Do you guys think if Shane hadn’t introduced himself to Ilya, that the first time they played each other (pre-draft) Shane’s first impression of Ilya being a jerk on the ice would’ve changed the trajectory of Shane’s career, or Ilya notice Shane (maybe when they’re shaking hands) and the commercial would’ve still happened?
Because there’s a part of me that thinks that no intro between them would make Shane be part of the rivalry like how the league painted them to the world, and beat Ilya for more awards, because his first impression of Ilya was him being a complete jerk and being a really good player simultaneously. Maybe this would evoke Shane to have made it his goal to get 51 goals in his rookie season (but never say this to the public, because he didn’t want to come off cocky) or win more Stanley cups, and have been extremely upset when Ilya wins with Boston.
But I also think that Ilya would’ve noticed Shane at some point, at least to a certain extent, and not need the one-on-one/introduction with Shane at the beginning to make a move on him. Maybe the beginning of their relationship would’ve been a bit different, at the most.
But there’s also a third possibility I thought of, which is a rivals-with-benefits-to-lovers Hollanov where Shane is very public about how competitive he makes himself with Ilya, and because it’s great publicity for a new rivalry in the league, they ask for a commercial of the 2 of them. Ilya, who thinks Shane’s attitude is hot, though, still hits on Shane, and from there they still do their hookups like in the book/show, it just takes somewhat of a different path. I feel like it would even highlight Shane’s coming out more, because just-because-he-was-hooking-up-with-Rozanov-and-only-Rozanov-for-years-doesn’t-mean-oh-shit.
Or do you think there’s simply no universe in which Shane Hollander wouldn’t introduce himself to Ilya.
