The Anaheim Ducks have more than their share of despised players on the roster. This is first in a three-part series, listing “The O.C.’s Most Wanted.”
Every team has a few players on their roster opposing fans just can’t stand. If you are a Ducks fan, what kind of emotions do the names Dustin Brown, Joe Thornton, or Connor McDavid stir up? The Anaheim Ducks are no different. If anything, Anaheim has more hated players on their team than anyone else.
This is a three-part series counting down the five most hated. Today, we countdown from number five to number three. Anyone who follows the Anaheim Ducks knows who the top two are. Each of them will get their own article. All that remains is the order of the top two.
The better question is overall why are the Ducks so hated, around the NHL? That’s a story for another time, but one we will cover in depth. To be brief, teams are hated and scorn for players is a result of hating an opponent. It seems to be working in the opposite direction for the Ducks. Hate for the parts adds up to hate for the team.
5 Josh Manson
The former sixth-round pick takes the recently departed Kevin Bieksa’s spot on the list. Bieksa was hated long before he was a Ducks player, but going to Anaheim was the final straw. Now that he’s gone, Manson moves up.
It’s easy to see why opposing fans would dislike Manson. He’s the closest thing the Ducks have to an enforcer. The game has changed, since his father Dave, a true enforcer, collected 2792 penalty minutes from 1986-2002. Fighting is slowly losing its place in the NHL.
All lessons were not lost on the younger Manson. If someone wants to drop the gloves with him, they should be prepared to take a beating. The game has changed, but the right hook has not. He can throw fists with the best of them.
It will always tick off opposing fans, watching one of their own get pummeled. Manson doesn’t lose many scuffles he’s in. He also won’t hesitate to help a teammate in need. That sometimes gets a little nasty.
Also, Josh Manson delivers some hard hits on the ice. He’s not a man to be messed with and opponents should keep their heads up he’s in the game. When you put together the combination of hard hits, protecting teammates, and beating the tar out of would be tough guys, it makes him a target of opposing fans ire.