Toronto Maple Leafs Rivals sign public enemy and reignite Battle of Ontario

While it isn't Toronto Maple Leafs news directly, their provincial rivals have signed one of the biggest headaches in hockey when the agreed on terms with Nick Cousins.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans will continue to see the pest after he signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday afternoon for $800,000.

Most fans likely had no idea who the Belleville, Ontario native was until he joined the Florida Panthers two seasons ago, but he has now become more famous or infamous depending on what term you want to use.

Cousins has built up quite the reputation as a player that will take advantage of vulnerable players and risk injuring them, leaving several people around hockey to not agree with his style.

Is Nick Cousins bad for hockey?

Cousins has been recently called out by two former NHL players, one being a former teammate for how he plays the game. Kevin Bieska stated last year on Hockey Night in Canada "People don't want to watch and see: kneeing, hitting a guys head into the boards, ramming a guy from behind and that is a common theme for a player in this league; I've never done this before but I have to do it, because it is a trend with this player (Cousins).. there is no place in the game for this and what's the common theme on all these? Him at the bottom of the pile in a turtle position".

On Thursday's episode of Overdrive, former Cousins teammate Jason Demers joined the show and was asked by Gord Miller who was the biggest "rat" he played with and against. Demers immediate response was "Is it safe to say Nick Cousins is up on that list, he's pretty high up", which he also added Adam Burrish. Demers continued on that players like Cousins need to learn to answer the bell in regards to how he plays the game and if he doesn't other players on his own team will have to which he did not agree with as it could risk his own teammates health.

Cousins is not an impact player as he has just reached 20-points four times in his career and is coming off a 15-point season where he was a healthy scratch for half the playoff games, however, when in the line-up he can bring the worst out in hockey.

Due to the lack luster results of the Ottawa Senators over the last decade, which has resulted in just one playoff appearance since 2016, including no appearances during captain Brady Tkachuk's career there has been little to no animosity in the Battle of Ontario. The small amount of time that Cousins could see, may bring a little more controversy to the once beloved Battle of Ontario.

Either way, the Senators are likely going to compete for a playoff spot this year, which should finally re-ignite the Battle of Ontario.