There’s nothing quite like hockey grudges. Whether it’s an old teammate, a front-office feud, or a playoff series that still stings decades later, these NHL legends have held onto the past with a vice grip.
Some call it loyalty, others call it bitterness—but whatever you call it, these players just couldn’t let certain things go. From on-ice rivalries to off-ice drama, these legends stayed mad, stayed vocal, and definitely stayed stuck.
16. Jeremy Roenick
Roenick was never one to bite his tongue, and that didn’t change in retirement. He’s still bringing up slights and snubs like they happened yesterday.
15. Dino Ciccarelli
Ciccarelli never got over the way certain teams treated him—or didn’t treat him, depending on how you look at it. He made a Hall of Fame career out of playing with a chip on his shoulder.
14. Eric Lindros
Lindros had all the talent in the world but never fully moved on from the saga with the Flyers’ front office. The drama with Bobby Clarke still gets brought up every few years.
13. Tie Domi
Domi made a career out of being an enforcer, and he seems to still be enforcing old grudges. Whether it’s old fights or rivalries, he keeps the receipts.
12. Patrick Roy
Roy’s infamous exit from Montreal is something he never truly put behind him. Anytime the Canadiens come up, you can feel that old tension surface.
11. Sean Avery
Avery’s entire brand was built on beef, and retirement didn’t soften him. He’s still chirping players and revisiting old feuds on social media.
10. Mike Keenan
Coaches hold grudges, too, and Mike Keenan was the king of it. If you ever crossed him, chances are he remembers—and still talks about it.
9. Chris Pronger
Pronger was known for his edge, and that edge didn’t dull after he left the game. He’s still got opinions about opponents, referees, and how things should’ve gone.
8. Don Cherry
Cherry’s love for old-school hockey is matched only by his long list of beefs. He’s spent decades sounding off about everything he didn’t like—and he’s still going.
7. Claude Lemieux
Lemieux had a talent for making enemies, and he never really made peace with any of them. He seemed to relish revisiting those old playoff wars.
6. Brett Hull
Hull has never been shy about speaking his mind, especially when it comes to how the game’s changed—or how he was treated. Don’t get him started on missed calls or media narratives.
5. Mark Messier
Messier may have led with grace, but he’s never truly forgiven certain decisions and moments from his career. Just ask him about the way his Rangers tenure ended.
4. Pavel Bure
Bure’s departure from Vancouver still seems like an open wound. He rarely talks about that time without some subtle (or not-so-subtle) jabs.
3. Ron Hextall
As a player and executive, Hextall carried his grudges like a badge of honor. The man never forgot a hit, a loss, or a front-office slight.
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2. Jeremy Jacobs
Though not a player, the longtime Bruins owner deserves a spot for how deeply he held onto contract disputes and power struggles. If you crossed him once, you were on the list forever.
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1. Bobby Clarke
Clarke was the heart of the Broad Street Bullies—and never stopped fighting those old battles. Whether it’s his take on Lindros or his disdain for modern hockey softness, he’s living in the past like it’s still game day.
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