Competitive banter adds spice to any sport, and the NHL is no exception. Trash-talking is an art, and it's clear that some players excel at it. In a recent survey by The Athletic, 46 NHL players weighed in on who they believe are the biggest trash talkers on the ice. Here are the results:
Tied for second place with 5 votes is Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk's knack for getting under opponents' skin has been evident since his NHL debut, earning him a well-deserved spot near the top of the list.
Hot on Tkachuk's heels is his long-time rival, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings. Doughty is no stranger to trash talk, but in this poll, Tkachuk narrowly edges him out with 4 votes to Doughty's 3.
To round out the top 5, we have another tie. Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs also garnered 4 votes. Reaves is notorious for his trash-talking prowess, even issuing a playful warning to fellow NHL players during a recent charity golf event. It seems the art of the verbal jab is alive and well in the NHL.
