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Penguins players respond to Team Canada's Zayne Parekh calling NHLers "robots"
Photo credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
At the recent World Juniors, Team Canada's Zayne Parekh referred to NHLers as "robots," which has prompted some Penguins players to respond to that.
With the Pittsburgh Penguins riding a five-game winning streak, the mood in the locker room was upbeat. One question on everyone's mind lately is whether NHL players come across as robotic in interviews, and if they should.
The topic originated at the recent World Junior Championship, when Team Canada defenseman Zayne Parekh, 19, said he stated people are "watching NHL guys be robots and not having any personality."
Parekh later apologized after Canada won bronze and he returned to the Calgary Flames.
What Penguins' players had to say about Zayne Parekh's comments
The Penguins were asked for their take, and they were willing to offer insight. Tommy Novak doesn't see peer pressure forcing players to keep interviews bland, though Parekh's apology may have been a response to backlash.
"I think maybe compared to other sports you watch, it might be a little different," Penguins forward Tommy Novak said. "I think you see more guys now being a little more out there, but I think maybe a culture thing."
"I think some guys show more personality than others, but not everyone is super comfortable being out there like that," Novak said. "I think it's guy by guy."
- Tommy Novak
"I think some guys show more personality than others, but not everyone is super comfortable being out there like that," Novak said. "I think it's guy by guy."
- Tommy Novak
Defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has long criticized Canadian media for sensationalism, predicted Parekh might tone down his personality in public comments.
"If he makes it to the NHL, we'll see how he handles it after two years in Calgary."
- Erik Karlsson
- Erik Karlsson
Karlsson also understands why some players might keep things mundane at times.
"Sometimes, yeah," he said. "I think it's politically correct answers sometimes, and it's actual answers. But I just think that in today's day and age, no matter what you say, there's always going to be someone who disagrees with you and has a different opinion. So whether you want to take that battle or not I think is an individual question."
- Erik Karlsson
- Erik Karlsson
Historically, goaltenders often show more personality. Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner, who has quickly become a locker room favorite since joining in a trade, was asked if goalies should be allowed to be more outspoken.
"We've definitely been known for more personality," Skinner said of goalies. "Not exempt. I think (more personality) is what (Parekh) wants to see, right? More goalies. He must be good friends with his goalies."
- Stuart Skinner
- Stuart Skinner
Then there's Sidney Crosby, who gave his first interview at age seven. Early in his career, reporters nicknamed him "Sidbot" because he was rarely involved in controversy or showed flamboyance.
"I think you've just got to be yourself. I think hockey players are known as being pretty humble. I think that, playing a team sport, you ultimately think team-first. It's not about necessarily you or promoting yourself. It's about the team. That's always kind of been ingrained in hockey, and that's part of what I love about the game.
"Everyone's just got to be themselves. That's the biggest thing. That's what makes being part of a team great, is the different personalities. I think for Zayne, he's just got to be himself. If that means showing personality and being who he is, then he shouldn't be afraid to do that, and people should accept that. For people who are less likely to kind of show their personality I think it's kind of hard for people to relate to people who have been in front of a camera since they've been a teenager or even younger than that.
"There's a lot of reasons for that, or why you could say that. I think you've just got to be yourself at the end of the day."
- Sidney Crosby
"Everyone's just got to be themselves. That's the biggest thing. That's what makes being part of a team great, is the different personalities. I think for Zayne, he's just got to be himself. If that means showing personality and being who he is, then he shouldn't be afraid to do that, and people should accept that. For people who are less likely to kind of show their personality I think it's kind of hard for people to relate to people who have been in front of a camera since they've been a teenager or even younger than that.
"There's a lot of reasons for that, or why you could say that. I think you've just got to be yourself at the end of the day."
- Sidney Crosby
The reality is that NHL players balance personality with caution, but there's room for individuality, whether from goalies, star forwards, or rising prospects like Parekh.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 7 | 89 ANSWERS Penguins players respond to Team Canada's Zayne Parekh calling NHLers "robots" Are NHLers robots? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 20.2 % |
| No | 71 | 79.8 % |
| List of polls | ||