Is Sean Avery the Best Agitator in League History?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I can't think of a single guy in league history that was better at getting under people's skin than Avery is.

Mind you there have been some great agitators over the years in guys like Barnaby, Linseman, Ott, Ruutu, Domi, Tiger Williams, and many others.

But I've got to think that Avery is more hated by opponents and is a better agitator than anyone else I can think of.

[Broken 16 381]

That whole episode with him waving the stick in Brodeur's face might just be the factor that puts him over the edge. Nobody has ever seen that before. Not in the NHL anyway.

[kook_10 1,705]

one time Wing Bryan "Bugsy" Watson is up there

http://washingtoncapitalslegends.blogspot....gsy-watson.html

Dino did a hell of a job, so did Tikkanen, Verbeek and Ulfie. Claude Lemieux comes to mind as well - I'll hate that guy to the day I die.

Edited January 12, 2010 by kook_10

[Rivalred 630]

I think Holmer does a good job at aggravating goalies...

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

one time Wing Bryan "Bugsy" Watson is up there

http://washingtoncapitalslegends.blogspot....gsy-watson.html

Dino did a hell of a job, so did Tikkanen, Verbeek and Ulfie. Claude Lemieux comes to mind as well - I'll hate that guy to the day I die.

I don't remember if Tikkanen and Ulfie spoke English well enough to agitate people with what they said. Can't believe I forgot Lemieux, but I think Avery is a better agitator than him and is possibly even more hated.

The only guy that comes close in my mind is Barnaby, but even he pales in comparison to Avery.

[kook_10 1,705]

I don't remember if Tikkanen and Ulfie spoke English well enough to agitate people with what they said. Can't believe I forgot Lemieux, but I think Avery is a better agitator than him and is possibly even more hated.

The only guy that comes close in my mind is Barnaby, but even he pales in comparison to Avery.

Tikkanen had the best Finnish/Canadian accent ever. Finnish is a naturally percussive language so I can only imagine that listening to his jawing would be like getting pecked to death by a duck.

[kook_10 1,705]

That whole episode with him waving the stick in Brodeur's face might just be the factor that puts him over the edge. Nobody has ever seen that before. Not in the NHL anyway.

Tikkanen kissed Keith Jones on the nose just to piss him off.

[Guest micah]

The best agitators are the guy's who draw the most punches from others (outside of fights). What better way to measure an agitator than by how many people he caused to completely lose control and do something dumb to the detriment of their team?

I think Ulf Sammuelsson takes the cake. I hate him, but he was a great agitator and a pretty darned good player too.

Avery is the best guy today.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Avery's great at his job.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Tikkanen had the best Finnish/Canadian accent ever. Finnish is a naturally percussive language so I can only imagine that listening to his jawing would be like getting pecked to death by a duck.

Now that I think about it, Tikkanen had that whole "Tiki Talk" thing, where no one could understand what the hell he was saying.

Hence, he was sort of an agitator, except you didn't know what he just said.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

The best agitators are the guy's who draw the most punches from others (outside of fights). What better way to measure an agitator than by how many people he caused to completely lose control and do something dumb to the detriment of their team?

I think Ulf Sammuelsson takes the cake. I hate him, but he was a great agitator and a pretty darned good player too.

Avery is the best guy today.

Samuelsson wasn't as much an agitator as a dirty player, which is why everyone hated him.

No one, including Avery himself, was as good as cheapshots as Samuelsson. That's why people wanted to punch him, and not because of any trash talk he was good at.

[Guest micah]

Samuelsson wasn't as much an agitator as a dirty player, which is why everyone hated him.

No one, including Avery himself, was as good as cheapshots as Samuelsson. That's why people wanted to punch him, and not because of any trash talk he was good at.

Certainly Sammuelsson was cheap - but he was also a cocky prick. Watch an interview with that guy - it's impossioble not to hate him!

Same for Avery and Barnaby, now that I think of it.

People try to lump Tootoo in with them, but I find Tootoo to seem quite lielable, at least off the ice.

Ken Linesman and Esa Tikkanen are good candidates too.

Edited January 12, 2010 by micah

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

I think any time you have a rule made after your agitating (and put into effect the next DAY) you have to be considered one of the best agitators of all time (I.E. The Sean Avery Rule).

Edited January 12, 2010 by TheDetroitRedWings

[jollymania 162]

I think Ott is a better agitator, and doesn't look like a total douchecanoe doing so

[AtomicPunk 296]

No. If he could remove some of the douchebag part of his personality, then he might be in the discussion. But best EVER? No. He stands out now because there are so few of those type of players in the league right now.

[zettie85 106]

Avery's great at his job.

If you take away the Bruin's play-by-play crew it's a pretty good clip.

[thedisappearer 291]

No. If he could remove some of the douchebag part of his personality, then he might be in the discussion. But best EVER? No. He stands out now because there are so few of those type of players in the league right now.

This. He needs the media (sloppy seconds) and ****** antics (plus a massive FAILURE contract) to get talked about anymore. He would have been killed in the 80s. Seriously... he worked for Vogue Magazine.

[Guest micah]

This. He needs the media (sloppy seconds) and ****** antics (plus a massive FAILURE contract) to get talked about anymore. He would have been killed in the 80s. Seriously... he worked for Vogue Magazine.

What are you talking about? Those things do get him talked about between games, but they don't pay that huige a role in him being a great agitator - he has always had and still has a great ability to get under his opponents' skin. It has little to do with his comments to the media - without them he would still be very effective at his role.

[uk_redwing 495]

I wish he was still a Wing. He adds such a high entertainment factor.

[FinWing 26]

Now that I think about it, Tikkanen had that whole "Tiki Talk" thing, where no one could understand what the hell he was saying.

Hence, he was sort of an agitator, except you didn't know what he just said.

He spoke like four languages simultaneously.

[FunkedUp 29]

[Pucks 66]

I'm not sure why the need to place labels like, 'best ever" on things. Everyone always thinks the best or most or whatever happens in their era. The league has been going on an awful long time. Let's just say he's very good at what he tries to do.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

I'm not sure why the need to place labels like, 'best ever" on things. Everyone always thinks the best or most or whatever happens in their era. The league has been going on an awful long time. Let's just say he's very good at what he tries to do.

like your post? hehehe KIDDING!!!

yeah there were probably better people back in the day but as far as i can remember avrey is probaby the best that i know of. im only 31.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I'm not sure why the need to place labels like, 'best ever" on things. Everyone always thinks the best or most or whatever happens in their era. The league has been going on an awful long time. Let's just say he's very good at what he tries to do.

I don't. That's what ignorant people who have no regard for history usually do.

I honestly think Avery is the greatest agitator who I can think of in league history, and not because I live in this era. Hell, if I had a choice, I wish I was living in the 80's era of hockey.

[egroen 384]

"Best Agitator" is certainly a difficult one to measure, and compounded further if we consider other eras.

My nomination:

Ted Lindsay

Elbowing and tripping penalties were created largely because of Lindsay's play and he was even barred from Old-Timers games for playing dirty. Almost everyone in the game hated him, on all levels -- a dirty, small player who could back it up with a cheap shot at an unexpected moment (he had a long memory), a fight or with a goal.

Upon receiving death threats from Toronto fans in 1956 during the playoffs, Lindsay scored the game winner in over-time and proceeded to skate out to center ice holding his stick up like a machine gun, "shooting" the Toronto fans.

I just don't think Avery can come close to that.

Edited January 12, 2010 by egroen