Harris and Ilya’s friendship is sooo important to me. The way Ilya talks about Harris in canon…he clearly admires him SO much. I think it means a lot to Ilya to have a friend who’s gay and proud, rainbow buttons and all
And for Harris…Ilya signed with Ottawa not long after he started working there. As an Ottawa fan, Harris was probably THRILLED to land a star center. But as their new employee he must have been nervous that Ilya would live up to every asshole rumor. Then in walks a kind, gloriously catty man whose eyes light up when he sees Harris’s pride pins
They’re both proud queer men who adore dogs and their partners. There’s such a warm kinship there. And also? Ilya is a hot hockey player. Harris is a hockey nut from Ottawa. I think they see a bit of their loves in each other 💕
