Finnish forward Erik Haula has played in all 39 games the Devils have played so far this year. So why is he so hated across the league?
Haula has garnered 11 points with five goals six assists (-3). Prior to coming to New Jersey, he has previously played for the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins. Haula was acquired by the New Jersey Devils in a trade with the Boston Bruins for forward Pavel Zacha on July 13, 2022. He signed a three-year, $9.45 million contract to remain with the Devils on June 23, 2023, after getting 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 80 regular-season games and six points (four goals, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Despite his wide range of history across the NHL, Haula is most particularly hated by Hurricanes fans.
And to be fair, every fanbase has an opposing player that they love to hate. In recent years, few players have been as maligned by fans of the Carolina Hurricanes as Haula.
It’s easy to understand why Haula himself might have a grudge toward the Carolina Hurricanes, who declined to extend his contract in 2020 before shipping him to the Florida Panthers in the midst of the Vincent Trocheck deal. And then the Hurricanes eliminated Haula’s team in the playoffs in 2021. And again in 2022.
And the thing is — Haula plays into the hate.
He's talked badly about the organization after he left. Every time they've played him after that, he was instigating situations on the ice and taking cheap shots.
Erik Haula — who has been eliminated by the @Canes three years in a row — seen wearing a “Canes Suck” bracelet. 😂
— BarDown (@BarDown) July 17, 2023
(📸: IG/dkristo79) pic.twitter.com/4CFczOscoO
But, It was just a bracelet he wore on a golf course with one of his buddies. Even if he genuinely does hate the Hurricanes and everyone associated with them, that’s his problem. And if the Hurricanes hate him, that's there problem too. It’s not that important and needs to be settled on the ice.
Listen, the New Jersey Devils are in sole possession of first in the Metropolitan Division with 51 points. You don't get there without good players. And sometimes, some of those good players can be construed as villains.
And sometimes, being the villain is good.