Lazy narratives are everywhere. They exist prominently in all sports, but the ones in hockey are almost unbearable. Carolyn Wilke went on a great rant about lazy hockey narratives (beginning with this tweet, you should read it). The focus of the rant is around the statement, “He is tough to play against.” What exactly makes the player tough to play against? Board battles? Tough to get off the puck? A little more detail in that statement please. It’s lazy and doesn’t add value.
But there’s one thing that is generally ignored, and something I’m seeing a lot of lately.