We saw the flashes of it early last season when the defending champion Anaheim Ducks were handcuffed by indifferent returning stars.
We saw what Ray Emery's attitude did to the Ottawa Senators last season.
We started to get a taste of this past offseason when Alexander Radulov up and left without any forewarning to his NHL organization.
Like their professional brethren in throughout baseball, basketball, and football, NHL athletes have decided that they are seemingly above their team's decisions and that it's themselves who in fact control the destiny of the NHL and it's teams.
Years ago, teams would determine if you had a job or not, when, where, and if you would be traded, and whether you would play 5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes a night.
As time moved on however, players decided they need more pull in matters affecting them. All of the sudden superstars started demanding trades, players on the brink of stardom started to pine for more ice time, and backup goalies discontent with their role would tell their employers "play me or trade me".
While we scratched are heads and muttered under our breath at these outrageous claims by these pampered prima-donnas, they continually got what they want, using any means at their disposal.
While some would allow their performance to drop-off drastically and some would refuse to play at all, others played the two biggest cards up their sleeve perfectly to saunter their way to achieving their demands: The media and the fans--both of which go hand in hand.
As professional sports grew in popularity (and money-garnering prospects) from the 1970's to the 1980's to the 1990's, the media grew with it. Granted the idea of a team winning a Superbowl on a last-second field goal wasn't as headline grabbing as a war or a high-profile resignation as Chairman of a multi-billion dollar company (yet), but it was something that you could put in the paper, and grab a handful of customers just at the mere mention of the words "sports section".
With the introduction of beat writers for each and every team and the size of post-game media scrums in dressing rooms growing each year, fans found themselves heading towards a premium for information on their favorite team.
Want to know if your favorite player waxed his eyebrows? There was probably a picture of it somewhere. Want to learn about the soft, shiny hair of your star goalie? Someone was probably writing a piece about it. Interested in whether or not the ambidextrous players on the team got their own bus or not? There was probably an expose coming out on your local TV Station about it soon enough.
But with the growth in the media coverage and the expansion of the common fan's knowledge, the players (while getting stronger and faster) were also getting smarter.
They began to take notes on what the media would and wouldn't print or broadcast. They began to learn that cliches and mundane answers don't sell or get air time. Much like the celebrities they longed to be, they found that smut sold papers, published photos, and wrote stories.
So why not let the muck-raking begin?
With the media searching for the next big story, players would leave a big steaming pile of controversy smoldering in their locker if they were unhappy. They'd rip the organization, the coaches, their fellow players, and even the fans--placing the the "feet that fill the seats" in some of the most dangerous palms known to man.
People in every facet of society have learned to become passionate about whatever they follow--usually to a dangerous extent. While some follow the careers and even stalk movie stars and starlets religiously, others preach, pray, and prosper in the friendly confines of their local arena or field.
Say something great about an organization or it's fans, and you can be immortalized. Say something negative about them, and you'll be sure to hear about it--which is exactly what the athletes learned. The scary thing is, that as long as it took you to read that paragraph, public perception can change just as easily.
But through the media, the blowhorn was put in place for disgruntled athletes to broadcast their message to the masses. They'd badmouth the organization and fans would make their opinion on the matter known--either by showing up and booing, or not showing up at all.
Trade Demands and Free Agency: How the NHL is Being Run By Its' Players
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4 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Harani T. 8 months ago
Interesting approach on the subject of media and how much athletes are paid attention to outside of playing their sport! But, sometimes, people make up their minds not to give ambiguous and general comments (it will hurt you) but at the same itme look at all the crap Alexander Semin is getting for his comment on Crosby...It makes you wonder...is there a limit...either the player is given complete freedom or restricts himself and is called reserved...i mean look at Andrei Markov...all we hear is ''Oh he's not a player who talks a lot...he only plays'' Give the guy a chance!
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Rafal Ladysz 8 months ago
Great piece again BT. I don't know if you follow soccer, but look at Dimitar Berbatov. Refused to play for Tottenham this year and sat on the bench until they sent him to Manchester United.
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Alan Bass 8 months ago
So true, BT. I had written an article similar to this earlier in the offseason, sometime around the beginning of free agency. It is absolutely true, and the NHL has to do something about it or we are going to have another lockout.
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Jeremy Wark 7 months ago
Just me?
I don't see the harm in learning the personalities of the players. From a fan perspective - isn't everyone curious to see the next time Crosby and Semin are matched up - or even the return of Grabovski to Montreal?
In my opinion, the league has had too much control over players for many, many years now. The players need to put their stamp on this league somewhere other than the stats sheet. When there were only six teams, each fan could name the players on the rival team that they hated - nowadays, we're lucky if we can name 3 players on every team.
Sure he's an idiot, but guy's like Avery, Roenick and Hull have it right IMO.
Jer
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