Why doesn't the NHL have stars with personality like LeBron James or Conor McGregor?

[BigEezyE22]

So you want a guy that shows up to work with a purse...

 

[Jedub]

I guess it's because the NHL stars have already seen that for example Evander Kane's delusions of grandeur at various stages weren't so great for his career. Then, the closest to Conor McGergor's personality might be Tom Wilson. I'm not sure someone like Connor McDavid would want to be so hated around the league, by other players and fanbases alike. (I'll note though that this hasn't hurt Wilson's career; on the contrary.) If you mean just social media stuff, well, Tony D'Angelo sort of tried being provocative, and lost most of a season.

So maybe it's mostly because they've simply already seen that megalomania or disrespect won't benefit them. NHL does have some outstanding positive personalities who are very well regarded and respected most everywhere. But maybe that's not as "entertaining" in this day and age. (I'm not trying to sound grumpy... lol)

I don't think E. Kane is really a good comparison for any of this. He wasn't just an outsized personality, he really was a troubled man and his issues go back before the NHL.

 

[ottawa]

Because we had idiots like this normalizing the idea that "over-celebrating" or showing the tiniest bit of flare was despicable and many players and fans as a result bought into the idea that you have to be "humble" in the NHL.

 

[333359]

I had to look up Conor McGregor. Do people really watch homoerotic boxing and know who this guy is?

 

[IamNotADancer]

I'd rather the NHL doesn't cater to MMA and NBA fans.

Yes I grew up watching hockey in the late 80s and 90s but I'm usually not too contrarian about newer stuff, but the last thing I want to see is professional sports devolve into dance competition to rival tiktok.

If I want the circus and sports combined I'll watch the Savanah Bananas and be thoroughly entertained.

 

[tucker3434]

Because we had idiots like this normalizing the idea that "over-celebrating" or showing the tiniest bit of flare was despicable and many players and fans as a result bought into the idea that you have to be "humble" in the NHL.

And all while wearing those suits…

 

[EpochLink]

Because we had idiots like this normalizing the idea that "over-celebrating" or showing the tiniest bit of flare was despicable and many players and fans as a result bought into the idea that you have to be "humble" in the NHL.

Don Cherry was and still is a f***ing hack.
f*** what this guy says.

 

[Jedub]

It's not that the humble and low-key stuff from hockey players is boring.

It's that it's often more fake and removed from reality than being a real person. "Good old boy" BSing.

They look so pained to be there, answering pointless questions with pointless answers everyone knows is coming

 

[miscs75]

So you want a guy that shows up to work with a purse...

It’s called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.

 

[MXD]

Because we had idiots like this normalizing the idea that "over-celebrating" or showing the tiniest bit of flare was despicable and many players and fans as a result bought into the idea that you have to be "humble" in the NHL.

Hell we had idiots here showing down Michael Pezzetta for his post shootout celebration.

In a way, you are what you are. I don't want McDavid to have a McGregor-like off-ice behaviour (minus the felonies of course), because that would be f***ing cringe. I also don't want McDavid to be worse as a player than he currently is because he has the exact same (public) personnality as my mousepad.

 

[Kimota]

Because we had idiots like this normalizing the idea that "over-celebrating" or showing the tiniest bit of flare was despicable and many players and fans as a result bought into the idea that you have to be "humble" in the NHL.

And yet Cherry was one of the few that brought color and excitement to the game.

 

[Panthaz89]

Does Lebron even really trash talk? I don't watch the NBA much but the man talks less than Brady does in one whiny conversation to the ref in the NFL.

 

[ottawa]

And yet Cherry was one of the few that brought color and excitement to the game.

Depends on who you ask, most people I know and myself included all thought he was a senile f***ing idiot. Just look at the thread on here the day he was fired.

Only excitement he brought to the game was when he got fired lol.

I also think HNIC is much better with the current hosts since they're not angry all the time or ranting about something mundane constantly.

 

[Ace]

PK Subban had a big personality and the talking heads and Bear writers spent his entire career criticizing him and telling him to be more of a hockey guy and keep his mouth shut.

it’s a systemic old boys network problem where individuality is targeted immediately

And yet Cherry was one of the few that brought color and excitement to the game.

Because he was a f***ing clown

 

[Grifter3511]

I mean stars who act like stars. LeBron calls himself The King; why can't McDavid do that? I would love to see an active NHL superstar start firing on Twitter the way McGregor does. Go to a presser in a three piece suit and sunglasses and start talking shit. Spice the game up a bit, you know? Too many of these guys are scripted ChatCPT robots and I can see why it's hard for the casual fan to get invested.

What do you think? Is it just a cultural thing with hockey where everyone has to speak in tired cliches and never, ever rock the boat? Why are there so few entertaining characters in the game?

McDavid takes a shit ton of disrespect by mouth breathers because he's never won the Cup. I can't imagine the amount of vitriol we'd see directed his way if he started calling himself the King.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

It’s easy. Hockey culture sucks.

It frowns upon individualism and showing emotion. And if you don’t fit the norm? You get labeled as a locker room cancer and other non sense.

It’s an old school mentality that needs to die already.

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

Because we had idiots like this normalizing the idea that "over-celebrating" or showing the tiniest bit of flare was despicable and many players and fans as a result bought into the idea that you have to be "humble" in the NHL.

Sliding on your knees past centre ice for a goal that doesn’t even secure the win is embarrassing.

You shouldn’t be that excited. You tied a regular season game, who cares. It’s not even playoffs.

 

[aragon416]

if hockey wants to grow, it needs personality. people love it. you will have the fans who will support the athlete 100% and you will have people who will hate the athlete for being cocky or trash talking. but thats what helps to create interest and draw in casual viewers. everyone knows personality makes you remembered, it creates drama, interest and you are remembered for better or worse. people will watch just to see you fail. people literally watch lebron, connor mcgregor, even guys like jake paul, just to see them lose. but the personality draws people in, increases revenue, helps to grow the sport. on just a general level, who will you remember or watch (to fail)? the boring guy who gives robotic answers or the loud guy who says outlandish things.

to draw people in, you need personality. at least its more interesting than the boring answers hockey players give. look at klay thompson talking trash in 2016 after the warriors were up 3-1 when he said that lebron had his feelings hurt, and lebron chuckled. it created more interest in the series and once the cavs won the series, it is still remembered.

but it appears the majority of hockey fans don't like personality and like players to give generic answers in a monotone voice. and any time any player does do anything with a bit of personality, he is shitted on.

 

[ottawa]

Sliding on your knees past centre ice for a regular season winner is embarrassing.

You shouldn’t be that excited. You won the game, barely. It’s not even playoffs.

Iirc he was sliding because it was his first goal.

Can't really hate on how someone celebrates their Gordy first goal. Simply because I don't care.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Bring back these beauty ads, they should seriously redo this ad exactly shot for shot with the same music just replace Gretzky with McDavid and throw in Mark Schiefle and Carey Price.



Checkmate LeBron and Brady.

Not gonna lie…. I had forgotten all about Morris Lukowich.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Because hockey culture is for conservative dweebs

 

[blankall]

Lol. I'm not sure Connor McGregor is someone to aspire to.

Yes, the NHL could use some personality... Maybe find a happy medium though.

 

[MikeyMike01]

LeBron is a world-class idiot

 

[Kamus]

Simple:
Because hockey fans, hf boards,writers, etc. would absolutely roast them and say they are disrespecting the game, etc…..
Then the same people would post on message boards asking why nhlers don’t have charisma like Lebton or McGreggor and are boring

 

[pbgoalie]

Because when a kid like Zegras comes along, the fossils and snowflakes alike lose their minds!!