In a game where the rough stuff and fighting is as common as it is in hockey, you are bound to get some dirty players. And while many people will have different opinions on what it means to be a dirty player, it is largely that the player simply does things outside of the rulebook often as is either penalized, suspended or fined for it. Here are three of the absolute dirtiest players in the league today.
1. Matt Cooke
(source: forum.canucks.com)
Cooke (who is currently a free agent) is not only among the dirtiest players in the league currently, he is one of the worst offenders of all time. The guy is a straight up cheap shot artist and has had a laundry list of terrible offenses and keeps reoffending. Whether it is a knee on knee, an elbow, a hit from behind or anything else, Cooke has likely done it and will do it again. Though I seriously doubt we’ll ever see him play in the NHL which I believe is a good thing.
2. Zac Rinaldo
(source: thehockeywriters.com)
While Rinaldo might be best known for his pesky ways as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, he is now a member of the Boston Bruins. Since his days playing junior hockey, Rinaldo has never ever tried to hide the player that he is. He has always been an instigator and trouble maker and that rep has followed him into the NHL. He has had numerous suspensions for awful hits and really has nothing else to offer an NHL team in terms of offense or defense.
3. Brad Marchand
(source: blogs.theprovince.com)
Let’s face it, unless you are a Bruins fan, you likely hate Brad Marchand. The man has a history of illegal and cheap body checks and despite this, he was still an important piece of a Bruins Stanley Cup win. He has been suspended a few times in his career for questionable behaviour and his awful low hit on Sami Salo during the playoffs was actually called “predatory” by some of those in charge of disciplinary action in the NHL.
