They won’t be playing on the same line come January, every time I watch Stenberg I’m more impressed, there’s no way after a while the new dynamic duo on the ice isn’t Mack and him. Mack is so happy to have Stenberg coming he’s even liking the Sharks insta posts about him within minutes and none of the rest
Okay, so this is very clearly rage bait, and I don’t usually engage with asks like this, but I’ll answer it just this once.
Mack is the future captain of the Sharks. Part of that role is following the draft closely, reaching out to prospects, welcoming them, and yes, adding them on social media. That’s captain stuff. Beyond that, Ivar Stenberg is an incredibly exciting prospect, and pretty much everyone is looking forward to seeing what he can do in teal.
This isn’t High School Musical, Grey’s Anatomy, or Love Island. The arrival of a new “bombshell” isn’t going to “turn” Mack’s “head”, and Mack can absolutely enjoy a friendship with Stenberg without it changing his dynamic with Will. More importantly, Will isn’t some cockroach Mack picked up off the side of the road and taught how to play hockey. He’s an elite young player who has earned his place on the first line.
From a hockey standpoint, this whole argument doesn’t even make sense. Will shoots right, Stenberg shoots left. Even if Stenberg eventually gets a look on the top line, he’s much more likely to rotate with players like Cherny or Graf depending on chemistry and matchups. Misa, meanwhile, needs a high-end playmaking winger to support him and help give the lineup more depth. If (and only if) Will Smith Hockey suddenly forgot how to play hockey and consistently performed poorly over a prolonged period with no signs of improvement, then sure, a move down the lineup would absolutely be warranted. You can’t play favourites in the NHL. But that’s simply not the current reality.
Aside from a brief stretch in March and April, Will had an excellent sophomore season. He finished with 59 points despite playing through a shoulder injury, and analysts consistently praised his vision, high-danger passing, creativity, and hockey IQ. People also forget the context. Mack is a complete outlier who has, both wonderfully and unfortunately, accelerated the Sharks’ rebuild. Will spent his sophomore season switching from centre to wing (a position he’d never played before), while also adapting to Mack’s absurd 20+ minutes of ice time every night (!!). That’s a massive adjustment for any young player. And he made it work.
In fact, the chemistry between them became so instinctive that Mack initially struggled to recreate that same pace and rhythm with Sidney fucking Crosby at Worlds. That just shows how uniquely in sync Will and Mack have become after spending so much time playing together. None of this is new information, which is why I won’t be responding to asks like this going forward. I love the engagement, but we’re starting to go in circles, and I’d rather not subject my moots to the same discourse everyday.
areudirty
janainaart
2087
jacobvanloon
snowghoul
turnnoffyourmind
