How big of a factor does comradery have?

[thasanjoseshawksdood*]

Compare the sharks to the kings, similar talent level/work ethic but what makes the difference between a champion and a pretender? At the end of the last season a few sharks players came to management and said they feel more like "co workers than teammates" while you have a kings player on the latest episode of road to the NHL saying, "we want to continue winning so we can stay together."

I don't know why everyone on here is scratching their heads saying GEE, i wonder why the kings are never counted out. Well, that's what happens when you play for the team and each other. /end rant

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[NHL Dude 120]

I'd say it has a big impact, I mean Kane wasn't liked by his teammates and that hate just exasperated the lockerroom.

 

[Tarasenko]

I think you need to play or have already played hockey to know how it's important.

 

[BlueDream]

I don't think it's different than any other profession. If you like who you're working with you tend to do better.

 

[chupanibre]

The Flyers are said to have a pretty close locker room and they all seem to be good buds (except Umberger and Coburn), but the team isn't exactly great and sometimes tends to lack chemistry on the ice.

 

[Woodrow]

I don't think it's different than any other profession. If you like who you're working with you tend to do better.

This and you are mostly stuck with these teammates with pretty limited options if you want out.

 

[hisgirlfriday]

I don't think it's different than any other profession. If you like who you're working with you tend to do better.

Disagree that it's just like any other profession.

Professional hockey, unlike most professions, requires a person to set aside serious physical pain/injury or fear of serious physical pain/injury to perform for the betterment of the team.

I'm sure it's a just a bit easier for players to make that sacrifice and take risks to health and well-being in terms of blocking shots and battling for the puck in corners when its a closeknit team.

Camaraderie is not just liking who is around you, it's about inspiring you too.

 

[Bee Sheriff]

It's probably the biggest, most important intangible there is.

My freshman year of high school i joined the wrestling team and no one was really close on the team and our varsity team ended up only ended up only coming 3rd in our league (out of six) and only like 5 kids moved into the post-season. That following off-season we all began hanging out all the time, every weekend etc. and were truly the best of friends.

The next year with virtually the same squad (minus two previous seniors) the team stormed through our league for 1st and then made it to the semi-finals in the regional tournament. The entire team, besides 2 kids, individually made the postseason and one kid even qualified for state.

The difference between a close knit squad and a "co-worker" squad is how they practice, I can tell you that first hand. We practiced and pushed each other harder than ever that year, and we all truly cared about making each other better, and it showed.

A team plays like they practice.

 

[HarrisonFord]

It's probably the biggest, most important intangible there is.

My freshman year of high school i joined the wrestling team and no one was really close on the team and our varsity team ended up only ended up only coming 3rd in our league (out of six) and only like 5 kids moved into the post-season. That following off-season we all began hanging out all the time, every weekend etc. and were truly the best of friends.

The next year with virtually the same squad (minus two previous seniors) the team stormed through our league for 1st and then made it to the semi-finals in the regional tournament. The entire team, besides 2 kids, individually made the postseason and one kid even qualified for state.

The difference between a close knit squad and a "co-worker" squad is how they practice, I can tell you that first hand. We practiced and pushed each other harder than ever that year, and we all truly cared about making each other better, and it showed.

A team plays like they practice.

Agreed here. It's the intangible that begets other intangibles to form. You'll put yourself on the line for your teammates (blocking shots, standing up for each other in scrums, wanting to win for them as much as wanting to win for yourself). I think that it goes beyond just pushing each other in practice, I think it also extends to on the ice. You don't wanna take a game off and let these guys you're close with down, so you push yourself as hard as you can during a game too. Also helps with morale I think

 

[Bee Sheriff]

Agreed here. It's the intangible that begets other intangibles to form. You'll put yourself on the line for your teammates (blocking shots, standing up for each other in scrums, wanting to win for them as much as wanting to win for yourself). I think that it goes beyond just pushing each other in practice, I think it also extends to on the ice. You don't wanna take a game off and let these guys you're close with down, so you push yourself as hard as you can during a game too. Also helps with morale I think

Agree completely, wrestling being an individual sport, I never got to see that side of things, but it is absolutely true by logic. A guy wouldn't risk a broken leg to block a shot if he thinks his goalie is a ******. Same goes for sticking up in a scrum or retaliating against a big hit. When guys truly love their teammates, they give it their all in every game.

 

[HarrisonFord]

Agree completely, wrestling being an individual sport, I never got to see that side of things, but it is absolutely true by logic. A guy wouldn't risk a broken leg to block a shot if he thinks his goalie is a ******. Same goes for sticking up in a scrum or retaliating against a big hit. When guys truly love their teammates, they give it their all in every game.

Exactly. You can always tell which teams are the closest knit ones by exactly those things - how willing guys are to block shots, go after a guy on the other team when he's taken advantage of a teammate, how much talking there is on the ice and on the bench, and the dynamic in the room (which we never really get to see)