Top 5 All-Time Flyers Agitators

A buddy and mine having a couple of pints started to debate who were the top 5 Flyers agitators after seeing Matthew Barnaby do a post-game report.  Here’s our list.  See if you agree.

1. CLAUDE LEMIEUX – Whether he’s a Hab, Devil or Av this guy never failed to get under Flyer fans’ skin.  We do owe him a bit of gratitude for the Pre-Playoff game brawl.  He wasn’t just annoying, he was solid too.  That made him easier to hate.

 
2. DALE HUNTER – This is probably the face of the most hated NHL’er in my world as a kid growing up.  To this day, when I think of Capitals I think of Dale Hunter.  Like Claude Lemieux, Hunter was a solid NHL player.  He reminded me a little of Bobby Clarke with his pesky, cheap-shots and a real nasty streak.  Would’ve loved to have seen him in orange.

3. ULF SAMUELSSON – Robocop.  This guy had a solid, compact frame.  I think these guys all have hate-the-face qualities.  Even his neck had muscles.  He annoyed Flyers fans as both a Penguin and a Ranger.  He gets no penance points for playing in orange and black for a year.  Still don’t like him. 

4. MATTHEW BARNABY – This guy made every game against the Buffalo Sabres must-see TV.  Unlike Dale Hunter and Claude Lemeiux, this guy not only irritated everyone, but also fought anyone.  He had no qualms about taking a good beating, just so long as he knew he was in your head.  Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but you had to respect his willingness to be a human punching bag.

5. DARIUS KASPARAITIS – Hated this guy’s hair.  He was the gnat that Eric Lindros couldn’t escape.  It feels like he gave Lindros seven concussions.  I still remember Lindros’ lifeless body on the ice after a Kasparaitis hit.

HONORABLE MENTION: Terry O’Reilly, Ed Jovanovski, Igor Ulanov.