from Justin Bourne of The Athletic,

So yes – with the game having changed so much, so fast, players have not only had to adjust on-ice, but also come to grips with the league’s new culture off of it. It turns out that if you happen to run your mouth a little off the ice, for the most part, you no longer have to answer for it. Most players today are legitimately just trying to play hockey, so players are a little more free to say what they like. When the game starts, they can simply say “if you don’t like what I said, stop me.” And, if you’re a good enough player that’s easier said than done, meaning that verbal leash suddenly seems a lot longer....

The biggest takeaway for me here, is that not only is the fear of physical retribution from opponents diminished, players are getting smarter. I don’t mean IQ-wise, there’s just such a long list of players that have gotten screwed by trying to be loyal to organizations that they’ve come to recognize that they’re all their own companies. Players understand better than ever that teammates have to do what’s best for them, that the higher-ups can be ruthless and things are different from back in the day. It’s acceptable for every player to try to get theirs at all costs....

While the concept of team-first is still a part of the fabric of hockey, at the highest levels, the acceptance that it’s a business – which is a premise organizations have almost always operated under – seems to have been accepted by players too, which appears to have been somewhat freeing.

We’re seeing young players right out of the gate say whatever the hell they want more and more, and god is it refreshing.

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