It’s like branding calves, only maybe with a little less bawling.
All a professional hockey reporter needs to form an opinion is one shot, one angle. Just give them one feature they like or dislike, or one guy they can be compared to.
BOOM. They’re branded.
This kid’s TOO SMALL. That one’s FULL O’ GRIT. This guy’s NO KESSEL. That one’s a FUTURE CAPTAIN. This one’s the NEXT WENDEL. And that one’s the NEXT COLBY LOL.
In this business, it’s one and done.
Because the labels last a lifetime, and the media will actively fight you if you try and pull their label off.