Hockey History – The Most Notorious Pests In NHL History

NHL hockey history is full of pests – players who use their physicality, and sometimes their mouths, to get under the skin of their opponents. From Brad Marchand’s infamous “licking” incident to Tie Domi’s legendary fights, these pests have been around for decades. Let’s take a look at some of the most notorious pests in NHL history , and how their tactics have made them some of the most memorable players of all time!

This is a guy who has been a pest since his NHL career began in 2009. His on-ice antics are notorious, from chirping opponents to some unique “licking” incidents. In the 2018 playoffs Marchand (believe it or not) licked the faces of Ryan Callahan of the Tampa Bay Lightning and also Leo Komarov of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Too bad about these stupid antics because Marchand is also a talented player who has earned multiple Stanley Cup championships and individual awards in his career. His latest incident is a dangerous trip on Seattle Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand  in February 2023. This earned him a $5,000 fine. Brad Marchand is the most suspended player in NHL history and has had to pay over 1.4 million dollars of salary in his career for fines. I wish this guy would stick to hockey but being a pest is just part of his game, I guess.

Theo Fleury was another pest that left his mark on NHL history. He was a fan favorite in Calgary because of his small stature and his never-say-die attitude. His willingness to mix it up and cause trouble with his opponents made him one of the most beloved pests in NHL history. He won a gold medal for Canada in the 2002 Olympics and he won a Stanley Cup in his rookie season in 1989. Despite being a troublemaker he had some pretty good stats. He had a career high 51 goal season in 1991 and has been named an NHL all star seven times. He played with the Calgary Flames from 1988 to 1998 and finished his career in 2003 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Tie Domi is another legendary pest. Also one of the best and toughest fighters in NHL history. Domi was picked in the second round of the 1988 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and played a couple of games for them in the 1989 season. He was traded to the New York Rangers and played with them and the Winnipeg Jets before being traded back to the Leafs in 1994. Domi played in 1,020 games and amassed a whopping 3,515 penalty minutes. He was only five foot 10, but his fighting style and tenacity made up for that. As well as being a pest he was also someone you didn’t want to fight. His many fights against heavyweight Bob Probert were legendary and he could swing that left hand with the best of them. Max Domi is Tie’s son and currently (2023) plays in the NHL.

Sean Avery was one of the most controversial pests in NHL history. He was known for his trash-talking and his aggressive style of play. He was a pest both on and off the ice and hated by all, including sometimes his own teammates. Sean Avery was such an asshole that the NHL passed the “Sean Avery” rule making it illegal for a player to stand in front of the goalie and wave his stick in the goaltenders face. Avery started his NHL career in 2000 with the Detroit Red Wings but was traded around a lot because of his attitude. He ended up playing 580 games scoring 247 points with 1,533 penalty minutes. In 2008, the national hockey league suspended Avery for making controversial remarks about other players dating his ex-girlfriends. I like and admire a lot of the pests and instigators in hockey history but not this guy. What a goof.

Kenny “the rat” Linseman played in the OHL, WHA, and the NHL. He was an absolute pest wherever he played. He started his NHL career in 1978 with the Philadelphia Flyers. He also played with Edmonton, Boston and Toronto and finished his 14 year career in 1992. He was a fan favorite due to his willingness to do whatever it took to win and his ability to get under the skin of his opponents. He became known as “the rat” in 1977 after kicking another player in the head during the OHL junior hockey playoffs. He was eventually charged by the Ottawa police. He was found guilty and had to pay a 300 dollar fine. It might have been considered an accident if “the rat” hadn’t been overheard bragging about doing it. Despite being a rat, Linsman was a great centre iceman who could score goals. He played in 860 NHL games scoring 807 points with 1,725 penalty minutes.

One of the most notorious NHL pests and troublemakers was Claude Lemieux. He was known for his antagonistic style of play, often getting into fights with opponents and even his own teammates. He was also known for his trash-talking and intimidating behavior. Lemieux had a ferocious style of play that helped his teams make the playoffs in 15 straight seasons. He contributed a lot and ended up winning four Stanley Cups with Montreal, New Jersey and Colorado. In the 1996 playoffs he outdid himself with nastiness by hitting Detroit’s Chris Draper from behind and into the boards. Draper suffered a broken jaw, nose and cheekbone along with a concussion and nerve damage. It was an absolute filthy hit. Darren McCarty got even with Lemieux for that hit by beating the crap out of him while he turtled. 

Another NHL troublemaker was Matthew Barnaby. He was known for his physical style of play and for his willingness to drop the gloves and fight with opponents. He was also known for his on-ice antics, which often resulted in penalties. Barnaby was drafted 83rd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1992. He played in the NHL from 1992 until 2007. In his career he played with Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Tampa, New York Rangers, Colorado, Chicago and the Dallas Stars. He played 834 games and amassed 2,562 minutes in penalties. He scored 113 goals with 187 assists for a total of 300 points. As with other high strung hockey pests he was no stranger to trouble off the ice as well. 2011 was a particularly bad year when he was convicted of felony criminal mischief for kicking in his estranged wife’s garage door. That same year he also pleaded guilty to intoxicated driving and was fined $1,950 and ordered to do 100 hours of community service. In 2020 in Nashville he was charged with assault and public intoxication after a run-in with a bouncer and some bystanders.

Being a hockey pest is a style of play that gets results. It can throw opposition players off their game and can result in retaliation penalties. Basically, pests are hard to play against and you like them, for the most part, when they are on your team. These pests have made NHL history more entertaining and memorable. They are part of what makes the NHL so unique, and why fans love watching the game

These pesky guys are just the tip of the iceberg. Please leave a comment below about your favorite NHL pest.