Imagine being so intimidating that an entire league of tough guys thinks twice before even mentioning your name. That’s exactly what happened to Tom Wilson, the NHL’s once-crowned ‘most punchable’ player, who seems to have vanished from the latest anonymous poll results published by The Athletic. But here’s where it gets interesting: after Wilson threatened to punch the anonymous player who labeled him as having the ‘most punchable face’ in the 2023-24 season, no one dared to repeat the claim this year. Could it be that his bold response—‘I’d probably punch that guy in the face, too’—was enough to silence his critics? Or is there more to the story?
While Wilson’s absence from the list is noteworthy, the top three spots remain unchanged. Ottawa Senators’ Nick Cousins (24.3%) still leads the pack, followed by the notorious Brad Marchand (19.6%) and Matthew Tkachuk (10.3%). One player bluntly stated about Cousins, ‘I can’t stand him. I heard he’s a good guy, but I’d still love to punch him in the face.’ Marchand, unsurprisingly, was labeled a ‘little rat,’ while Tkachuk was called ‘an ahole in front of the net.’ **But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this poll just harmless locker room banter, or does it reveal deeper grudges among players? And why do these names keep popping up year after year?
Wilson’s transformation might hold the key. Once known for his frequent fights—over 10 in a season during his early career—he’s now toned it down significantly, with fewer than five fights since the 2021-22 season. He’s also cleaned up his act off the ice, avoiding suspensions since 2020-21 (aside from a six-game stint for high-sticking Noah Gregor in 2023-24). And this is the part most people miss: Wilson now claims to give opponents a verbal warning before delivering big hits. Is this a sign of maturity, or just a smarter way to avoid penalties? Either way, it’s working—he’s now one of the league’s top two-way forwards, leading the NHL in penalty minutes (1,586) since his rookie season in 2013-14.
Interestingly, one Capitals player did make the list this year: Brandon Duhaime, known for his relentless trash-talking. Former Caps Garnet Hathaway (2.8%) and Jonas Siegenthaler also received votes, though neither cracked the top spots. But here’s the real question: Does Wilson’s absence from the poll mean he’s reformed, or has he simply become too intimidating to call out? Let us know what you think in the comments—is Tom Wilson a changed man, or just a smarter enforcer? And who do you think deserves the ‘most punchable’ title this year?
