Well we have it, the most perfect time to use the “he’s got a point you know” meme and we owe this to @AndrewCorns on twitter. His original tweet was (see screenshot below).
At first glance after seeing this list I thought it was a troll. I mean, I understand they haven’t lived up to much these playoffs, but to say Claude Giroux or Steven Stamkos aren’t stars is absurd. That’s just one instance, every team on the list seems to be more and more wrong the further you go.
However, as ice cold as his take was, Andrew has a point. In later follow up tweets he clarifies his intentions but essentially he is right, while taking skill and on ice performance away from the term “star” the NHL has no comparison to the NBA. The NHL has ZERO player identity, we as a community scrutinize any actions, dress, or comments outside what is considered to be the norm as a negative.
The NHL also doesn’t allow for any personal branding both inside and outside the game. How can the NBA have 18 current players with custom shoe deals, yet not a single NHL player has custom skates, helmets, gloves, or stick. We have taken any and all individuality out of the game and forced everyone to act the same way.
The NHL will never compete socially with the NBA or NFL until our highest end athletes show some remnants of a personality and this is in no way a shot at the way Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby carry themselves away from the rink, but they don’t exactly get brand exposure other top end athletes such as Lebron James, Tom Brady.
The tweet was a freezing cold take, but the underlying message is spot on, until the NHL allows players to have personalities outside and separate from their organization the NBA and NFL will continue to hold more power in sports.
