Let’s face it, the NHL can be a weird place sometimes. We’ve seen everything from plastic rats, octopi, to naked middle aged men falling on the ice. The craziness however, comes in a ton of forms. Would you be willing to block a slap shot with your head? Smile like a maniac as you beat someone’s face in? Own a few gigantic snakes perhaps? Congratulations, odds are you’re on this list!
5. Josh Gorges
There’s something that’s just inherently insane about blocking shots in the NHL. With a goaltender in full body armor right behind you, why get in the way of a bullet from the likes of Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber? To boot, most skaters have gaps in their gear where there isn’t any padding, so the concept itself just gets crazier and crazier. Few in the game have been better than Gorges at sacrificing their bodies, having been among the league leaders in blocked shots for the past three seasons, even topping the league in this insane category in 2011-12. Perhaps all that needs to be said is that he’s blocked a shot with his head before (and it kind of looked intentional):
4. Brent Burns
For starters, Brent Burns just looks a little crazy. But wait until you see his personal zoo (wait…what?):
3. Ray Emery
The league experienced a serious drought of insane goaltenders when Ron Hextall decided to hang them up. Emery emphatically ended that drought however, punching his way to notoriety (he remains a solid player as well). Here is perhaps Emery’s greatest career moment, where he has no problem taking on just about anyone on the Buffalo Sabres, flashing a maniacal look in his eyes as he beats down poor Martin Biron:
2. Milan Lucic
Milan Lucic has been a steady riser in the “crazy” category for a few years now. Whether it’s fighting with random guys at the bar or taunting the entire Bell Centre crowd, Lucic is constantly expanding his arsenal of comical antics. He also has a bizarre penchant for spearing opposing players in the family jewels. But hey, according to him, it’s not his fault his opponents are chickens. Of all his great moments though, no moment can top Lucic solidifying himself as the biggest sore loser of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXn2j9crVFM
1. Ilya Brzygalov
The (crazy) man, the myth, the legend; although not currently on a team roster, “Bryz” has basically written and re-written the manual on NHL craziness (make sure to hear his quote at 7:14, he thinks defensemen who block shots are the crazy ones. I’m looking at you, Josh Gorges):
lucic isnt crazy…he’s an asshole
The author obviously has never played hockey. Sacrifice the body at all times. Live to see another day, always, without giving up a goal.
Hey Tommy thanks for the comment! I actually play collegiate roller hockey at UC Irvine (check us out at wcrhl.com). I’m not chastising Gorges by any means, it’s just that blocking those kinds of shots is a little crazy to begin with.
Steve Ott.
Licked an opponents visor during a face off.
Dat shits crazy.
Oh ya, great one. I’ll see if we can grab that video and put it in as an honourable mention. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thumbs up.
Several of these guys are not crazy. Bryz is crazy, but Lucic is a jagoff goon. You confuse easy to anger or fight with crazy in several cases. Emery, who trains to fight is goony going after goalie who never fights. Maybe the writer is crazy for not having a better understanding of what is crazy and what is just poor behavior or being an asshole.
Yeh false the craziest players are the Americans, Tim Thomas-with his whole obama and building a fortress in denver, Patrick Kane beating up a cab driver over 8 cents and Phil Kessel for using his stick as a sword and the stuff he says during interviews