NHL's most hated player Nick Cousins, signs with most hated team

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TJ Tucker
August 29, 2024 (4:06 PM)

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Fresh off of winning a Stanley Cup, controversial forward Nick Cousins has a brand new, one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators for the 2024-25 season

He just might be the dirtiest player playing in the NHL right now. Nick Cousins, who was called out by a prominent figure last season for high hits, has signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators.

Cousins will make 800k in the NHL next season with the Ottawa Senators, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.

Cousins played 69 games for the Florida Panthers last season, potting 7 goals and a total of 15 points. In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Cousins played another 12 games for the Panthers as the team went on to win its very first NHL championship.

During the 2023-24 regular season, Kevin Bieksa of Hockey Night in Canada called Cousins a "rat", adding his style of play doesn't belong in today's league. That followed some high hits from Cousins on opponents, and his refusal to drop the gloves after dirty plays.

"I've never done this before, but I have to do it because this is a trend with this player. And he's done this a numerous amount of times, ramming a guy's head into the boards.

I'm told he's a good guy. I'm told he's liked by his teammates. And he's actually a pretty good hockey player. But somebody in that organization, or somebody that he respects, has to sit down and say, 'Enough of this' ... like, that's a rat to me. I'm sorry, it is."

The Ottawa Senators add some grit to the lineup with the signing of Nick Cousins. As for Bieksa's comments, Cousins himself disagreed with the assessment and the negative narrative surrounding him.