Is Kucherov the least liked player in the NHL? (Performance in Skills competition)

[Soundwave]

Idk generally I would be excited of a competition like this even if I was doing it my friends without prize. So it's difficult to understand this childish attitude, especially when you're doing it for the fans which made you a multimillionaire

However, there is couple of factors that makes it more understandable

Firstival, I think players would care about the event more if it was actually best on best. What is Konecny and Wilson doing there while top10 player like Rantanen is on a holiday?

Secondly, and more importantly: NHL has time for this and is planning to make 82 game season even longer than it is but haven't found time for real international hockey for years??? That's what players care a lot, some players even more than about winning the Stanley cup

Third, now as NHL finally announced day before that at least some kind of (exhibition) international hockey event is coming next year, Kucherov's national team is out(and rightly so). He might be very pissed of that decision.

You don't have to like the event, but if you are there and have shown up, have some class and (yes) go through the motions like you care.

It's not a big ask.

If you don't want to be there that bad, take the 1 game suspension or fake an injury. But if you're there, in uniform, on the ice, well then you can put some low level of effort in for the 90 seconds a camera is on you.

No one in the league or has ever played the game for that matter is so big or so special that they are above doing at least that. I would say the same if Gretzky or Lemieux or Orr did the same thing, but they would never do that in the first place.

Is it a big deal? No. But is it fair to say "hey dude, that really isn't cool, get it together", Sure. You're a professional, act like it. This isn't a night shift at a McDonalds, even if the All-Star game is "lame" if it's something that matters to even a small handful of kids and you are there, be a pro about it. It doesn't take much effort.

 

[Rschmitz]

I don't need any solid evidence to have the impression that he's a giant douche, i'm not sueing the guy. You're right though i know nothing. I don't claim to.

You’re entitled to believe and dislike whoever you want, and for any reason.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

How about voluntary payment from team owners that don't feel like paying? Oh bring that up and the players rear ends would tighten up real fast.

If you are in the entertainment business, which is all that Kucherov is in (sorry dude, you're not a NASA astronaut or fire fighter, or someone who actually does anything really important, the outcome of NHL games matters about as much as the outcome of a WWE wrestling match in the grand scheme of things) ... then you have promotional responsibilities like any other entertainment business.

All entertainers do some promotional shit they don't want to do, you think Ryan Gosling or Brad Pitt want to do press junket number 30 answering some stupid questions in the 10th city they've been in for the last week? No. They don't like doing that either. Do you think every boxer or MMA fighter likes doing promotion for their fights? Probably a bunch of them don't. They do it anyway.

Pretend you give a crap for the few minutes a camera is on you, it's not a big ask.

Exactly.

In the grand scheme of things what Kucherov did was hardly a big deal but if that was the bar to discuss something here there'd be 3 threads on the whole site. And they'd be locked for political discussion.

It's crazy to think people don't realize NHL hockey players are first and foremost entertainers.

Regarding publicity, with actors the running joke is you don't get paid to act in the movie, you get paid to promote it on endless press junkets.

 

[GaboriklessWild]

The guy probably has more playoff points than most NHL teams' rosters combined. But the trolls are angry that for some silly stickhandling competition he completed it in 40 seconds instead of 20 lmao

 

[zar]

Excellent hockey player but the guy is a clown. He’s an embarrassment to the league the way he acts.

 

[Rschmitz]

That shouldn't have to be put into a freaking contract.

I'm pretty sure movie stars don't have in their contract that they have to smile at a movie premiere either, they do it because it's called not being a jack ass. It's called "professionalism".

The vast majority of celebrities are jerks but keep finding work. I don’t see your point, he didn’t say or do anything wrong, he should give zero f***s about how average fans micromanage their opinions about him.

 

[Bounces R Way]

I was at that party too. The kids were all hysterically crying, basically inconsolable. One tried to flush his Kucherov jersey down the toilet which flooded the bathroom and another was heard saying he would never play hockey again and was going to take up slacklining instead. You could see the twinkle in their eyes go out, that childlike sense of optimism and wonder was dead and gone. Several parents were considering what legal recourse was available to them. One particularly cherub faced boy was despondently confused as to why Nikita hated him when he was his hero.

cake was good tho

 

[Dach Vader]

He's the type of player I would only appreciate if he were on my team.

I don't really like him.

 

[x Tame Impala]

The vast majority of celebrities are jerks but keep finding work. I don’t see your point, he didn’t say or do anything wrong, he should give zero f***s about how average fans micromanage their opinions about him.

It’s completely immature of him to blow this off and you know it. He should humble himself.

Of course it’s just a dumb skills competition and no one is clutching pearls here, but if it needs to be explained to you (or anyone else in this thread) as to why his actions were so petulant, then you’re probably an immature person as well.

 

[LuGBuG]

Wouldn't count on him winning it now.

If anyone votes differently because of that then they should have their voting privileges removed. Coming from someone who thought he performance was rather pathetic and disappointed he couldn’t put in just a little effort.

 

[Icarium]

Of course it’s just a dumb skills competition and no one is clutching pearls here,

The very fact that this thread exist suggests otherwise.

 

[Soundwave]

The vast majority of celebrities are jerks but keep finding work. I don’t see your point, he didn’t say or do anything wrong, he should give zero f***s about how average fans micromanage their opinions about him.

Because most people are jerks, celebrities aren't any different. But even so-called "celebrity jerks" in most cases still go through the promotional aspects of their job with a reasonable level of professional.

I'm pretty sure there is nothing in Brad Pitt's contract that says he literally has to smile at a movie premiere, but he does it even if doesn't want to be there (and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to be there for those events much of the time). Why? Because it's called professionalism.

You're not at these events just to represent yourself. In the case of an athlete you represent your team and your league. It's never just "I'm just here as me", that's not how being a public figure in an entertainment business works for anyone.

If you don't want to be there that badly, don't come period and accept the consequences of not showing up. But if you're there and have shown up, then yes, you have a minimal obligation to not act like a spoiled teenager who's pissed off the were forced to attend grandma's 90th birthday.

 

[brentashton]

He's a professional. There are expectations that come with that. No additional incentive required.

I personally wouldn't advocate for supplemental discipline, but if he really needs incentive, the threat of a suspension should do the trick...

Bingo.

 

[AvalancheRy]

It's one thing to call them boring, but to claim they put no effort into it and that they're their own worst enemy is hyperbole at its finest. Dude is 18, just getting used to basically being the youngest player in the league. Do you think he really cares at this point about being Mr. Personality? If I were a Hawks fan, I'd be more concerned if he was trying to be the life of the party rather than just keeping his head down and concentrating on carving out his place on the ice.

I'm not singling out Bedard like you're apparently trying to make it seem. I watched the interview w/ Crosby and Bedard and it was boring af, I'm sorry but it was. And yes, they put zero effort into it. My boss has more personality talking about spreadsheets. And as a person, I'm not going to waste my Friday night watching something I find boring.

That said, I think most hockey players have a workman-like approach to the game and don't like standing out. That's great for the season. But at an ASG, where the players talents and personalities are on display, sorry, but personality is a prerequisite to an enjoyable fan experience.

 

[Master P]

So there will surely be a thread on the lack of effort by everyone in the 3 on 3 right?
Because its pretty bad.

 

[WarriorofTime]

It’s completely immature of him to blow this off and you know it. He should humble himself.

Of course it’s just a dumb skills competition and no one is clutching pearls here, but if it needs to be explained to you (or anyone else in this thread) as to why his actions were so petulant, then you’re probably an immature person as well.

If this bothers you I think you’re probably too uptight a person.

 

[Guttersniped]

Last night I attended a hockey party where they were about 5-6 kids wearing Kucherov jerseys who were excited to see him play and show his skills. A couple of the kids actually took off his jersey and threw it lol

A lot of the parents and kids were quite upset at how he acted in the skills competition and didnt even bother trying, laughed about it and mocked fans.

What do you guys think? Most people at this party were saying even if he didnt want to be there he should have at least sucked it up and gave his fans what they wanted. A few of the kids were extremely upset by his actions and left very disappointed.

Seemed super selfish to me.

Thoughts?

You went to a huge Friday night hockey party night where a bunch of families gathered to watch the All-Star Skills Competition?

Does this sort of thing commonly happen in Canada or something?

 

[AndreRoy]

I am pretty sure after those drunk cap remarks he sure did not make many friends. I'd like to see an anonymous poll but I am betting he'd rank top 3 for sure...there may be 1-2 other guys not fresh on my mind who are disliked more

They just had such an anonymous poll and Kuch was not mentioned among the most disliked players. He was, however, in the top 3 best players.

 

[Beyonder91]

They just had such an anonymous poll and Kuch was not mentioned among the most disliked players. He was, however, in the top 3 best players.

MacKinnon recently said in an interview that most players (himself included) are big fans of Kucherov

All the fake tears in this thread is entertaining though!

 

[Rschmitz]

It’s completely immature of him to blow this off and you know it. He should humble himself.

Of course it’s just a dumb skills competition and no one is clutching pearls here, but if it needs to be explained to you (or anyone else in this thread) as to why his actions were so petulant, then you’re probably an immature person as well.

I am saying I don’t care, but you can explain

 

[northeastern]

He should be embarrassed. Don't want to go? Cool take the fine or claim injury. But to put on a half ass effort infront of kids who view him as a hero is soft.

I get that he doesn't want to have to be there, this could be a vacation for him, but he makes his money because people watch him play hockey, his skill would earn him nothing if it wasn't for the fans. What a prick lost of any respect I had for him after watching that.

 

[Terry Yake]

who cares? none of the players want to be there to begin with and its a meaningless skills contest that no one will remember an hour later

wish they'd just scrap the ASG considering what a snoozefest its become. if i wanted to watch low effort 3 on 3 hockey, i could just go watch a pickup skate at my local rink

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

I was at that party too. The kids were all hysterically crying, basically inconsolable. One tried to flush his Kucherov jersey down the toilet which flooded the bathroom and another was heard saying he would never play hockey again and was going to take up slacklining instead. You could see the twinkle in their eyes go out, that childlike sense of optimism and wonder was dead and gone. Several parents were considering what legal recourse was available to them. One particularly cherub faced boy was despondently confused as to why Nikita hated him when he was his hero.

cake was good tho

Post of the year material there.

 

[AndreRoy]

MacKinnon recently said in an interview that most players (himself included) are big fans of Kucherov

All the fake tears in this thread is entertaining though!

Yeah, it’s laughable to think that players are going to dislike somebody for not wanting to be at an event that most of them don’t want to be at either.

Somebody even went so far in this thread as to call him a cancer. Yeah, he’s won two Cups, played for two others, and been the best player on the best team in the league over the past decade, but he’s clearly a cancer. He’s the guy who mentors the team’s rookies, who everybody on the team goes to for advice and insight, who everybody on the team looks up to, but he’s a cancer. Suuuuure.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Who, Matthews? I think he’ll make it to the “respect handshake line”.

Matthews isn’t worried about the rearview mirror. Probably moreso Florida’s better team.