Hockey players are a different breed—and so are their nicknames. Between locker room traditions, inside jokes, and just plain randomness, the NHL has produced some bizarre monikers over the years.
Some are creative, some are lazy, and a few are strange. Let’s lace up the skates and rank the weirdest nicknames to ever hit the ice, from quirky to what-in-the-Zamboni-did-I-just-hear?
19. “The Big Rig” (Pat Maroon)
He’s big, slow-ish, and gets the job done. The nickname sounds more like a semi-truck than a left winger, but it’s stuck.
18. “Jumbo Joe” (Joe Thornton)
It’s hard to say if the name complements his size or beard. Either way, it sounds like something you’d order at a diner.
17. “The Hamburglar” (Andrew Hammond)
He stole wins and hearts during an insane hot streak, but the nickname came from a McDonald’s character. Nothing says elite goaltending like being named after a cartoon thief in stripes.
16. “Kessel Run” (Phil Kessel)
A play on Star Wars and his last name, even though Kessel never looked like he was built for speed. It’s geeky, clever, and makes exactly zero hockey sense.
15. “Stammer” (Steven Stamkos)
It’s just his last name with an extra “m,” which feels like someone gave up halfway through brainstorming. Weirdly, it’s still better than “Steve-O.”
14. “Pasta” (David Pastrnak)
Yes, it’s because of his last name. But it’s still funny that one of the NHL’s flashiest scorers is named after a bowl of carbs.
13. “Captain Serious” (Jonathan Toews)
Toews’s name is derived from his demeanor, but it sounds like a knockoff superhero who only fights tax fraud. It’s weird, but somehow fitting.
12. “The Little Ball of Hate” (Pat Verbeek)
He was short, scrappy, and downright annoying to play against. The name is strangely poetic and weird enough to raise eyebrows.
11. “Jagrbomb” (Jaromir Jagr)
Half drink reference, half pun, all chaos. The nickname sounds like it belongs at a frat party, not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
10. “The Real Deal” (James Neal)
This one sounds like a wrestling persona. It’s flashy, bold, and vague enough to be hilarious.
9. “Bugsy” (Ryan Malone)
No one knows why Malone went by “Bugsy.” It’s got mobster energy, but he was mostly just a solid power forward with questionable facial hair.
8. “The Finnish Flash” (Teemu Selanne)
Sure, he was fast and Finnish, but the nickname sounds like a European track star or a Marvel character’s cousin. Still, it’s legendary in its weirdness.
7. “The Rat” (Ken Linseman)
He earned the name for his pesky playing style and annoying tactics. It’s one of the few times an insult became a badge of honor.
6. “The Boogeyman” (Derek Boogaard)
His last name helped, but this one sounds like something from a bedtime horror story. And honestly, for enforcers, that fits perfectly.
5. “Pickles” (Marc-Edouard Vlasic)
It’s because he shares a name with a popular pickle brand. That’s it. That’s the reason.
4. “Soup” (Campbell, any of them)
If your last name is Campbell, you’re automatically “Soup.” It’s lazy, classic, and undeniably weird.
3. “The Russian Rocket” (Pavel Bure)
He was fast, sure—but this nickname sounds like a Cold War action figure. Bonus points for sounding slightly dangerous.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Weirdest Golfer Nicknames of All Time
2. “Grapes” (Don Cherry)
How did a loud suit-wearing commentator end up with a nickname that sounds like a lunchbox snack? We may never know, but it fits the strangeness.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Weirdest NFL Nicknames of All Time
1. “The Boring Sean Monahan” (Sean Monahan)
This one started as a parody Twitter account mocking his lack of charisma, and it somehow stuck. Imagine being in the NHL and your nickname is dull.
Read More: 15 NHL Nicknames That Hit Harder Than a Body Check
