Unexpected turn of events: The Rangers to sign most hated player in the NHL?

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Hunter Bowman
July 28, 2024 (8:22 PM)

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Former Stanley Cup Champion still remains unsigned as we are just a few days away from August.

Nick Cousins still remains unsigned even after just winning the Stanley Cup, unlike his fellow teammates like Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekmann-Larsson.

Many teams throughout the league are working on finalizing their roster and negotiating deals with RFAs, leaving Cousins future uncertain.

This could mean the New York Rangers and General Manager Chris Drury could acquire this agitator on a cheap deal.

This past season, Cousins did receive a lot of criticism from fans and players, which is completely understandable.

Just based off his playing style this past season with kneeing and slamming into his opponents while they're in vulnerable position, has drawn attention from former NHL player Kevin Bieksa.

"What people don't wanna watch and see is kneeing, hitting a guys head into the boards, ramming a guy from behind and that is a common theme for [Nick Cousins]," said Bieksa back in January. "I have never done this before but I have to do it, because this is a trend with this player."

Kevin Bieksa didn't hold back as he went as far as to call him cowardly, and a rat during the NHL Broadcast.

"There's no place in the game for this and what is the common theme in all of these? Him at the bottom of the pile in a turtle position," said Bieksa with disgust. "This has been a common theme with this player... somebody in that organization or somebody that he respects has to sit down and say 'Enough of this' or the NHL has to come down and hammer this guy."

«Somebody has to hammer this guy from the department of justice and put an end to these crappy hits because I hate em and that's a rat to me," said Bieksa. "I'm sorry it is."

However, at the end of the day, Cousins is still a good bottom-six contributor scoring 15 points(7 G, 8 A) in 69 games with the Panthers, and an assist in 12 Playoff appearances.

Source: Hockeyfeed
The most hated man in the NHL is still unsigned.