from Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston,
In the NHL, parents do send emails and text messages, but most of the interactions are in person at games. Agents confess that parents will intentionally wait around after games in order to "bump" into a coach or a GM. Confrontations are rare, but parents aren't afraid to make an off-the-cuff remark. Parents will mention their child's glory days of junior or college hockey, and some believe the professional level is no different.
"It's only happened to me a few times, but it surprises me," said an Eastern Conference GM. "In [decades of experience], I'd say it's happened to me eight times, but four or five of those have happened in the last five years. You walk away from that communication like, 'I can't believe that just happened.' It's usually the parents of high-profile young players. I think parents feel more empowered now."
To be fair, not all organizations have serious issues with parents. Some situations need to be dealt with, but typically they don't develop into major, ongoing concerns.
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