Beat Writers Pick Their Team's All-Time Villain

[TBone]

It's a freebie from The Athletic.

No surprise for us, but my recency bias said Nazem Kadri.

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Which NHL player is the biggest on-ice villain in every team’s franchise history?

By The Athletic NHL Staff
July 25, 2026 6:00 am CDT

Every good story needs a villain. Does every good NHL team need one, too?

Countless stars over the years have become heroes to their team’s fan base. On the other hand, the league has also had its share of villains — players who still evoke strong reactions today.

But what does it take to become a villain? Whether it’s a rival who is widely despised for physical play, controversial hits, relentless agitating or competitive success, many players have found themselves loathed in certain cities.

Who’s every team’s biggest on-ice villain from a rival opponent in franchise history? The Athletic asked its staff this week.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/745886 ... -ios-share

[Old_Goat]

I think of villains as being bad, unfair, unsportsmanlike rather than just being very skilled and talented and being on the winning side of contests.

I would say that the Blues' Opponent Villain candidates would be Kadri on whatever team as well as Keith Magnuson or Al Secord of Chicago.

And the Bruins' would be Chris Nilan of the Canadiens. Interesting that Nilan was born and raised in a Boston suburb.

[Pierre McGuire]

Kypreos…don’t agree with that. First name that came to my mind was Al Secord.
Yzerman comes to mind for many reasons, including the OT goal on Casey in 96
Willi Plett
Gilmour killing us in 1993

There are many id choose before Kypreos

[sdaltons]

Kyp took Fuhr out which set us up for Casey to give up that Yzerman goal.

[Harry York 37]

Kyp took Fuhr out which set us up for Casey to give up that Yzerman goal.

Triple Amen.
The Franchise very likely would have raised their first Cup 30 years sooner.

[netboy65]

Kyp took Fuhr out which set us up for Casey to give up that Yzerman goal.

Triple Amen.
The Franchise very likely would have raised their first Cup 30 years sooner.

That was obviously an unfortunate goal, but let’s not forget two things. Casey played his tail off after Fuhr went down, secondly, we couldn’t even muster up one goal? I remember Corson whiffing from point blank range

[sdaltons]

Kyp took Fuhr out which set us up for Casey to give up that Yzerman goal.

Triple Amen.
The Franchise very likely would have raised their first Cup 30 years sooner.

That was obviously an unfortunate goal, but let’s not forget two things. Casey played his tail off after Fuhr went down, secondly, we couldn’t even muster up one goal? I remember Corson whiffing from point blank range

Casey did play well but I think that whole series goes differently with Fuhr out

[Harry York 37]

Kyp took Fuhr out which set us up for Casey to give up that Yzerman goal.

Triple Amen.
The Franchise very likely would have raised their first Cup 30 years sooner.

That was obviously an unfortunate goal, but let’s not forget two things. Casey played his tail off after Fuhr went down, secondly, we couldn’t even muster up one goal? I remember Corson whiffing from point blank range

Casey did play well but I think that whole series goes differently with Fuhr out

Without question.

Losing a goalie with 5 SC Rings will take the wind out of your sails.

Those who played or still play the game know that, when your confidence in the goalie is not airtight... your offense always suffers as you play back on your heels as a result.

Gretzky not showing up for the second OT still chafes.

[Ventomiglia]

Couple Notes!

Chi-Secord\Chi-Belfour
Minn-Ciccarelli and Wili Plett
Det-Probert
Der McCarthy

Man the Sutter Brothers and the fights!
Gilouur-When he was in Tor
Yzerman would always kill the blues!

[ratonmono2]

Belfour for me. Hated him with Chicago, hated him with Dallas. Yzerman and Gilmour come to mind as well, later years Dustin Brown Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith stand out. Can't honestly speak on guys before 1990 as I was way too young to remember.

[Army's Mom]

Kyp took Fuhr out which set us up for Casey to give up that Yzerman goal.

Triple Amen.
The Franchise very likely would have raised their first Cup 30 years sooner.

That was obviously an unfortunate goal, but let’s not forget two things. Casey played his tail off after Fuhr went down, secondly, we couldn’t even muster up one goal? I remember Corson whiffing from point blank range

Casey did play well but I think that whole series goes differently with Fuhr out

Without question.

Losing a goalie with 5 SC Rings will take the wind out of your sails.

Those who played or still play the game know that, when your confidence in the goalie is not airtight... your offense always suffers as you play back on your heels as a result.

Gretzky not showing up for the second OT still chafes.

Casey WAS lights out, but it always felt he was one softie from unraveling. Fuhr just had that aura that year, like he alone could make Keenan look like a genius.

Same with Binner. Both teams played differently when their Cup winning goalies went down.

Kypreos and Kadri are both good picks. I might give an edge to Kadri. Take away the hit on Fuhr and Kypreos becomes irrelevant. Take away the hit on Binner, and we still owe Kadri for Faulk and calling us all Islamophobes.

Screw Kadri.

[zamadoo]

Belfour for me. Hated him with Chicago, hated him with Dallas. Yzerman and Gilmour come to mind as well, later years Dustin Brown Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith stand out. Can't honestly speak on guys before 1990 as I was way too young to remember.

+1 I was going to say some of these. Owen Nolan comes to mind as well.

[ratonmono2]

Belfour for me. Hated him with Chicago, hated him with Dallas. Yzerman and Gilmour come to mind as well, later years Dustin Brown Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith stand out. Can't honestly speak on guys before 1990 as I was way too young to remember.

+1 I was going to say some of these. Owen Nolan comes to mind as well.

Oh yeah absolutely hated Nolan. Kesler and Bertuzzi were two more in my era I've loathed.

[Blues Dave]

Didn't go where I thought it was headed, but still turns into a good post listing players who hurt teams in one way or another.

[Army's Mom]

Belfour for me. Hated him with Chicago, hated him with Dallas. Yzerman and Gilmour come to mind as well, later years Dustin Brown Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith stand out. Can't honestly speak on guys before 1990 as I was way too young to remember.

+1 I was going to say some of these. Owen Nolan comes to mind as well.

Mike Ricci's toothless mug also got on my last nerve...

[fish]

Dino will always be my most hated player. While Secord obviously sucked, at least he fought his own battles. Dino just turtled. Terry Johnson and Murray “2 minutes for holding “ Baron were the only Blues to ever give Dino any punishment for his transgressions