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

[Canadienna]

Every time hockey players show some personality, they get dogpiled. It doesn't matter if they are modern or a throw-back, progressive or traditionalist, etc.... someone cross-section of fans is going to hate what they say/do/wear/act.

From my point of view every time a Hockey player says something dumb or insulting, any critique of what they said is met with "Well don't ask for personality then!".

The truth is there's a difference between having a personality and being a twat. I like humble players/people.

Let's not turn this into the NBA where every other star player is a public douchebag.

 

[Roof Daddy]

Not sure why this thread is 6 pages when the first response nailed it. You can get punched in the face (or targeted a number of different ways) in hockey unlike any other sport. Yes, McGregor also can be beat to a pulp for running his mouth, but it’s the sport he’s in, in a one on one matchup. There’s no risk of getting his teeth brushed with a hockey stick, no risk of a puck flying 90+ mph past his head, a stray elbow in the chin while going 25mph and the player throwing the elbow going the same pace towards him (increasing the force of impact).

And don’t get me started on Lebron. The guy can take 5 steps after his dribble and if he gets sneezed on he’s going to the charity stripe. The NBA actually protects its stars.

 

[GOilers88]

McGregor is a f***in goof and I'm glad the NHL isn't pushing a guy like that.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

What rise?

Their ratings are still horrible and the tournament is the selling feature alone


Yeah, ya do. You just don't want to go down that path because the zeitgeist has made you believe everyone and every group is the exact same

Dude I literally don't know what you're talking about. There's overlap but NBA and MMA have pretty different fanbases and sports cultures.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Yeah, ya do. You just don't want to go down that path because the zeitgeist has made you believe everyone and every group is the exact same

Explain in English, as you never answered question. No one knows what your going on about.

 

[ichbinkanadier]

Dude I literally don't know what you're talking about. There's overlap but NBA and MMA have pretty different fanbases and sports cultures.

Lol

OK then.

I was referring to Irish culture and black American culture.

Much like individual differences, there are differences in cultures with respect to extroversion, flamboyance, bravado, etc

If you go on YouTube, black content creators will poke fun at the differences between whites and blacks. Hip hop culture; MCing, all comes from a black subculture that is about bravado.

Irish culture- what is the famous stereotype? Extroversion, partying, having fun.

And yes, the NBA and MMA not only tolerate these types of cultures, they encourage it- as does the NFL to a lesser extent.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

We did, and you all hated him.

The Great One: Sean Avery

 

[Golden_Jet]

Lol

OK then.

I was referring to Irish culture and black American culture.

Much like individual differences, there are differences in cultures with respect to extroversion, flamboyance, bravado, etc

If you go on YouTube, black content creators will poke fun at the differences between whites and blacks. Hip hop culture; MCing, all comes from a black subculture that is about bravado.

Irish culture- what is the famous stereotype? Extroversion, partying, having fun.

And yes, the NBA and MMA not only tolerate these types of cultures, they encourage it- as does the NFL to a lesser extent.

News to me MMA is an Irish culture, think you made that up.

 

[ichbinkanadier]

News to me MMA is an Irish culture, think you made that up.

I was referring to the characteristics of the culture, not the culture per se.

Boxing, MMA have embraced flamboyance, bravado, bigger-than-life personalities for a very long time.

 

[digmor crusher]

Meh, I could care less on what any athlete or celebrity says or does. I usually turn the channel during player interviews.

 

[oldunclehue]

Hockey is a very humbling sport....the best of the best can have slumps, can get hurt easily, careers can end quickly. I think NHL players know this and would rather not poke the hockey gods by being an out there type personality.

NBA superstars can literally win games for their teams, Lebron can carry a team nightly in his prime. McDavid can dominate games but he can't win games on his own. So that keeps him humble.

MMA requires a steady amount of confidence to be successful, you have to THINK you are going to win every time you fight. Some guys internalize that feeling, McGregor externalizes it....he also plays to the media A LOT as he knows his image is what makes him money.

 

[CowbellConray]

No hockey players carry an external need for the individual brand like an MMA fighter needs to. McGregor needs to build a fanbase for his existence. NHL players do not.

Hockey doesn’t carry the culture NBA does. NBA is a younger audience as well, who are more active with social media. NHL is an ancient model, and it’s becoming more and more apparent as to why it’s below the top top leagues out there

 

[BMacLeafs]

Hockey doesn’t carry the culture NBA does. NBA is a younger audience as well, who are more active with social media. NHL is an ancient model, and it’s becoming more and more apparent as to why it’s below the top top leagues out there

Precisely the need for the NHL to need to change its culture. Hockey needs to get on board and mandate each player to have an Instagram and TikTok account and fine players for going more than two weeks without an upload. Of course, the white dinosaurs in the league office would never do it.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Lol

OK then.

I was referring to Irish culture and black American culture.

Much like individual differences, there are differences in cultures with respect to extroversion, flamboyance, bravado, etc

If you go on YouTube, black content creators will poke fun at the differences between whites and blacks. Hip hop culture; MCing, all comes from a black subculture that is about bravado.

Irish culture- what is the famous stereotype? Extroversion, partying, having fun.

And yes, the NBA and MMA not only tolerate these types of cultures, they encourage it- as does the NFL to a lesser extent.

Are you getting your perception of the Irish from St. Patrick's day in the US? The stereotype I'm familiar with of actual Irish people is drinking, complaining, busting balls, can't take compliments, obsession with the weather.

One racist Irish guy isn't a big reason why the MMA is more flamboyant. It's not like the MMA is heavily Irish. That makes no sense.

I do agree however that those leagues embrace personality, whereas the NHL generally frowns upon it, especially if you're not white and from the US or Canada. I'm guessing some of it is the Canadian and midwestern tendency towards humility and just putting your head down and work. But I also think the old boys club in the NHL still views the players as cattle versus the guys that generate billions of dollars for the league.

I'm not a particularly big fan of Zegras but look at what Tortorella said about his goal. Not just that he didn't like it, but that it was bad for hockey. That's ridiculous. And he's not an outlier.

Don't get me wrong I like that hockey players are humble, that they thank their teammates when scoring. But players should be able to allowed to show more personality outside of that cringeworthy breakaway competition in the All Star game.

 

[Rob]

I'm for one am glad there aren't more players like Sean Avery.

 

[Zilo44]

No need for more Avery type of loud mouth (ak McGregor).

But I always thought the media killed Subban and Ovechkin for having too much personality and they were doing nothing wrong

 

[DFF]

Labron and McGregor?

The NHL is lucky

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Lebron James is arguably the GOAT and most people seem to dislike him because of his personality. How will this help. And yes it's cultural. Hockey players are probably taught from a young age to at least publicly be humble.

 

[ichbinkanadier]

Are you getting your perception of the Irish from St. Patrick's day in the US? The stereotype I'm familiar with of actual Irish people is drinking, complaining, busting balls, can't take compliments, obsession with the weather.

One racist Irish guy isn't a big reason why the MMA is more flamboyant. It's not like the MMA is heavily Irish. That makes no sense.

I do agree however that those leagues embrace personality, whereas the NHL generally frowns upon it, especially if you're not white and from the US or Canada. I'm guessing some of it is the Canadian and midwestern tendency towards humility and just putting your head down and work. But I also think the old boys club in the NHL still views the players as cattle versus the guys that generate billions of dollars for the league.

I'm not a particularly big fan of Zegras but look at what Tortorella said about his goal. Not just that he didn't like it, but that it was bad for hockey. That's ridiculous. And he's not an outlier.

Don't get me wrong I like that hockey players are humble, that they thank their teammates when scoring. But players should be able to allowed to show more personality outside of that cringeworthy breakaway competition in the All Star game.

I'm not saying the MMA is Irish. I'm referring to the specific characteristics of extroversion, bravado, etc Rather than crush these personality traits such as hockey does, it embraces them and lets the individuals exhibit them.

If you take the NBA, there was a time it was a very staid, rigid league. What changed? Some players became flamboyant but it embraced the hip hop culture more fully, including the bravado, show off aspects of that culture. The black subculture was able to come to the forefront rather than having to operate under the mainstream culture.

It could be that the culture of hockey may change without an influx of individuals not from more extroverted cultures but because of a generation raised on social media, highlight, clout-chasing culture.

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

Lebron has a personality? He's burnt toast...

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

MMA and NBA?

is it that they both have an A in the title? I seriously don't know what you're getting at.

I think he’s talking about those sports having black guys and this one not.

No hockey players carry an external need for the individual brand like an MMA fighter needs to. McGregor needs to build a fanbase for his existence. NHL players do not.

Hockey doesn’t carry the culture NBA does. NBA is a younger audience as well, who are more active with social media. NHL is an ancient model, and it’s becoming more and more apparent as to why it’s below the top top leagues out there

It has almost nothing to do with any of that, and everything to do with the nature of the game.

Hockey players don’t have big personalities in the media because it doesn’t help them win games.

Same reason defensive tackles and linebackers don’t spend a ton of time running their mouths in the press. The job is hard enough without you adding fuel to the fire yourself.

Do you know what Aaron Donald’s voice sounds like? Because I don’t - I assume James Earl Jones, but I don’t know, because I’ve never actually heard him speak. He starts every play six inches away from 1000lbs of super athletes who all bench as much or more as him.

What advantage does a personality give him in that situation?

 

[rielledup]

Why do people care about the NHL having personalities? I like the fact that hockey players are known for being humble and down to earth. There's already way too much narcissism, materialism and caring about social status in society.

 

[EdJovanovski]

OP has clearly never met Vitali Kravtsov

 

[BB79]

What personality does Lebron have?

Cocky, ignorant, trash talking...you know, "personality"

 

[Andrei79]

Lebron thinks the world stops when he closes his eyes and McGregor punches old men. No thanks.