The NHL is a sport that is full of contact, so naturally, players can grow extremely angry toward one another. However, in some cases, the agitation towards another player’s style of player can lead to strained relationship amongst these stars. However, it is important to note that hockey players also can develop amazing friendships with the players around them or even against them. Hockey is a sport that is full of immense emotion, so it easy for players to feel one way or the other when they are playing against each other. However, some of these relationships may be hard for us to tell.

With all that has been stated thus far, in this article, we will be looking at eight legendary friendships in the NHL today and eight more that can be deemed as frenemies. Friendships amongst the NHL can come in many different ways, as well as players becoming frenemies. It is always extremely fascinating to judge upon which side certain players feel toward one another, so this article should be quite an intriguing one for you readers. At the end of the day, hockey is a sport that allows for many changes in a person’s attitude. This is even the case in today’s NHL.

Nonetheless, let’s look at eight NHL friendships and eight relationships that can be considered frenemies!

16 Best Friends: Sidney Crosby And Nathan Mackinnon

Sidney Crosby has been one the greatest players of this decade and the entire NHL throughout his NHL career, but Nathan MacKinnon is definitely starting to catch up to him. This season was an absolute break out year for the former number one overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. MacKinnon was clearly one of the best players in the entire league this year and currently is one of the candidates for the most valuable player award for this season. MacKinnon helped lead the Colorado Avalanche back into the playoffs and had it not been for his statistical break out, this definitely would not have been the case.

It is pretty ironic that Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon are actually very good friends because they are both fighting to be considered the best player in the NHL. MacKinnon and Crosby both grew up in the same location in Nova Scotia, so these two have actually built a very strong relationship with one another. In fact, Crosby ended up becoming a very effective mentor for MacKinnon because of the fact that they each developed as hockey players in the same city. Although these two will likely never be teammates, their friendship will never die and that is a great thing.

15 Frenemies: Max Pacioretty And P.K. Subban

The P.K. Subban trade will forever haunt the minds of the Montreal Canadiens’ fanbase, but there is a very likely reason why the team decided to move on from him. With Subban just one season away from a full movement clause, the Canadiens decided to move him because of the likely fact that Subban just did not fit well within their system. There have been numerous occasions where Subban fought his own teammates during practice, so it shows that he was not a favourite amongst the locker room. However, the person who Subban argued you with the most was Max Pacioretty.

Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban are polar opposites, so this is likely the main reason why Subban ended up traded to the Nashville Predators.

Pacioretty is a very quiet, but spectacular hockey player, while Subban is very eccentric. This resulted in a personality clash amongst Montreal’s top two players and the Habs decided to bury it by trading Subban away. Although there were some good moments between these two stars, it is definitely apparent that they had moments when they absolutely could not have stood each other. Ironically however, Patches now may find himself moved out too.

14 Best Friends: Tyler Seguin And Jamie Benn

The Dallas Stars made the trade of their franchise when they stole Tyler Seguin away from the Boston Bruins for virtually nothing. Although losing Loui Eriksson was a bit challenging at first, they quickly learned that they made the right call giving up on the aging veteran and bringing in the young talent. Seguin has become one of the best players on the Stars and easily is a franchise talent. Jamie Benn also benefitted from this move because it allowed him to move back to the left wing and gave him a star to help pad his offensive statistics. This was a big move for sure.

However, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn can both be grateful for the trade because it has allowed them to become best friends. The two stars player are seen virtually everywhere together and are known to having a very spectacular relationship with one another. It is always extremely beneficial when a team’s top players are very good friends because it allows them to possess very strong chemistry on the ice. Both Benn and Seguin play exceptionally well with each other, so it is fair to assume that a lot of it has to do with the fact that they simply mesh well with one another.

13 Frenemies: Connor McDavid And Jack Eichel

During the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the NHL knew that they were about to add two franchise talents into the league with Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. McDavid had been the best player in the entire CHL since his arrival as a fifteen year old, while Eichel was absolutely dominating the college game at Boston University. Like every season before the draft, the NHL had the best prospects meet and hang out during the week before the draft. McDavid and Eichel met each other during this and reportedly got along quite well. However, this would be short-lived once their careers started.

There is absolutely no question that there is a competition between Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.

However, it is important to note that more pressure is put on Eichel than McDavid because he was the second overall pick and has already played at a lower level than McDavid. As soon as the draft was completed and Eichel was asked about McDavid, he stated that McDavid was not his friend and that he barely knows him. This slight jab by Eichel shows that there definitely is a rivalry starting between the two, even if it is more on Eichel’s side. Nonetheless, they definitely are frenemies.

12 Best Friends: Corey Perry And Ryan Getzlaf

Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf entered the Anaheim Ducks’ organization in the same year when they were drafted by them with their first round picks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. The impact of these two players entering the NHL at the same time was huge for the Ducks because as soon as they landed them, they were basically unstoppable. In fact, once the 2007 NHL playoffs rolled around, these two players helped the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup. These two players have been the main members of the core ever since then and very well could be until they both retire.

Due to the fact that these two have led the Anaheim Ducks to immense success and have yet to leave the city, they have built a very strong friendship with another. When one thinks of the Anaheim Ducks in the modern era, the first two players that come up in their minds are Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The two also have such a strong connection that they each have been represented to play for Team Canada mainly because of the fact of their chemistry as linemates. Due to this, it is apparent that these two are the best of friends and probably will be even when they are no longer players.

11 Frenemies: Alex Ovechkin And Sidney Crosby

Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have had a rivalry ever since they entered the NHL as rookies during the 2005-2006 season, These two superstars went toe-to-toe from the very start when they fought for the rights to be considered rookie of the year. Although Ovechkin would end up winning it, Crosby has had a lot of success as well over his career. In fact, Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, while Ovechkin has yet to win. The two of them are big rivals in the Metropolitan Division and have faced each other three straight seasons in the postseason, with Crosby winning two out of three.

Although these two have a pretty heated rivalry on the ice, they do have immense respect for one another because of their skill sets. Ovechkin is easily the greatest scorer of his generation and no one will even come close to what he is accomplishing at this present moment. Crosby, on the other hand, has been widely considered as the best player in the league for many seasons, but Connor McDavid has taken over that position. However, at the end of the day, these two will always be rivals battling in the same division, but off the ice, people who can admire the other.

10 Best Friends: P.K. Subban And John Tavares

P.K. Subban has grown into one of the best defenseman in the NHL and it is quite apparent that at this stage, the Montreal Canadiens absolutely regret trading him. When looking at John Tavares, the New York Islanders are about to feel a similar regret, as they have failed to extend him. If Tavares ends up hitting the open market and the Islanders end up losing him, it will be one of the worst situations that they have ever had to go through. Subban would probably love to have his buddy Tavares join the Nashville Predators, but financially, this just would not work because of the salary cap.

The friendship between P.K. Subban and John Tavares is often not talked about, but these two were the best of friends growing up. The two of them met when they played junior hockey together as young children growing up in the same area. There are countless videos of Tavares and Subban before they were pros hanging out and discussing their deep friendship. It is always quite fascinating to see two superstars who have been on the same NHL team as best friends. Subban and Tavares will hopefully play on the same team some day and be able to dominate together.

9 Frenemies: Brendan Gallagher And Brad Marchand

There is no question that the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens easily have one of the biggest rivalries in the entire NHL, so it is easy to assume that the players on both teams hate one another. However, when looking at Brad Marchand and Brendan Gallagher’s relationship, it is actually quite an intriguing one. When these two first played each other in the NHL, they both noted that they disliked the way that the other played and would very quickly become agitated with each other when they playing against one another. However, things actually kind of changed.

When Brendan Gallagher and Brad Marchand were teammates in the World Cup of Hockey, the two aggressive players ended up becoming good friends as teammates. In fact, the two even had interviews with one another where they discussed their change of feelings for each other. There is no question that playing with someone on the same team can change your opinions on them, but it truly shocking to see the sudden transformation amongst them. Although they still will play with a heavy edge when they are playing against each other, these two guys can definitely be considered frenemies.

8 Best Friends: Zdeno Chara And Marian Hossa

Zdeno Chara and Marian Hossa are two hockey legends and easily the bests that have ever come from Slovakia. With the Boston Bruins, Chara captained them to a Stanley Cup in 2011 and was easily the best shutdown defenseman during his prime years. Hossa, on the other hand, was more of a finesse player who dominated the game on the score sheet. Hossa ended up having a lot of success in the league as well and managed to win three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. With their individual accomplishments as well, there is no question these two are future Hockey Hall of Famers.

Something that many people may not have known is the fact that these two superstars are actually best friends and this started back when they were children. In fact, Chara and Hossa actually played youth hockey together and grew up in the same town. It is quite apparent that these two franchise players helped boost the other into becoming real star hockey players. Although these two are now extremely old for hockey standards, they definitely have the ability to still compete in theory. However, sadly for Hossa, a rare skin condition has ended his career and now he is retired.

7 Frenemies: Nico Hischier And Nolan Patrick

Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick were the two top picks of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and both players entered the league with a bang. Although Patrick struggled to find himself offensively during the first half of his rookie season, he ended up being very productive for the Flyers in the second half and was a big reason behind their season’s turn around. Hischier, on the other hand, was a very reliable player for the New Jersey Devils throughout the entire season and showed that he deserved to be the first overall pick. However, there is still plenty of hockey left for these two.

Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick ended up meeting before the draft and seemed to get along very well.

That is easy to understand why because of the fact that they were both just young eighteen year olds without many issues. However, with these two constantly going to be compared and in the same Metropolitan Division, it is absolutely going to lead to a little rivalry. Although this season did not show much of it yet, there is no question it will come out when the Flyers and Devils end up being bigger threats soon. This could create the NHL’s next big feud and it will be epic.

6 Best Friends: Brent Burns And Joe Thornton

The San Jose Sharks have a very solid roster so one has to assume that they will eventually reach the success that they are capable of. Their closest chance of winning the Stanley Cup was back in 2016 when they made the finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although they ended up losing, this definitely will not be their last chance because their roster is incredibly deep. Two players on the San Jose Sharks who are the keys of their success are Brent Burns and grizzled veteran Joe Thornton. These two are the leaders of the team and will need to carry them to victory.

Over the past few seasons, Joe Thornton and Brent Burns have become inseparable and are the best of friends. Thornton has notably grown his legendary beard due to the fact that Burns had one. In fact, one may say that Thornton and Burns became closer through their beards because Burns helped guide Thornton to grow it correctly. However, in all seriousness, these two became great friends because of their countless years of playing together for the Sharks and the fact that they have come so close to winning. It is only a matter of time before they can win together.

5 Frenemies: Jimmy Howard And Petr Mrazek

The Detroit Red Wings are in an apparent rebuilding period and at this present time, there is not much to look forward to with them. They are in the beginning stages of it, so they have yet to find themselves an eye opening prospect who could potentially carry them to the success that they desperately need to obtain once again. Besides Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, the future does not look very bright for the Red Wings and they need to find a way to create their winning roster. This season saw a pretty massive change when they finally chose Jimmy Howard as their permanent number one goalie after trading Petr Mrazek to the Flyers.

It is important to note that Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek had been competing for the number one goalie position for years, so it is a pretty big deal that one was finally dealt. However, due to the fact that these two were always competing with one another, it is easy to assume that there definitely was a rivalry amongst the locker room with them. Although they had been teammates for quite some time, they kept taking their starting jobs from one another, which of course, definitely would create a pretty significant rift in any player relationship.

4 Best Friends: Roberto Luongo And Eddie Lack

The Vancouver Canucks have constantly put their goalies through intense competitions with one another and this was shown during the early stages of the 2010s. The first situation was when the Canucks kept switching starting jobs between Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider. After years of this, it appeared that Schneider had finally secured the position, but they then shockingly traded him to the New Jersey Devils for the first round pick that turned into Bo Horvat. From here, it seemed likely that Luongo was going to be the long-term starting goalie for the Canucks.

However, just one season later, the Canucks started to pull off the same situation, but this time it was between Roberto Luongo and Eddie Lack. Lack would end up stealing Luongo’s job and this made Luongo want to be traded out of Vancouver. However, even through all of this, Luongo and Lack actually formed a fantastic friendship and even mention one another in tweets today. It is pretty iconic that these two have become great friends because it shows that players are able to make the worst out of a bad situation. With Luongo now in Florida and Lack a free agent, these two are still good friends.

3 Frenemies: Joe Thornton And Sidney Crosby

Joe Thornton and Sidney Crosby are two of the best veterans in the NHL today and the league is extremely lucky to have both of them. Although the two players are in opposite conferences, it is important to note that a rivalry between the two players has actually blossomed and it is pretty apparent. As previously stated, the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks faced one another in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals and the way they battled has created an intense feud between the teams. As their teams’ leaders, this of course has carried on to both Crosby and Thornton.

Joe Thornton and Sidney Crosby have been in numerous battles on the ice and neither player is known for being that physical. Yet, when they play against one another, it is absolutely evident that these players cannot stand one another and it always leads to some extremely fascinating hockey. However, these two also are extremely good friends when they are playing on the same team with each other. This was shown when they played together in the World Cup of Hockey and were even linemates at times. This is one of the strangest frenemies example, but it definitely is one worth noting.

2 Best Friends: Mitch Marner And Auston Matthews

Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews are the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they have already emerged as legitimately elite players. Marner and Matthews have helped lead the Maple Leafs to the playoffs in both of their first two seasons in the NHL, so it is apparent that they have already left a significant impact on the Maple Leafs. However, for the Maple Leafs to actually develop into a legitimate contending hockey club, they need to completely transform their defensive group, as it is lackluster at best. WIth that, these two can easily lead the Maple Leafs to a Stanley Cup.

What makes this even better for the Toronto Maple Leafs is that these two superstars get along amazingly.

In fact, it is easy to state that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are best friends with one another. This is great because the two young stars are both just entering their twenties and still have plenty of time left in their primes. The two have already had countless friendship moments together on the ice that have been documented by the NHL media. There is nothing better in the NHL than having your two stars have amazing chemistry with one another, so Toronto is extremely lucky with this.

1 Frenemies: Alex Ovechkin And Evgeni Malkin

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are two of the best Russian players in the NHL and arguably to ever play in the NHL. In the NHL, Ovechkin has become the most dominant sniper in the league, while Malkin has developed into a star playmaker with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although Malkin will forever be stuck in Sidney Crosby’s shadow there, he should never be forgotten as one of the top players in the current NHL. In fact, this season he managed to register far more points than Crosby during the regular season. Ovechkin and Malkin also have a very interesting relationship.

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin grew up together and even were once considered to be best friends. However, as the years have passed, their friendship has grown increasingly stale and a lot of it has to do with the fact that these two are hard competitors on the ice. Malkin once openly stated his criticism on Ovechkin and stated that the Great #8 always aims for his head. The open criticism led to an intense rivalry between the two, as Ovechkin found it to be disrespectful. In fact, this feud has grown so badly that Ovechkin even punched Malkin’s agent. This one time friendship has definitely fallen to a frenemy situation, or potentially even worse.