Toronto Maple Leafs: Does Media Diminish Personality?

Are the Toronto Maple Leafs having enough “fun” or are they too “bland”?

Globe and Mail sports columnist, Cathal Kelly, wrote an article Tuesday about how likable Brad Marchand is. Toronto Maple Leafs fans will probably disagree, but he makes a few good points.

In response to Marchand’s uncomfortable post-game interview Monday with Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas, Kelly praises him and calls that whole ordeal “something charming” in the face of a league lacking in individuality.

"…once they get off the ice, they sound identical. A lot of “pucks in deep” and rapid deployment of some of the least original nicknames since the concept was thought up. Please God, stop adding a ‘-y’ to the end of the first syllable of every guy’s surname."

Matty. Patty. Kappy. One game at a time. Play a full 60 minutes. Start on time – though that one was mainly Mike Babcock. I’ll give Kelly that, but when he asks why the NHL hates fun I have to disagree.

The NHL does not hate fun. The traditional media doesn’t allow for it.

How Many Ways Can You Ask The Same Question?

Following the Toronto Maple Leafs Game 5 victory over the Boston Bruins, the media asked Zach Hyman “How did you win?” in more than ten ways. His answers were simple and, as expected, cliché: Guys were battling; We wanted this one; We were on the right side of things.

Following their Game 6 loss, the media asked Morgan Rielly “How did you lose?” in just as many ways, including what they’d have to do differently to win Game 7.

“Well, we’re going to have to score more goals than them.”

They laughed, but what answer did they expect? The media doesn’t make much room for jokes or fun. That’s probably why 21-year-old star forward Auston Matthews looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than outside the locker room being interviewed between periods.

Kelly describes Matthews as “media-trained and bland,” but I think he comes off that way partly because of the reasons previously mentioned. When he, Mitch Marner and Patrick Marleau of the Toronto Maple Leafs sat down with Elliotte Friedman to discuss their dynamic off the ice, fans got to see a lighter side of Matthews – all three of them really – in this non-typical hockey interview.

They weren’t being asked what they saw in practice that day or what their game plan was heading into the first round of the playoffs. They were just three friends – a father and his two sons, if you will.

Social Media is a Game Changer

What traditional media lacks in spotlighting personality, social media makes up for in just that. There’s no need for players to brand themselves in interviews when they can now control it themselves. Mitch Marner is an example.

He uses Instagram to display himself as a good hometown kid with a family first mentality. I saw his summer job at Intact Insurance and his dedication to flattening five-dollar bills on his profile before they were commercials on TV.

Chris Johnston said on The Steve Dangle Podcast last month, “My favourite part of Mitch Marner’s Instagram account isn’t his account, it’s the Kasperi Kapanen comments… Just outright chirping him.”

Social media is where the fun’s at. Where did we see Marner and his ice cream soup? He and Matthews YMCA-ing with the Marleaus?

Note my bias, but I don’t think Marchand’s interview is the best example of how NHL players have fun and explore their individuality. Had he said something funny, sure. Traditional hockey media isn’t the place to learn about players’ dessert habits, so we can’t complain when they’re not there. Give them a follow instead.