Back in Time Today
Hockey has always been a sport where physicality meets skill, creating perfect conditions for controversy to thrive. Throughout NHL history, certain players have stood out not just for their talent, but for pushing boundaries both on and off the ice.
From dangerous hits to off-ice scandals, these players have divided fan opinions, sparked rule changes, and sometimes even faced legal consequences for their actions.
1. Sean Avery: Hockey’s Ultimate Provocateur
The master of mental warfare, Sean Avery elevated antagonism to an art form during his NHL career. His infamous ‘face-guarding’ of Martin Brodeur in 2008 prompted the league to create the ‘Avery Rule’ overnight. Off the ice, Avery’s controversial comments about his ex-girlfriends dating other players earned him a six-game suspension and entry into the NHL’s anger management program. Even his teammates often found him difficult to defend. Despite the drama, Avery’s intelligence and fashion industry interests showed a complexity that surprised many. His 2019 autobiography, ‘Ice Capades,’ revealed the calculated nature behind his provocative persona.
2. Tie Domi: The Pugilistic Problem
Built like a fire hydrant with fists of stone, Tie Domi accumulated 3,515 penalty minutes—the third-highest total in NHL history. His legendary toughness made him both feared and beloved, depending on which team you supported. The Philadelphia incident where Domi punched a fan who fell into the penalty box epitomized his combustible nature. That fan later sued Domi and the Maple Leafs for $775,000. Behind the enforcer facade, Domi showed surprising skill with 104 career goals. His son Max has since forged his own NHL path, but with significantly more finesse than fisticuffs.
3. Todd Bertuzzi: The Career-Defining Incident
March 8, 2004 permanently altered two NHL careers. Todd Bertuzzi’s attack on Steve Moore—a punch from behind followed by driving Moore’s head into the ice—resulted in three fractured vertebrae and a concussion that ended Moore’s career. The fallout was nuclear: criminal charges, a year-long suspension, and a lawsuit that dragged on for a decade before settling out of court. The hockey world watched in horror as the line between tough play and assault blurred. Bertuzzi eventually returned to hockey but never escaped the shadow of that moment. His tearful public apology revealed the heavy emotional toll the incident took on everyone involved.
4. Patrick Kane: Brilliant Talent, Troubled Image
Few players match Patrick Kane’s magical stickhandling abilities—his highlight-reel goals regularly leave defenders bewildered. The three-time Stanley Cup champion brought unparalleled offensive creativity to Chicago for over a decade. Off-ice controversies have repeatedly tarnished his reputation. A 2009 incident with a taxi driver and more serious 2015 sexual assault allegations (though no charges were filed) created a complex legacy. Kane’s image rehabilitation efforts have included charity work and public apologies. His 2023 trade to the Rangers represented a fresh chapter for the superstar, who remains polarizing despite his undeniable place among hockey’s most gifted offensive talents.
5. Raffi Torres: The Repeat Offender
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety practically kept Raffi Torres on speed dial. His 2012 hit on Marian Hossa—launching himself into Hossa’s head while the star lay defenseless—resulted in a massive 25-game suspension (later reduced to 21). Torres accumulated five suspensions in seven years, culminating in a 41-game ban in 2015—the longest suspension for an on-ice incident in modern NHL history. His inability to adapt to changing safety standards made him hockey’s most notorious headhunter. Teams continued signing Torres for his physical edge and occasional scoring touch, proving the NHL’s complicated relationship with players who cross the line repeatedly.
6. Claude Lemieux: Playoff Villain Extraordinaire
‘Turtle’ Lemieux earned his nickname after instigating one of hockey’s most violent feuds. His brutal hit from behind on Kris Draper in the 1996 playoffs—smashing Draper’s face into the boards—required facial reconstruction surgery and ignited the legendary Avalanche-Red Wings blood feud. Remarkably clutch in the postseason with 80 playoff goals, Lemieux transformed into a different player when the stakes rose. He collected four Stanley Cups with three different teams, proving his winning pedigree despite his controversial methods. Years later, Lemieux and Draper reconciled in a televised meeting, showing that even hockey’s deepest wounds can eventually heal.
7. Slava Voynov: The Permanent Exile
Slava Voynov’s promising NHL career imploded overnight in October 2014. The two-time Stanley Cup-winning defenseman was arrested for domestic violence against his wife, with police reports describing disturbing details of the assault. The NHL suspended him indefinitely, and Voynov eventually pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge. Rather than face deportation proceedings, he voluntarily returned to Russia, where he continued his hockey career while remaining suspended from the NHL. His case forced the league to confront how it handles off-ice criminal behavior. Despite attempts to return to North America, Voynov remains effectively banned from the NHL, serving as a cautionary tale about personal conduct.
8. Evander Kane: Talent Amid Turmoil
Evander Kane’s scoring touch has repeatedly earned him second chances despite a tornado of controversy following him between teams. Teammates in Winnipeg reportedly threw his tracksuit in the shower after he violated dress code, highlighting early friction in his career. Bankruptcy filings, gambling allegations, COVID-19 protocol violations, and domestic abuse accusations have created a chaotic off-ice narrative. The NHL investigated claims he bet on his own games but found no evidence to support the allegations. Edmonton’s decision to sign Kane in 2022 sparked fan backlash but yielded immediate on-ice dividends. His 22 goals in 43 games demonstrated why teams continue taking chances on his undeniable talent.
9. Dale Hunter: The Playoff Cheap Shot Artist
Dale Hunter’s 1993 blindside hit on Pierre Turgeon remains one of hockey’s most notorious cheap shots. After Turgeon intercepted Hunter’s pass and scored, Hunter charged at the celebrating Turgeon, driving him into the boards and separating his shoulder. The league responded with a then-record 21-game suspension. Hunter’s vicious attack seemed especially egregious because it came after the play had clearly ended, showing a complete disregard for sportsmanship. Ironically, Hunter later became a respected NHL coach. His 3,565 career penalty minutes combined with 1,020 points make him the only player in NHL history with both 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes—a testament to his uniquely controversial skill set.
10. Matt Cooke: The Career Ender
Marc Savard’s promising career effectively ended on March 7, 2010, when Matt Cooke delivered a blindside hit to Savard’s head. The devastating blow left Savard with a severe concussion, and though he briefly returned to play, post-concussion symptoms forced his retirement. Cooke’s reputation as a headhunter followed him through multiple suspensions. His elbow to Ryan McDonagh’s head in 2011 earned him a 17-game suspension, while his knee-on-knee hit on Tyson Barrie during the 2014 playoffs sidelined Barrie for weeks. Later in his career, Cooke attempted to rehabilitate his image, claiming to have reformed his playing style. Many opponents and fans remained skeptical, viewing him as the poster child for dangerous play.
11. Tom Wilson: Modern Hockey’s Lightning Rod
Few current players generate as much heated debate as Tom Wilson. Standing 6’4″ and weighing 220 pounds, Wilson combines skill with intimidation, regularly crossing the fine line between physical play and dangerous hits. His 2021 body slam of Pavel Buchnevich and punch to a defenseless Artemi Panarin sparked outrage. The Rangers issued an unprecedented statement calling for the firing of the Department of Player Safety head after Wilson received only a $5,000 fine. Washington fans adore Wilson for his protective presence and increasing offensive production. Opponents consider him a predatory hitter who targets vulnerable players. This stark contrast makes him perhaps the most polarizing active player.
12. John Scott: The All-Star Outlier
John Scott’s unlikely journey from enforcer to All-Star MVP became hockey’s most bizarre controversy in 2016. Fans voted the journeyman fighter—who had scored just five goals in eight NHL seasons—into the All-Star Game as team captain through an internet campaign. The NHL allegedly pressured Scott to decline the invitation, even as he was traded and demoted to the AHL in what many saw as a deliberate attempt to disqualify him. Public backlash forced the league to allow his participation. Scott’s fairytale ending—scoring two goals, winning MVP, and being carried off the ice by teammates—became an unforgettable hockey moment. His story later inspired a documentary and book about his improbable All-Star experience.
13. Zack Kassian: Redemption Through Relapse
Zack Kassian’s career nearly derailed before it truly began. The former first-round pick’s substance abuse issues culminated in a 2015 car accident while intoxicated, earning him a place in the NHL/NHLPA assistance program and seemingly ending his NHL opportunities. Edmonton took a chance on the troubled winger, where Kassian found sobriety and purpose. His redemption story hit a speed bump in 2020 when he violently attacked Matthew Tkachuk after receiving several controversial hits, earning a seven-game suspension. Kassian’s journey represents hockey’s complicated relationship with accountability and second chances. His willingness to discuss his struggles with addiction has helped others facing similar battles.
14. Marty McSorley: The Criminal Stick-Swinger
February 21, 2000 marked the day hockey violence spilled into criminal courts. Marty McSorley’s two-handed slash to Donald Brashear’s head—coming from behind with just three seconds remaining in a decided game—left Brashear convulsing on the ice with a severe concussion. The unprecedented aftermath included criminal assault charges in Vancouver, resulting in an 18-month probation sentence. The NHL suspended McSorley for a full year, effectively ending his 17-year career that included two Stanley Cups as Wayne Gretzky’s on-ice protector. The incident forced hockey to confront its culture of violence and retribution. Twenty years later, the slash remains one of hockey’s most disturbing moments of premeditated violence.
15. Alexander Radulov: The Contract Rebel
Alexander Radulov’s extraordinary talent has always been matched by his rebellious reputation. The Russian winger shocked the hockey world in 2008 when he abandoned his valid NHL contract with Nashville to sign a more lucrative KHL deal, creating an international hockey incident. His brief 2012 return to Nashville ended in further controversy when he broke curfew during playoffs. After four more KHL seasons, Radulov returned to the NHL with Montreal and later Dallas, where his electrifying skill remained intact but his unpredictable personality continued causing headaches. Even his 2023 return to Russia featured controversy—Avangard Omsk announced his signing before he’d officially terminated his Dallas contract. Few players have bounced between leagues with such drama.