Tom Wilson is off the hook—no more “most punchable face” tags after The Athletic’s latest anonymous player poll. In the previous season, he ranked as a top target for players, but this year he didn’t even make the list. He jokingly admitted before, “I’d probably punch that guy in the face, too,” which might have influenced how players viewed him this time.
The top three players from last year’s poll are still leading the charge. Ottawa’s Nick Cousins tops the list with 24.3% of the vote. Next up is the infamous Brad Marchand at 19.6%, and Matthew Tkachuk comes in third with 10.3%, despite being sidelined for this season’s games. Players had colorful comments about them. One said of Cousins, “I can’t stand him, but I hear he’s a good guy.” Another referred to Marchand as a “little rat,” while a player’s comment on Tkachuk was more blunt: “Matthew is an a**hole in front of the net.”
Interestingly, Wilson’s absence from this year’s poll might reflect his shift away from fighting in games. He’s averaged just five fights per season since 2021-22, a notable change from his earlier days when he’d often engage in more than ten. He hasn’t been suspended since the 2020-21 season, although he did spend six games on the sidelines last season for high-sticking. Nowadays, he’s even known to warn players before delivering his signature checks.
Since starting his NHL career in 2013-14, Wilson leads the league in penalty minutes with 1,586. For context, the next closest player, Patrick Maroon, trails behind with 1,075 minutes. This season, Wilson is among the top two-way forwards, ranking fifth in PIMs with 54, and has tallied 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games.
A fellow Capitals player, Brandon Duhaime, managed to receive a vote in the latest poll. His teammates recognized him as the best trash talker on the Capitals, showing that he knows how to get under opponents’ skin. Other former Capitals also made an appearance in the poll: Garnet Hathaway got 2.8%, and Jonas Siegenthaler, like Duhaime, received a single vote.
This year’s poll reflects a blend of history and changes in player dynamics. As the game evolves, it’s fascinating to see how players perceive each other and the shifts in on-ice behavior—from fighting to a focus on skill and strategy. With more discussions around player safety and conduct, expect future polls to reveal even evolving narratives around whom players love to hate.
For more on the changing landscape of the NHL and player interactions, you can check out the [NHL Players’ Association](https://www.nhlpa.com) for insights.
