Why is McDavid so little known outside of hockey?

[Rorschach]

Gretzky also knows the power of self promotion unlike most nhl players

I would consider it more like self-conduct than self-promotion.

 

[Beukeboom]

People saying Gretzky didn’t become famous until in LA are wrong. In fact Gretzky was the one player everyone knew who didn’t know hockey. The Forum was pre-sold out when the trade news came down including tons of LA celebrities…how would they know to buy tickets if Gretzky wasn’t already famous?

A huge part of Gretzky’s fame was due to being on covers of sports magazines especially the weekly ones like Sports Illustrated. So many people would buy or follow that magazine and read it cover to cover, and got exposed to all sports including hockey.

Yep, he was already famous. But LA did propel him into movies and talkshows and that level of fame no hockey player has ever been close to. He's still the only name non hockey fans know of.

However, Gretz had set insane records by the time he was traded to LA, and dominated like few (if anyonye?) have done in ANY sport. On top of that he's a really good storyteller and works on air.

McDavid is electric, but not as dominant. People care more about dominance, records and winning things, than highlights in a sport they know little of. McDavid's personality is also not on par with his style of hockey. I wouldn't want to see him on a late night show. Then add to that the fact that he plays in in a relatively small market in Canada. Oilers is no dynasty etc.

But absolutely no one outside of hockey knows who Mario Lemieux is either. Or Crosby. So it is a problem for the sport itself, more so than only McDavid.

The most famous "active" person in hockey is probably Gritty...

 

[Ghost of Murph]

From an American perspective, he could play in LA or NY. He could have a non-vanilla personality. He could win a Cup. Still would be relatively unknown in the US.

Hockey is niche in most of America. That's by far the biggest reason McDavid is so little known outside of hockey. Mid-tier NBA and NFL players are much better known than the likes of Crosby, Ovi, and McDavid.

 

[FMichael]

He's the most electrifying player since Mario Lemieux and a human highlight reel. Blazing speed, soft hands, elite vision, passing, and IQ, scores goals, gamebreaker, he's got it all. So why hasn't his name broken out outside of hockey circles?

One argument I often hear is that he isn't a big media personality but neither is Crosby and he's the most famous player since Gretzky or Lemieux. In fact, I would argue Crosby was more famous before even playing his first game. The hype leading up to his draft was unprecedented in the world of hockey and made him a bigger media sensation than McDavid despite his wooden and typical NHL personality.

Another one I hear is the market he plays in, but Gretzky's heyday was in Edmonton and it didn't stop him from being the most famous player of the time by a wide margin. Surely, Edmonton wasn't a bigger city in the 80s than it is now? Washington also wasn't a particularly large hockey market before Ovechkin.

There is also the cup argument, but Ovechkin was a superstar even non-hockey fans knew about for years before he made the playoffs. I would argue he was also more popular than McDavid ever was before he played his first NHL game.

McDavid just won a Conn Smythe in a losing effort, but this has done nothing for him. Even to this day, people outside of hockey circles might know Crosby or Ovechkin. McDavid's name never approached their level despite being arguably better than either of them. He should have overtaken them by now as these are his prime years and these two are in the twilight of their careers, yet their status outside of hockey eludes him.

Even in his historical 2022-23 season, his jersey wasn't even in the top 5 most sold ones. In fact, I don't think McDavid ever had the top-selling jersey in his career in a given year.

I don't think there has ever been such a disparity between talent and fame. What is the reason for this?

Sir this is a Wendy’s drive thru - would you like to place an order?

 

[pekka55]

Biggest reason is that the NHL is awful at marketing the stars and the game itself. The second reason is that most hockey players (including McDavid) are quiet, humble and introverted. No one really cares about or notices the quiet guy that sits alone in the corner. It's the extroverts that people notice and are interested in.

 

[Hank Plank]

Boring.

Crosby has class McDavid has zero.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

because he's a boring personality and isn't a winner.

 

[FMichael]

Crosby has class McDavid has zero.

When Crosby was McDavid’s age - he was a known whiner…I haven’t seen that from McDavid.

 

[JPT]

Sir this is a Wendy’s drive thru - would you like to place an order?

I didn't know people still used this joke

 

[Cubs2024wildcard]

You're right.

He's got the personality of a modern pro wrestler. No personality. But even if he was "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, playing in Edmonton wouldn't get any notoriety here in the US.

This is false.

If McDavid had a 10th of prime Flairs charisma he would be considered the GOAT. Never underestimate somebody who can talk asses into seats.

Mcdavid draws money for his on ice play.

Ric Flair drew money because people wanted to watch their home town favorite to shut him up. The match was irrelevant because most knew Flair wasn't losing.

 

[joelef]

Women’s rugby player Iona Mahler has gotten more attention in the last week then mcdavid has gotten in his entire career in the states . That should be an eye opener for the NHL.

 

[Rorschach]

One "interesting" think is that each time there is a new clearcut 1OA Canadian center, certain people will help prepare that player into being the next Captain Canada and follow in Gretzky's footsteps in how to conduct themselves.

One of the key things you'll see is their autographs dramatically change and improve. If you collect hockey cards, their prospect autographs on pre-NHL cards will look totally different from their SP Authentic Future Watch RC autograph. You don't really see that on McDavid's autograph.

 

[Hank Plank]

When Crosby was McDavid’s age - he was a known whiner…I haven’t seen that from McDavid.

You've never seen McDavid take a world class dive not get the call throw his hands in the air and cry like a baby to the ref?

 

[FMichael]

You've never seen McDavid take a world class dive not get the call throw his hands in the air and cry like a baby to the ref?

No

 

[rfournier103]

When Wayne Gretzky played in Edmonton, he was VERY well known in the US. He was so good, he was impossible to ignore. If a player is good enough, they will get recognition, no matter where they play. At least, that's how it used to be before the internet.

It is tough to market hockey because of the way Americans and everyone else consume media these days.

Back in the day, when people read newspapers and magazines, they saw stories about Wayne Gretzky and his Oilers daily or weekly. Sports Illustrated had a massive circulation in the US and readers coast to coast knew about Wayne Gretzky whether they were hockey fans or not. Maybe they would read the stories, maybe not. But he was there in the mailbox. Magazines and newspapers at the airport; the doctor's office; on the subway or at the lunch table brought hockey's biggest star to millions of Americans. Not to mention Gretzky and his Oilers could be found on basic cable TV every now and then, too.

Today, with streaming; highlight clips on insta and other platforms, unless you're looking for hockey, chances are you're just gonna scroll right past it. Or your algorithm might not show you a player like Connor McDavid at all. Unless Connor McDavid CHOOSES to become an Internet personality, he will remain obscure no matter where he plays. Being on X; instagram and whatever the latest and greatest platform is now is really the best way to make a name for yourself.

Below is some of Wayne Gretzky's American publicity when he played in Edmonton:

 

[bigbadbruins1]

Sadly unless he is in a big market, american team he won't get recognition. Even though Hockey is a Canadian dominated sport, they seem to only get real traction in the US, and even then I think Crosby or Ovi could likely go under the radar in any city that isn't a major hockey town, but if they step foot in Canada they are impossible to miss.

You think Austin Matthews is going to get noticed in Texas? or 40 of the 50 US states? Probably not. lol

 

[SnapVirus]

1. Looks matter. He is not a good looking fellow. Women will not be attracted by him if they dont know him.

2. Personality matter. Hes blank. Not a funny guy, not charismatic.

3. Influence. He has none. He isnt invited on talkshow. He doesnt run social medias.

Hes a boring guy. Hockey dont want Lebron type of players yet. But he is vanilla-king.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Biggest reason is that the NHL is awful at marketing the stars and the game itself. The second reason is that most hockey players (including McDavid) are quiet, humble and introverted. No one really cares about or notices the quiet guy that sits alone in the corner. It's the extroverts that people notice and are interested in.

Both of the points you made aren't even the reason nobody knows him

Everybody keeps repeating these points but nobody knows Crosby or Ovi or PK Subban lmao , people don't even know the sport exists, how are you gonna blame McDavid for that

 

[ThisIsMyAlibi]

It’s a niche sport that is losing market share by the year. Soccer is making up ground. Football continues to grow. Hockey is also very expensive to play for most families.

The best the NHL can hope for is maintaining their current niche sustainable status.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

The WNBA has no problem with star power each franchise has a couple players more marketable than McDavid.

 

[Three On Zero]

When Crosby was McDavid’s age - he was a known whiner…I haven’t seen that from McDavid.

You must not watch McDavid than, the guy has already surpassed Crosby in the whining category. A gust of wind goes by him and he’s falling over or looking towards the refs

 

[Sniper99]

You think his refusal to play like a man doesn't hurt his marketability?

The fact that you think he isnt playing like a man is beyond pathetic.

 

[FrozenKing18]

A combination of:

-Hockey being hockey
-NHL's terrible marketing
-McDavid not having a big personality

 

[57special]

Get back to me when he leads his team to a couple of Cup wins.

 

[Three On Zero]

Get back to me when he leads his team to a couple of Cup wins.

Even with a couple cups he won’t be known that well outside of hockey/canada. He’s just not a marketable player.