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Connor Bedard ranks in the NHL's "Most Punchable Face" by in latest player poll


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Sam Walker
December 9, 2025  (4:49 PM)
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There's a new king of annoyance in the locker-room hierarchy. The anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic this week called upon over 120 NHLers to name the one guy whose face they'd most like to punch. The answer came back loud and clear-Nick Cousins took home the top spot with 24 percent of votes.

If you guessed Brad Marchand, you wouldn't be wrong. He landed in second place with 19 percent. Close behind Marchand was Matthew Tkachuk at 10 percent. Together they make up the rest of the top three.
Connor Bedard even got a featured vote!
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Some players went on record calling Cousins a «diver,» a «rat,» and an «effective rat on the ice.» One admitted even a personal friendship wouldn't stop him from wanting to deck him during a game. That mix of talent, confidence, and outright irritability seems to be exactly the recipe that's made Cousins the NHL's most punchable.

Why Nick Cousins draws so much hate

Cousins isn't known for piling up points or highlight-reel goals. His heat comes from how he plays - clever agitation, diving, chirping after every move. It's a style that grinds opponents down, and apparently grinds teammates down too. Fans might groan when he draws a penalty or sneaks a dirty hit, but there's no denying the effect he has on other pros.
For those watching from the stands or living room, this poll confirms a widely held sentiment: Cousins just pushes every button. He might not be a star, but he's effective-and that makes him deeply unpopular.
POLL
DECEMBRE 9   |   90 ANSWERS
Connor Bedard ranks in the NHL's "Most Punchable Face" by in latest player poll

Do you think Nick Cousins deserves the "most punchable face" label?

Yes6066.7 %
No1213.3 %
Maybe just agitator1718.9 %
Not so bad11.1 %
List of polls

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