These five NHL players have drawn the ire of opposing fans lately for various reasons, but they play effective roles in helping their teams win in the playoffs.

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are never wanting for high drama. 

In every post-season series, heroes and heels are occupy both ends of the love/hate spectrum, and this year is no different in that regard. Time will tell which players ultimately will be heroes for their particular team, but we can already point out which players took on the villain role as they battle for the sport’s toughest championship.

In no particular order, here are five NHL villains that opposing fans love to hate, complete with some new, pro-wrestling style nicknames that suit each of them:

Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights

Pro Wrestling Name: 'Mr. LTIR'

Why he’s a villain: He may simply be the victim of bad luck, but take a look at Stone’s history of being injured late in the regular season and returning to action just in time for the playoffs. In each of the past two years, Stone has returned to good health as the regular season ended and the post-season began. There’s nothing inherently wrong about that pattern, but it does rouse suspicion from rival fan bases all the same.

As a result, Stone heard from vocal boo-birds Monday in Game 1 of the Golden Knights’ series against Dallas, including Stars fans leaning into him during an interview with broadcaster Leah Hextall. 

And if, down the line, there is a league change in LTIR rules for the playoffs or for players coming back to health in time for the post-season, you may name that rule after Stone. 

Max Domi, Toronto Maple Leafs

Pro Wrestling Name: 'The Domi-nant Dude'

Why he’s a villain: Like his father, NHL icon Tie Domi, Max Domi simply couldn’t care less if fans from other teams dislike his physical, sandpaper-filled game. 

As he’s demonstrated against Boston through two playoff games, Domi is exactly the type of corrosive influence the Maple Leafs have lacked in recent years. Now that he’s on Toronto’s first line with Auston Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi, Domi is showing he’s an all-around high-impact performer who never shies away from contact or controversy.

In Game 1, Domi and Brad Marchand (more on him later) started going at before the puck was even dropped. And in Game 2, he did the talking on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist.

The Leafs’ self-professed need for “snot” is being fully addressed by Max Domi, and if that means he’s in the bad books of opponents and their supporters, Domi is more than comfortable bearing that burden. He comes from a family that eagerly fights battles for himself and his teammates, and that’s why Domi has been so valuable to the Buds in his first season in Blue & White. 

He’s a UFA this summer, but the way he’s come on strong in recent weeks, there’s little question the Leafs will bring him back on a multi-year contract. He’s been an experiment that has worked out well, and Toronto management will be intent on keeping him around for the long term.

Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

Pro Wrestling Name: 'Boston’s B(r)ad Boy'

Why he’s a villain: Few NHLers in modern league history have taken a more massive toll on their opponents’ psyche than Marchand. 

Even as he’s gotten into the latter stage of his playing career and picks his spots when it comes to aggravating the other team, Marchand makes an impact on reputation alone. 

Leafs players (including Domi) have targeted Marchand as a source of frustration this spring, and while Marchand hasn’t retaliated and been goaded into taking needless penalties, he’s always got it in him to unnerve opponents and cause them much grief.

That grit and determination is part of what makes Marchand so effective, and that’s why we’re unlikely to see him take a more pacifist approach in the back nine of his playing days. What he does works, and he’s not about to move away from that time-tested approach.

Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals

Pro Wrestling Name: 'Tommy Gun'

Why he’s a villain: Much like Marchand, Wilson proudly gets under the skin of opponents with a physical, fearless – some would say reckless – abandon. Wilson is a Cup champion, so on some level, he’s been doing something right. 

But he’s also now 30 years old, and the physical toll on him is rising. He hasn’t played a full 82-game regular season since 2016-17, and his goal totals have dropped below 20 goals in each of the past two years.

Wilson won't be fitted for a halo by hockey historians, but he’s plainly uninterested in retreating from the border between effective physical competitor and over-the-top player. Washington has precious little of his grit, so Wilson will be a key influence on the Caps for a long time, as he’s signed through the 2030-31 campaign.

Nick Cousins, Florida Panthers

Pro Wrestling Name: 'Icky'

Why he’s a villain: A relative newcomer to the well-loathed picture, Cousins has emerged as a sandpaper specialist for the Panthers in the past two seasons, making his mark against playoff opponents like the Leafs and Golden Knights and nearly helping deliver a Cup to Florida.

The 30-year-old is a depth player who makes you remember him each time he’s on the ice. While he’s never going to be a major-league point producer, he’s unafraid of taking on opponents and unnerving them to their detriment. Cousins is scheduled to be a UFA this summer, and as a role player who won’t break the bank, he’ll almost assuredly be in high demand from teams looking to bulk up their bite factor. 

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