Athletic has started an annual tradition in which they survey hundreds of players from around the National Hockey League and get some feedback on some of those very same topics, all the while allowing the players to maintain their anonymity. 

One of the most interesting questions posed to players this year was one regarding who the "dirtiest player in the league" currently is, and the responses from the players proved to be pretty interesting. I think it will come as no surprise to anyone that there was a clear winner this time around, with Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand claiming a whopping 29% of all the votes submitted by players. The Bruins veteran remains the NHL's most notorious agitator and it seems as though his reputation as a player who keeps things on the edge at all times has not diminished in the slightest over time. It is not just that he was selected as the dirtiest player in the league however, some players had some pretty unflattering things to say about the Bruins forward.

“It’s disgusting what the league lets Marchand get away with. He’s got no respect for anybody. Makes me sick,” said an unidentified Central Division player as per The Athletic.

“Let’s go with Brad Marchand. He’s a little prick,” said an unidentified player in the Metropolitan Division.

Marchand was of course not the only player to receive votes, and in fact there were a few names on the list who also found themselves getting quite a few mentions for this dubious award. Rounding out the Top 5 were Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals with 24% of the vote, Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames with 11% of the vote, Radko Gudas of the Capitals with 7% of the vote and Antoine Roussel of the Vancouver Canucks with 3% of the vote.

Do you think the players got it right? Who would be your pick for this award?

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