Bruins set to sign most hated player in the league? unexpected turn of events

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Joshua Deeds
July 28, 2024 (2:02 PM)

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It is now almost August and former Stanley Cup champion, https://www.markerzone.com/hockey/stats/nhl/player/Nick-Cousins-25555 remains unsigned. Even after accomplishing the journey of winning a Stanley Cup, it did him no favors.

Unlike teammates Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekmann-Larsson, he may have to wait longer for a deal in the NHL.

This, all the while teams continue to finalize their rosters and negotiate deals with RFAs. Cousins is in a precarious spot.

Which is why the Boston Bruins and GM Don Sweeney could afford to swoop up this agitator on the cheap.

Cousins did in fact draw ire from fans and players for his play this season, and understandably so.

Kneeing and slamming the opposition into the boards won't garner you much favor. However, it is good to throw your opponents off their game.

His play would draw attention from former NHL player Kevin Bieksa:

"What people don't wanna watch and see is kneeing, hitting a guys head into the boards, ramming a guy from behind and that is a common theme for [Nick Cousins]," said Bieksa back in January. "I have never done this before but I have to do it, because this is a trend with this player."

Going as far as to call him cowardly, and a rat during the NHL Broadcast he wouldn't hold back.

"There's no place in the game for this and what is the common theme in all of these? Him at the bottom of the pile in a turtle position," said Bieksa with disgust. "This has been a common theme with this player... somebody in that organization or somebody that he respects has to sit down and say 'Enough of this' or the NHL has to come down and hammer this guy."

"Somebody has to hammer this guy from the department of justice and put an end to these crappy hits because I hate em and that's a rat to me," said Bieksa. "I'm sorry it is."

The rant would cause a stir in the NHL community causing an echo of this sentiment.

However, Cousins is still a good bottom-six contributor scoring 15 points(7 G, 8 A) in 69 games with the Panthers, and an assist in 12 Playoff appearances.

Source: Hockey Feed
The most hated man in the NHL is still unsigned.