Players in the National Hockey League have long adhered to an unwritten code of ethics. Step outside of the code and one of your fellow players is likely to call you out for it. Now, I can understand this for things like hits to the head, slew foots or other forms of cheap play on the ice. However, far too often players express problems with players that show personality on the ice. While pundits and players alike try to squash any expression of emotion on the ice, I think it's about time that they not only accept it, but promote it as well.
One example of a player who has been prosecuted for his personality this season is Montreal Canadiens' rookie defenseman P.K. Subban. After Mike Richards' Flyers lost to Subban and the Canadiens, Richards ripped Subban saying that Subban hasn't earned respect in the league, yet believes he is better than a lot of people. Richards said players have to earn that respect, not come in as a rookie and play as cocky as he believed Subban was. Richards went on to say, ""Hopefully someone on their team addresses it, because something might happen to him if he continues to be that cocky.""
Seems a bit rash to start throwing threats around because heaven forbid a professional athlete has a bit of swagger in his step. That's certainly not something we see on a regular basis, definitely not something that we see on ""SportsCenter"" everyday.
Subban came under a bit of fire again a couple weeks ago after he netted the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory over the Calgary Flames. He unleashed a celebration where after he scored, he dropped to one knee and glided to center ice while doing a modified fist pump. That drew the ire of some hockey pundits, who debated whether he was showing up the other team or not by celebrating his goal the way he did.
Even one of the faces of the league isn't immune to such criticism. Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin has come under fire from fellow players and media alike for the way he plays the game. Old school pundits like Don Cherry, Mike Milbury, who seem to be stuck in a 1940s mode of thinking, have chastised Ovechkin's exuberant style of play, his wild celebrations and his passion for playing the game of hockey. Even fellow superstar Sidney Crosby has gone after Ovechkin for his on-ice antics.
Or what about Linus Omark? After his dazzling, spin-o-rama shootout goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning, goalie Dan Ellis criticized Omark for being ""disrespectful"" and called the move ""a joke."" Well guess what? That video has nearly 400,000 views on YouTube.
The list goes on and on: Canadiens' goalie Carey Price and his cross armed, gangster-esque pose and Penguin's goalie Marc Andre Fleury mimicking it as a response comes to mind, but here is my question, why does the game of hockey frown upon these players who dare show emotion on the ice? What is so wrong with expressing a bit of passion for the game they love? The NHL and its players need to lighten their stance on the game's distinctive personalities, especially when those personalities generate a huge amount of buzz for the league.
Hockey would like nothing more than to have every player replicate Sidney Crosby: an emotionless hockey humanoid who spits out nothing but clichés and goes about his business the ""professional"" way.
But come on, lets face it; exuberant players are entertaining to watch. They prove that athletes are more than just paid, sports-playing robots. It's cool to watch hockey games and realize that the players are having fun out there. I love nothing more than to watch Ovechkin jump into the boards after a big goal or a player drop to one knee and unleash a highlight worthy celebration.
Players like Ovechkin and Subban are the type that fans want to watch. They are the NHL equivalents of LeBron James or Chad Ochocinco. Players like them make the game more entertaining to be a part of because they aren't afraid to be themselves.
Ovechkin's jersey is always one of the best selling in the league, Subban has captured the hearts of fans in Montreal and Omark's goal generated some great free publicity for the league.
The fans love watching these players, so why doesn't the NHL embrace them?
We saw this in action this past weekend during the NHL All-Star festivites in Raleigh, N.C. During the breakaway challenge of the skills competition, Subban donned the jersey of Carolina Hurricanes player Jeff Skinner for his turn. The hometown crowd loved it and applauded him, but some saw it as just another act of unnecessary showmanship.
Players with personalities are the ones that put fans in the seats, and isn't that what the NHL really needs right now? In a league where there are a plethora of struggling markets, players who aren't afraid to show emotion on the ice can help generate interest in the game and be a real marketing force for the NHL. It's this type of players that are going to help the game survive and attract the casual sports fan.
Do you think showmanship in sports should be discouraged? E-mail Ryan at rmevans2@dailycardinal.com
