Nicest and rudest NHLers you've met

[DEvans]

Tiger Williams, Really nice guy

Jamie Macoun, complete ass

[89loobjob]

Kelly Buchberger - pure class. Has a cabin next to a friend of mine - actually invited all of us neighbors over for drinks and a campfire just to shoot the breeze during the offseason. Not pretentious, very humble and easy to talk to - great guy - easy to see why he wore the "C" later in his career.

[edn88]

Cannot think of any rude NHLers that I have personally met.

Where I have personally met an NHL player

Charlie Simmer (golfed with him once) and Darryl Sutter were the nicest guys (and pretty normal guys) that I have met.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Badger Bob

Guy Lafleur - saw him at after a card show ended in Toronto. The previous winter, he was scheduled to appear at old timers game in HSBC Arena to honor Ted Darling (Sabres broadcaster, who passed). I asked him what happened. He explained that he was driving through Burlington, and hit a snow storm. We chatted a bit about, and I decided to let him move along. After all, this was Guy Lafleur and probably a very busy man. He looked back to continue asking questions about me!

Jean Beliveau - met him at a signing event in Niagara Falls, NY. He's everything that you've always heard - pure class. A friend of mine, in Montreal, told me a story of when he was starting his career in finance at a bank, sometime during the mid 80's, Jean Beliveau had been asked to make an appearance. That afternoon, there was a holdup!

Can't say enough about Lafleur. It's refreshing when you meet your boyhood idol and he lives up to your image. The 17 year old me was left speechless. Terrific person, signed a few autographs, took a photo (which I really need to dig up). He was holding court with my Dad's oldtimer's team after a hockey game. They were all smiling, laughing, having a great time. Incredibly down to earth.

Beliveau was awesome. Met him this spring. Asked him if he could personalize the picture I had him sign for my Dad as I was going to give it to him for his birthday. He signed: To Doug, Happy Birthday, Jean Beliveau. There were fans from all teams in the lineup to meet him. Even Hab haters can't hate Jean Beliveau.

[robmneilson]

When I worked for Maxim magazine I met Kevin Weekes a bunch of times, and he was really cool. Such a nice guy, it made me sad that he wasn't a better goalie and rode the pine behind Brodeur when we were working with him.

Interviewed Lucic about the winter classic before he got injured. Was a really nice and relaxed, a quiet guy but joked around a bit. Nearly broke my hand with his massive paw when we shook though.

Met Shanahan in the NHL office on his first day on the job. It was weird though, I didn't realize it was him and just shook his hand (figured he was just some suit that worked with our rep) and then when I realized I had a mini heart attack. He didn't say much, and seemed a bit nervous for some reason. Probably more at ease jumping over the boards than working in an office.

[robmneilson]

Oh, and one that isn't mine...but a friend from HS.

Waiting outside NVMC after an Isles game in 93. Kasparaitus comes out last, right before my buddy is going to leave. Signs an autograph, and is about to get into his Porsche (or other similar baller car). My friend yells that he has a sweet car, and Kaspar asks for him to get in, and promptly does a donut in the parking lot before dropping him off in front of his dad who took a picture of the two of em. Made me BURN with jealousy when I heard it.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Badger Bob

Of the 4 major sports in North America, hockey players probably have the highest proportion of players who are decent, all around people.

I'm sure you don't consider CFL football to be among the major sports, but CFL players are by far the most approachable and accommodating pro athletes. Most don't seem to have big egos and I've talked with many and have never been treated badly.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I'm sure you don't consider CFL football to be among the major sports, but CFL players are by far the most approachable and accommodating pro athletes. Most don't seem to have big egos and I've talked with many and have never been treated badly.

Well you kind of have to be approachable and accomodating when you spend 7 months of the year selling insurance

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by BurningYears

Speaking of awkward, I met about 1/2 of the flames in Vancouver at a bar that will remain not named.

Pfft. Must have been Brandi's.

[Hells Bells]

Nicest: Yzerman/Lidstrom.
Rudest: Phaneuf.

[sergei_makarov]

I've met a number of players over the years with very few bad encounters, but I have met rude NHLers.

Rudest was Robyn Regehr who I actually ran into on two occasions in two different cities. Both times, the players he was with at the time were frankly, more polite (Aucoin I remember being very nice and also Amonte), whereas Regehr came across as extremely rude both times.

Dan Cloutier was quiet, but not really rude. Draper was also fairly rude.

Nicest players I've ever met were Iginla, Linden, Conroy, Lafleur, McDonald and Cammalleri.

Cliff Fletcher was also very nice when I met him.

[EM11]

Can't believe I even did this. But when I was 12 or 13 Jamie Macoun lived around the corner from my grandparents. I just went over to his place to ring the doorbell and see if he would give me an autograph. He was super nice. Came to the door, signed a picture and chatted for a few minutes. I'd probably never let my kid bother an NHLer at home like that now!

Also stood behind Phaneuf at a Tim Horton's where he pretended to talk on a cell phone while he waited. Pretty funny because half the place are old-timer Flames fans, but I don't think anyone wanted to talk to him either.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Hands down Teemu Selanne.

[Badger Bob]

Originally Posted by habernac

Can't say enough about Lafleur. It's refreshing when you meet your boyhood idol and he lives up to your image. The 17 year old me was left speechless. Terrific person, signed a few autographs, took a photo (which I really need to dig up). He was holding court with my Dad's oldtimer's team after a hockey game. They were all smiling, laughing, having a great time. Incredibly down to earth.

Beliveau was awesome. Met him this spring. Asked him if he could personalize the picture I had him sign for my Dad as I was going to give it to him for his birthday. He signed: To Doug, Happy Birthday, Jean Beliveau. There were fans from all teams in the lineup to meet him. Even Hab haters can't hate Jean Beliveau.

With Beliveau, it really seems to come naturally. Having said that, my hunch is that special attention is made the players and alumni to represent the Habs organization.

[bzoo02]

Nice: Cam Barker, Me and my GF was partying with him and his GF and 2 other couples lasst weekend and he picked up the $500 bar tab.
Rhett Warrener, Met him at the Ship & Anchor a few years back and he shot the sh*t with us for a bit. I offered to buy him a drink, but he said no thanks and had to leave. Next thing I know there is 2 shots for my friend and I from him in front of us.

Rude: The Dion, Saw him at old cowboys one night...If you didn't have blonde hair and c cups he wasnt talking to you.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by bzoo02

Rude: The Dion, Saw him at old cowboys one night...If you didn't have blonde hair and c cups he wasnt talking to you.

I love this. Dude is what, 21-22 at the time? He's young and wealthy and he wants to relax and hit on chicks. He doesn't need a bunch of dudes ****blocking.

I'm sure in most social situations Dion is a completely nice person. I'm sure most of these guys are. But imagine having people come up to you on a regular basis expecting you to stand there and shoot the #### with them. Especially a young kid just trying to mack on some ladies.

[Baaarrden]

I met jokinen, backlund, bourque and moss today and all of them seemed pretty chill. I didn't really talk to them too much just a few words of good luck but bourque gave me a big smile when i looked up and realized who he was.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I love this. Dude is what, 21-22 at the time? He's young and wealthy and he wants to relax and hit on chicks. He doesn't need a bunch of dudes ****blocking.

I'm sure in most social situations Dion is a completely nice person. I'm sure most of these guys are. But imagine having people come up to you on a regular basis expecting you to stand there and shoot the #### with them. Especially a young kid just trying to mack on some ladies.

I laughed because it is so true.

I have only talked to 2 NHL hockey players in my adult life. One is a relative of my wife through marriage, and the other is the brother of a friend. I don't understand when people approach celebrities when they are with their families or out with friends and then wonder why they aren't the most personable. Unless it is a kid, I don't think they have an obligation to be nice to anyone.

[May 25, 1989]

When I was really young (around age 5 or 6) our family went to Edmonton in the summer. My twin brother is an oiler fan so our family did a tour of what was then northlands colliseum. It was during some renovations of the rink so after the tour we were unable to check out the souvenir stand. The lady who worked there was real nice and took my family down to their office to see if she could find any souvenirs for us.


While we were waiting in the Oilers offices Paul Coffey walked in. He came up and asked myself and my brother who our favourite NHL teams were. My brother proudly stated that he was an Oiler fan. I also proudly told him that I hated the Oilers and like the FLames. Mr. Coffey was surprised by this remark and said he would be back in a second.

A few minutes later he returned with two signed Edmonton Oiler hockey pucks. But he gave them both to my brother. He gave my brother the instructions that he was allowed to give one to me if I he could convince me to be an Oiler fan.

My brother still has both autographed pucks.

[paragon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't understand when people approach celebrities when they are with their families or out with friends and then wonder why they aren't the most personable. Unless it is a kid, I don't think they have an obligation to be nice to anyone.

I agree.

From what I have read, most hockey players are better people than I am. I don't know, if I could cope with their lack of privacy.