NHL players that most fans call by their first names?

[Vamos Rafa]

In the NBA, nobody really refers to LeBron James as James or Kobe Bryant as Bryant. What about NHL players?

PK Subban?
I guess Joe Thornton when we call him Jumbo Joe?

 

[CanuckGame39]

Daniel and Henrik

 

[BlueDream]

Crosby and Malkin get called Sid and Geno a lot.

 

[Satastic]

Jumbo Joe if that counts

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Johnny Hockey comes to mind.

 

[Los Patos de Anaheim]

I call about 10 players of every NBA team by their first name

 

[Bye Felicia]

In the NBA, nobody really refers to LeBron James as James or Kobe Bryant as Bryant. What about NHL players?

PK Subban?
I guess Joe Thornton when we call him Jumbo Joe?

If we're discounting nicknames based off of first names, I'm not sure who in the NHL would qualify. I think people gravitate toward using the first name when the player: (1) is a superstar; (2) has a unique first name and common last name; and (3) isn't widely referred to with a nickname.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Nino Niederreiter is usually referred to as Nino.

 

[Diamondillium]

It's not as frequent as others mentioned, but Connor McDavid is oft referred to as Connor.

 

[Sol]

Personally, I hate when some players get called with their first name, and sometimes with their last name. It just irks me just stick to last names instead of kissing ass.

 

[Terry Yake]

teemu

 

[crobro]

Albert

https://youtu.be/DkyMM3EScjA

 

[Zaddy]

Draisaitl and McDavid gets called Leon and Connor a whole lot, maybe not as much outside Edmonton though.

 

[Machinehead]

Wayne and Gordie

 

[BagHead]

Nino Niederreiter is usually referred to as Nino.

I couldn't think of any at first, but you're right on this one. Granted it's because his last name is hard to spell, rather than him being such a star that he's on a first name basis with all the NHL fans, but it's still true.

Definitely Gretzky gets called Wayne a lot. I think most people, if you asked them in a word association game "Wayne" they would reply either "Gretzky" or "hockey". Or maybe "redneck" but... yeah.

 

[Tripod]

It's not as frequent as others mentioned, but Connor McDavid is oft referred to as Connor.

Draisaitl and McDavid gets called Leon and Connor a whole lot, maybe not as much outside Edmonton though.

I can certainly say that's not the case outside of Edmonton. It's McDavid and Draisaitl that is used.

As for the OP, Sid comes to mind right away and I think Nico will be one used for a long time.

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Mario.

 

[MrLunatik]

In the past for the Flames there has been:

Jarome
Theo
Olli
Lanny

 

[PepperKeenan]

Pretty sure there has never been other LeBrons or Kobes in the NBA whereas there's plenty of Joes, Steves, Rays, Peters, Erics, Marks, Rons, Adams Phils Pauls Stans etc. etc In the NHL. Where they often have a more unique last name.

You'd need a unique first name along with a common enough last name + world class skills. Mario is the best definition I'd say.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Namestnikov is Vladdy/Vlad (or sometimes Names)

 

[CanadienShark]

Personally, I hate when some players get called with their first name, and sometimes with their last name. It just irks me just stick to last names instead of kissing ass.

How is that kissing ass?

 

[sincerity0]

Jack Eichel is referred as Jack a lot in Buffalo

 

[Volica]

Dougie (currently)

 

[boompuffboom]

mario and yami

 

[The Macho Man]

MSL was mostly called Marty.