Steve Ott

The NHL, more than ever with its new rule restrictions, is full of dirty plays. 

Brendan Shanahan has done his job in really enforcing these rules and handing down steep but acceptable punishments.

Here is a list of the five dirtiest players in today's NHL, and in turn, the players that can expect a call from Shanahan the most often.

As always, feel free to comment about what players you think should be included on this list. I am always interested in hearing other people's opinions. 

After the San Jose Sharks-Dallas Stars matchup Tuesday night, Steve Ott took to the soapbox and bemoaned the “dirty” play from various Sharks.

Coming off a grueling comeback victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night, the Dallas Stars faced off against the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets in a Sunday matinee, which also was Stars' head coach Marc Crawford's 50th birthday.

Unfortunately for Crawford, Columbus captain Rick Nash would not allow a Stars' victory to complete his birthday as the Blue Jackets defeated the Stars, 2-1.

Bruins, Stars Fight as Campell, Ott Drop Gloves As Game Begins

Things got a little chippy right from the start of Thursday night's Stars-Bruins game in Boston, thanks to some help from old "friends" Steve Ott and Gregory Campbell. 

These two players took part in a vicious check from Ott back when Campbell was with the Florida Panthers and apparently, the Bruin has a fairly long memory. 

The NHL's Annual GM meetings have been happening all this week, with each team's GM present as they discuss the current state of the game, and additions or rule changes that need to take place. It's a clash of some of the smartest minds in hockey, which makes it interesting why the combination of the game's brightest could only come up with this latest change to the All-Star Game.

You know, the one game every season you don't watch?

In reading an article written on Jack Campbell just after he was drafted by Dallas this past June, the first line pretty much sums up the Stars' recent struggles: They didn't finish off the decade as well as they started it.

It is an art and it is a skill.

Nobody can learn to trash-talk, or practice trash-talking. It is something that people are just naturally good at, some more than others.

Some players have mastered the art of trash-talking and agitating in general. Sean Avery is known all around the National Hockey League as one of the best in the NHL, but sometimes, like most agitators or "goons," he crosses the line.