A Canadian team drafts a guy, hands him the keys to the franchise, builds the roster around him, gives him the captaincy, bends over backward to keep him happy, pays him an absurd amount of money, and treats him like the centre of the hockey universe. Then, after years of being marketed as the heart-and-soul leader, suddenly the market is too loud, the taxes are too high, the fans care too much, the media asks too many questions, and everyone is supposed to feel bad for the poor millionaire who has to play hockey in a city that actually gives a damn.

It is pathetic.

These players want the worship, the captaincy, the commercials, the contract, the organizational control, and the hero treatment, but the second that loyalty comes with pressure, scrutiny, or accountability, they start looking for the nearest soft landing in a sunbelt market where nobody will bother them after a three-game losing streak. Canadian teams are expected to develop them, promote them, protect them, and make them rich, only for the same players to turn around and act like the fanbase is some unbearable burden because people expect their franchise player to actually act like a franchise player.

it feels like the league is drifting into this ugly pattern where captains and cornerstone stars treat long-suffering markets like temporary inconvenience stops on the way to somewhere easier. Fine. Players have rights. They can chase comfort, weather, taxes, family, privacy, whatever they want.

But Spare everyone the Martyr act.

If you take the money, wear the letter, and let an organization build itself around you, then do not act victimized when people expect loyalty, leadership, and results.

That is the job. That is what the money is for. If you want all the benefits of being a superstar without any of the pressure, then just say that. But do not blame the fans for caring too much when their only crime was believing you were actually committed to the team you were more than happy to let build everything around you.

fucking amazing

video here for posterity.

they are SHITFACED.

Quinn is absolutely gone with the wind and you’re so right anon…Jack is trying so hard to be Not Drunk™️

god damnit. I don’t WANT to be endeared about Team USA but Jack and Quinn keep on doing this.

You’re on tumblr, the hell-site for freaks not fascist sympathisers.

Alright everyone, this is a very bad quality picture but here it is.

Confirmed to be at the White House: Charlie McAvoy, Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski, Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Auston Matthews, J.T. Miller, Matt Boldy, Jeremy Swayman, Brady Tkachuk, Vincent Trocheck, Jake Sanderson (thank you @jiminy-crickets for confirming), Jaccob Slavin, Jack Hughes, Tage Thompson, Matthew Tkachuk, and I assume the two at the top are Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber

Absent: Brock Nelson, Jake Guentzel (worth noting he is still a known MAGA), Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger (thank you @pumpkinrootbeer for confirming), Jackson Lacombe

Do what you will with this knowledge.