Coyotes players get nods for best nickname, funniest in NHLPA poll

NHL players anonymously responded to poll questions about their peers around the league, from best player to worst trash-talker.

BY MATT LAYMAN

Apr 1, 2020, 11:49 AM

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Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes reacts during the third period of the NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Gila River Arena on October 10, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Golden Knights 4-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

There may not be any better way to get the unfiltered opinions of NHL players about their sport than by polling them anonymously.

The NHL Players Association does that on an annual basis and the latest NHLPA player poll has been released.

Among many questions presented, the players voted on which one of their peers is the best forward in the NHL. Unsurprisingly, the answer was Connor McDavid. But some Arizona Coyotes appeared in the voting results of other questions, which spanned topics ranging from arenas to nicknames to mascots and more.

Who is the funniest player in the NHL? Current Coyotes forward Phil Kessel finished fourth in the voting for that, getting 4.73% of the responses. Former Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle, now with the Florida Panthers, won that vote by a wide margin with 17.98% of the vote.

Players were asked who has the best nickname in the league. Christian Fischer was fourth (2.69%) with the nickname “Stinky.” Thomas “Tuna” Tatar won the vote.

Former Coyotes forward Nick Cousins was among the leading vote-getters in a negative category: The league’s worst trash-talker. He got 5.61% of the vote, while Boston’s Brad Marchand led at 10%.

The Coyotes’ mascot, Howler was tied for second place with Nashville’s Gnash at 2.80%, but that was a very distance second; Philadelphia’s Gritty got 69.72% of the vote.

Another former Coyote, forward Max Domi, finished fourth place as the best follow on social media.