The NHL All-Hate Team: We Hate These Guys

May 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) has words with New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) in front of Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brenden Morrow (10) during the second period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers

But they never said I couldn’t have one.  And who better to start us off on the All-Hate Team than the 225-pound man-child from one of the league’s top teams?  Whether he’s running goalies or running players from behind into the boards, Kreider has the uncanny ability to draw the ire of opposing teams and fans throughout the league.  It’s quite amazing that a NHL player with elite skating and speed loses all ability to stop before crashing into a goalie.  It’s almost like he’s purposely trying to knock into them…

(Cut to Ranger fans angrily tweeting and showing frame-by-frame shots of Kreider’s leg getting hit by a stick before crashing into Carey Price in the 2014 Conference Finals and eliminating him for the rest of the series.)

Once is a mistake. Twice is a coincidence.  Three times is a pattern.  And when you get up to Kreider’s body county, it’s what he is.

Don’t believe me?  Just ask Craig Anderson, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jaroslav Halak, and Carey Price who have all fallen victim to Kreider’s shenanigans.

But what really grates on people?  He’s actually a good player and raises his game come playoff time.  He’s scored 17 goals in 56 career playoff games, and many of the important variety including a season-saving goal in game 5 of the Conference Semi-Finals against the Capitals.

But that’s for Ranger fans to gloat about.  Everyone else gets to hate on his antics and his Count of Monte Cristo facial hair.  Welcome to the All-Hate Team, Chris.