Last winter, The Hockey News polled the league’s players on a wide variety of subjects. When asked who the most hated player in the league is, 66 percent of respondents cursed the name of Sean Avery. A far distant second was Jordin Tootoo at six percent, followed by Darcy Tucker at four percent.

You have to be one hell of a guy to be hated over 16 times as much as Darcy Tucker. Avery went undrafted out of the Ontario Hockey League; after parts of seven seasons with three different teams, the bruising left-winger has 50 goals in 322 games with 913 penalty minutes.

But Avery’s mouth is his most dangerous weapon. He’s offended just about everyone in the NHL at some point, including his own coaches, league officials and commentators. And all the while, he’s been dating the likes of Elisha Cuthbert and, according to TMZ, Mary-Kate Olsen. No wonder everyone hates him.

I’ll leave you with a video of the now classic Avery vs. Tucker fight.

Eric Lindros is expected to hang up the skates Thursday after 14 years in the NHL. It’s a career that was riddled with injuries, including six concussions, and some believe his chances at entering the Hall of Fame have been damaged by his last four largely unproductive seasons. Who else might want to quit while they’re ahead?

Patrice Brisebois, Montreal: “Breeze-By” is on his last legs, but at least he gets to go out with his original NHL team.

Doug Weight, St. Louis: Just three assists in 13 games for the 15-year veteran.

Martin Gelinas, Nashville: The last active NHL player involved in the first Wayne Gretzky trade. Currently out with an eye injury.

Bobby Holik, Atlanta: You know the Thrashers are in trouble when their captain only gets 14 minutes of ice time.

Owen Nolan, Calgary: Two assists in 15 games. Has it really been 10 years since he called that goal at the All-Star Game?

I’ll leave you with some hockey nostalgia: A Wayne Gretzky career highlights video. Enjoy.

What the heck’s going on here? Philadelphia, Carolina and Columbus are all kicking ass in the NHL. Anaheim, New Jersey and the Rangers are all sucking wind. What’s a hockey bettor to do?

Get used to it. This is life under the salary cap. NFL bettors know all about parity, how some teams can go from the penthouse to the outhouse and back again. The dynasties of old are no more, and non-traditional hockey markets like the Carolinas are winning Stanley Cups.

This may or may not be “wrong,” depending on your hockey worldview. But here’s what I don’t like about the league, and it’s the same problem with the NBA: that ugly corporate smell. It’s in their insipid marketing, their continuous expansion that robs the game of its quality level, and their unending grab of taxpayer money to finance new arenas. The ugly ownership mess surrounding the Predators speaks volumes. But it’s always been this way, hasn’t it?

And while we’re talking about what’s wrong with the NHL, how about a little something about what’s right- depending on whether you enjoy brutishness or not.  For you then, rafish hockey fan, some fist’a'cuffs on video.