CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Lauren Theisen

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes lifts the Stanley Cup after a 3-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brandon Bussi Filled The Hurricanes’ Last Hole

Barry Petchesky

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 11: The puck gets past Carter Hart #79 of the Vegas Golden Knights during game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 11, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

John Tortorella Stands Behind Carter Hart As Hart Fails To Stand In Front Of Four Goals Per Game

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 28: Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) blocks a shot during the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round game 5 between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on April 28, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

They Don’t Call Him Jesper Sievestedt

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Elias Pettersson #40 of Sweden tries to score against Goalie Damian Clara #i20 of Italy during the Men's Preliminary Group B match between Sweden and Italy on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by RvS.Media/Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

Olympics

Damian Clara Was Italy’s Improbable Bastion

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers fights with Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic #33 of the San Jose Sharks at the Amerant Bank Arena on January 19, 2026 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

2026 Is For Fighting

OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 14: Ottawa Senators Mascot Spartacat in the crowd during second period National Hockey League action between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators on November 14, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

The Ottawa Senators Are Having A Normal One

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: Devin Cooley #1 of the Calgary Flames stands during the singing of 'O Canada' prior to an NHL game on November 19, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images)

World’s Most Normal Goalie: “Nothing Matters, Nobody Cares, We’re All Gonna Die”

This Is Not Ideal Goalie Positioning

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Emergency backup goaltender Dave Ayres #90 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on February 22, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

The End Of EBUGs Means The End Of Dreams Coming True

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Anton Lundell #15 of the Florida Panthers shoots on Calvin Pickard #30 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Calvin Pickard Saved The Day

Ray Ratto

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 24: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets gives up a goal to the St. Louis Blues in the first period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 24, 2025 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Jets Have A Connor Hellebuyck Problem, And The Only Solution Is More Connor Hellebuyck

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15:-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets surrounded by teammates after an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center on April 15, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Luke Schmidt/NHLI via Getty Images)

One Last Nice Moment For Marc-Andre Fleury, Who Deserves Them All

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 12: Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Gabe Vilardi, You Filthy Boy

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 15: Filip Gustavsson #32 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his empty net goal against the St. Louis Blues on October 15, 2024 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

A Short History Of The Goalie Goal

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a tough save in the first period during game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Bob Was As Good As Goalies Get

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 12: Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save in the second period of game five of the Western Conference Second Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Vancouver Canucks on May 12, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Oilers Have Two Goalie Problems

I Am Begging For A Goalie Fight In Panthers-Bruins

This Puck Didn’t Go In

Igor Shesterkin is named first star of the game

Shesterkin Shutout Stifles Squabble

Jonathan Quick comes in to replace Igor Shesterkin

I Love This Goalie Controversy

Alexandar Georgiev Has Room For Improvement In The Art Of The Goalie Tantrum

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 16: XXXXXXX at Avicii Arena on November 16, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

You’d Duck Too

DALLAS, TX APRIL 19: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild tends goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 19, 2023, in Dallas, Texas (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Wild’s Goalie Platoon Didn’t Pay Off

Ottawa Senators goalie Dylan Ferguson celebrates after a win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.