A hockey locker room is full of many people, personalities and characters. The room can be sacred, unique and home for some, but truly the players inside go a long way to helping keep it a special place across the long grind of an 82-game regular season.
In a recent story done by The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke and Jonas Siegel, 20 Toronto Maple Leafs players were asked questions about their teammates. The questions were: Which three teammates would you want joining you on a summer road trip? Which Leaf would win in a no-rules Battle Royal? Which Leaf is most and least likely to pick up the cheque?
These questions and answers should help to give fans a fun look at some of the different player personalities on their favourite team.
Which three teammates would you want joining you on a summer road trip?
The resounding winner was Scott Laughton, who was named by Brandon Carlo, Anthony Stolarz, Troy Stecher, Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan as someone they’d want along for the ride. Some of the aspects that led to Laughton’s selection was his humour and ability to pick good music.
“Laughton would have the music in the car because he has the music in the room,” Lorentz said to the Athletic. “He has a good mix, you know? He’ll do ‘80’s throwbacks, some rap, some rock ‘n’ roll and of course the Tragically Hip. My kind of music.”
With Laughton being a pending unrestricted free agent at season’s end, he clearly is a player that his teammates value, whether it is in the locker room or on hypothetical summer trips, giving Brad Treliving a tough decision as we approach trade deadline time.
Which Leaf would win in a no-rules Battle Royal?
Just like how Laughton dominated the summer road trip debate, Maple Leafs forward Max Domi took home the honours during the selection process of a teammate for the no-rules Battle Royal. Domi was selected by eight of the 20 voters for various reasons.
Many of the reasons revolved around the style of play Domi brings, feisty, nasty and aggressive at times, the perfect attributes for a Battle Royal selectee.
“(Domi’s) a dog,” Matias Maccelli said. “If there’s no rules, I think (Domi) would take on the boys.”
Domi even decided that if push came to shove, he himself was the best option to step into that ring and claim victory.
“I’d probably say myself,” Domi said to The Athletic while laughing. “If there’s no rules, I don’t like anyone else’s chances with a pair of scissors in my hand.”
Which Leaf is most and least likely to pick up the cheque?
The time old debate is the saying, who is cheap? And who isn’t? With NHL teams playing 41 road games each year, that represents many opportunities for dinner on the road at restaurants. As to who generally picks up the tab, that is a completely different story.
The Maple Leaf who earned the most likely votes, fell to the longest tenured Maple Leaf, assistant captain Morgan Rielly. For many players, it was simple as to why the 13-year veteran was the choice.
“He’s done it the most, so he’s most likely,” Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann said.
As for the least, the majority of answers landed on Maple Leafs rookie forward Cowan. This is to be expected as Cowan is currently only 43 games into his NHL career and on a rookie contract. The selection of Cowan wasn’t an issue for any of the players.
“It’s not because he doesn’t want to,” Simon Benoit said. “It’s because we won’t let him.”
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