Aggressors On The Ice
Not all NHL players like to keep their heads low and skate; some love to be loud, aggressive, and rowdy. These types of players definitely know how to bring the intensity, putting on a show for audiences while also attracting plenty of complaints from the other bench. Here are five names you'll often hear labelled as some of the most aggressive in the entire league.
1. Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson has a long-running reputation in the NHL for his heavy, punishing physical play and for regularly testing the league’s boundaries. As a result, he's often described as one of the most intimidating players by both hockey media and player polls. When he's on the ice, everyone's watching out.
2. Brad Marchand
A player that's regularly regarded as one of the NHL's most persistent agitators, Brad Marchand certainly has his own highlight reel of aggressive moments. Fan and media discussions regularly place him near the top of “dirtiest” or most irritating player lists. There's no such thing as "playing quietly" with him.
RicLaf from Halifax, Canada on Wikimedia
3. Matthew Tkachuk
A player known for skating with edge, looking for contact hits, and always staying in the mix of scrums, Matthew Tkachuk always has people on the lookout. He is repeatedly cited as a modern example of a star who plays a very confrontational style. When games get tense, he tends to be directly involved in raising the temperature.
Jaime4Jesus (talk) on Wikimedia
4. Ryan Reaves
Ryan Reaves has built his NHL identity around physicality and fighting credibility, letting everyone remember him as one of the most recognizable tough presences in the league. You can't talk about NHL “bruisers” and enforcers without including his name.
5. Nick Cousins
Now this is an NHL player who knows how to get under his opponents' skin. Nick Cousins is persistent, annoying, and loves to get confrontational. He's the kind of player who can turn a routine shift into an argument with very little notice.
