Abattoir Blues ♥

These are the kinds of players you can sign in free agency so you don't have to trade away your young core.

It’s actually a very meaningful part of the relationship, I think. Mack will never truly get to be peers with another young player again because of who he is. Not just a captain, but a legend. Someone they name with Sidney when they talk about their idols in draft interviews. I don’t think he—or most people—know how to be truly close with someone who reveres them a bit like that. They will be friends, and have great relationships, but they will never fully be like peers.

But Will knew him and loved him when they were just boys together. So while he clearly admires and respects Mack’s hockey, he doesn’t view him as an idol but as a friend who he’s so proud of. The air is already starting to get very thin up where mack has climbed. There is something so sweet that Will was there for the crazy rise, so he’s one of the only people in the world who will always be able to breath up there with Mack.

First because Reid's American, there's very little Americans on the team, only other young one is Graf.

Second, to your anon, I think you can expect everyone starting this draft onwards to be a major fan of Mack, that doesn't really define who they'll end up being close to.

Willmack kinda cliquey and with Mack being (most likely) named captain as well the possible light hero worship means it might be harder to be super close to him. If you think about the only young guys Willmack seem very close to (at least on camera) are Eky, who was there before them, and Media Darling Extrovert Extraordinaire Sam Dickinson. I do expect any younger guys to treat them more like "senpais" for like of a better word than besties. Doesnt mean they won't be super close but a slightly different type of friendship.