thoughts on willmack post game?. Is mack comforting Will or is Will comforting Mack like “I’m fine it’s okay” bc Mack looked on the verge of tears in the interview
A bit of a rant, but what’s new 🫥
I was doing research just now, and I haven’t been able to find the last time either of them left a game of their own volition.
We don’t know the extent of the injury, but when a hockey player leaves that fast, it’s less about them being in pain and more about being scared.
In this sport, it’s odd for players to not even try to argue with their coach or debate with the medical team to at least stay on the bench—if they’re taken down the tunnel, it’s serious; if they willingly leave, they’re terrified.
And Mack picking a fight? He wasn’t ‘defending Will’s honour’, he was in full blown panic. That right there was a fear response. Because Will didn’t even look at him, he didn’t say a word to anyone on the ice—he got up and skated away before anyone could even process the hit.
Mack looked over at Will. Will stood up and sprinted away. Then Mack turned and lunged at Wotherspoon—only after realising Will had been seriously hurt.
It looked to me like his thought process was more “what have you done” than “how dare you touch him”
We saw something similar during preseason. Nico Hischier (who famously doesn’t get into many fights) got into a fight with Pierre Luc Dubois for shoving Jack Hughes into the boards. The shove itself wasn’t harsh by any means, but Jack had just gone through shoulder surgery that summer, and Dubois hit Jack’s shoulder.
Elite players live in constant fear of injury—their careers getting cut short.
That was the first big hit Will received in the NHL. I’m not talking about a split lip, a bloody nose, a chipped tooth, or a twisted ankle—I’m talking “there’s no blood but something hurts and it hurts a lot. something’s very wrong and I don’t know what”.
That’s far scarier. If there’s blood you can at least tell how severe the injury is. Internal damage? Will hit his ribs, arm, and head on the way down.
I can assure you the first thing he asked the doctors was something along the lines of “what’s wrong + can you fix it + can I still play + what’s the recovery time”
So, answering your question: by the time the game ended and Mack got back to Will, I’m assuming doctors already gave Will a rundown. Mack would be more anxious than Will.
That video of them walking back to the locker rooms after OT? Everyone was jumping and cheering, Mack was tense and sighing. Post game interviews? That boy was on the verge of an anxious breakdown.
Someone will need to calm Mack down, let him know he didn’t just witness the end of his best friend’s career. After that, someone needs to make sure Will doesn’t develop a fear of being hit during games (please)
Because we saw this with Jack Hughes. He grew so terrified of getting injured again that he started avoiding the net and all contact. It took him months to work through that and the devils lost many games in part because of it.
agree with you about college. They’ve also failed to note that they would have played against each other since high school when Will was at national dev and Mack was at prep. Those tournaments - they stay at hotels with the other teams and hang out. I’ve been to them with my brother. They would have been very well known to each other well before rookie camp and Mack went into rookie camp hot on Will. He was readyyyy
Yes!!!
I had this whole post with a timeline of willmack’s pre-college days and interactions but I lost it bc I’m an idiot. I’ll definitely redo it soon tho. Too many people forget they had ✨history✨ before the college rivalry
As far as i know the first time they faced each other it was in 2020 for the All-American Prospects 14U finals (Will’s team won)
Mack’s quote on the matter is literally:
My first impression of him was “wow, he’s really good”.
Go figure.
After that, they STILL faced each other before college MULTIPLE TIMES when Mack played for the Chicago Steel and Will for the USA NTDP
Mind you. During this period of time they played 3 times against each other. Mack’s team won all of them.
The first time, Mack scored the game winning goal during a shootout (after Will missed his shot).
The second, Mack assisted on the game winning goal.
The third, Mack scored twice in the first period and assisted another 2 goals in the second. Will didn’t get a single point that game.
AND THEN!!!!
They face each other at the U18 Worlds in 2023. Will gets a hattie in the semifinal. USA goes home with gold, Canada with bronze.
And adding insult to injury?? Will GOT THE MOST POINTS OF THE TOURNAMENT AND MATCHED THE ALL TIME RECORD
They’ve been intertwined from the start. It makes me sick. Haunting each others’ narratives from day 1
Anyway. I’ll make a masterpost with all of this in order, with photos and stuff. For science (completely self indulgent)
Apparently I was wrong. The first time they played against each other was 2018. I will do my due diligence and come back to you with a master post in chronological order because what the actual fuck
Edit: I did my due diligence. There’s no concrete evidence of them ever facing each other in 2018…
also will has saidthat they didn't say a wordto each other before the draft and that's crazy bc macks BU friends knew will and commenting on his insta and Gabe was interacting with mack on insta too. this creates more tension bc y r they not acknowledging each other? im sure Will wanted his attention bc he's used to everyone loving him
Tbh I think it might've been both of them keeping distance during college. Even if accidentally
Rant incoming. It might look like I lost the plot, but I swear it ties together
We know Mack has a hard time opening up to people, even today.
And he himself said that after moving so often and being homeschooled until 14, it was kinda hard for him to keep a social life - it was mostly reduced to hockey and family.
Meaning, 90% of his friendships have been built on hockey - more specifically, people he shares a rink with. Teammates.
And even if he interacted with some BC guys (famously, Gabe Perrault) (though Gabe wasn't exactly a BC friend, they met at CAA - a hockey summer camp from 2021) and had his share of BU friends (like Lane Hutson, who he went to the 2025 Beanpot with), Mack has never been one to publicly advertise his friendships.
He's a pretty private guy in that regard.
I mean, he grew up in Vancouver, moved to San Jose at 14, then to Minnesota, then Chicago, then Boston, and then San Jose again. So of course his friendships were all about hockey - it's the only consistent thing in his life.
All this to say, I don’t think Mack was making a conscious effort to avoid Will specifically. I doubt he was even thinking about it that way at all.
I think Will simply became The Guy To Beat. The Smitty, Leno, Gabe line had become unstoppable and Mack probably spent hours reviewing tape in preparation for their games (which, in an rpf way, can be its own can of worms tbh…)
At least until the Draft got closer and he realised that the chances of them ending up on the same team were getting more and more likely.
As for Will, he’s never been short on friends.
They'd been facing each other for years by the time he got to BC, and Mack had won literally all (Chicago Steel vs NTDP) games leading up the NCAA.
Imagine being Will, and this guy you can’t fucking shake is beating your ass every time you play against each other. And then, when you finally go to college to continue the family tradition, HE’S THERE. AGAIN.
This random Canadian guy who keeps beating your ass, who befriended your best friend (Gabe) one random summer, is now in BOSTON?? OF ALL PLACES. He’s in YOUR home, he’s in the walls??
And once more, you have to play against him.
But it gets worse.
Because with every game, it becomes more and more obvious that this kid is going first. It doesn’t even matter who else is getting drafted that year. Mack is simply better. He’ll go first overall.
And then Will is nominated for the Hobey. And then MACKLIN fucking WINS IT.
And then Will is on the First All-American 2024 Team. And who is also in it?? Macklin.
And then, Will leads the NCAA in points, is named 'Statistical Champion', but all everyone can talk about is Macklin Celebrini.
AND BC loses the Beanpot semifinals against BU. Will loses what was possibly the most important tournament (at least in terms of sentimentality) he'd played so far in his LIFE. Against some Canadian child that keeps commenting on his friends' instagram posts.
Perhaps worst of all though, is that most fans and critics at the time thought Will should stay at BC for another year, claiming "he was not ready for the NHL yet". Even though Mike Grier (Sharks GM) contacted Will's agent (Sean Coffey) after the National Championship saying he thought Will was ready to come out of college and try his luck.
So they asked Will what HE wanted to do.
Except it wasn't exactly a choice, it was more of an ultimatum. Because Macklin wouldn’t take another NCAA season, and staying behind while Mack spearheaded the rebuild would most likely land him in the AHL.
So, Will kinda had to go.
And Mack going to the Sharks truly did influence his decision. The Draft lottery happened on May 7th and Will made the decision to sign on May 3rd, a few days earlier, but Mack was already having meetings with Mike Grier.
Will officially signed right before leaving for the IIHF - on May 8th, one day after the Draft - you do the math.
Sean Coffey literally said:
I told Will 'you can't let the fate of a ping pong ball determine that decision for you'. I had to encourage him to make the best decision for himself, regardless of what might happen at the lottery.
But, when your competition is Macklin Celebrini, you either join him or you lose.
So, Will signs.
And Will texts Mack.
Not much, but just enough to avoid it being awkward when they inevitably meet again,
And then, at rookie camp?
Mack was closed off. Nervous and quiet.
In Will’s own words:
“He [Macklin] was all quiet at the start. I opened him— he opened up real quick.” - never offside podcast (19:41)
To summarise, idk man.
I don't think Will was grieving Mack's distance, and I don't think Mack was being purposefully distant. I think circumstances made them into rivals and they never had much of a reason to become friends, especially when they were both talented enough to be a threat.
as always, i actually have no fucking clue what im talking about. im theorising. will could have very well been fuming and crying himself to sleep wondering why mack wouldn't follow him on insta
hey!! i’m such a fan of everything you post and ur views on mack&will are just so intelligent and i so agree with them! just had a question about what you think is happening in the video with them on the balcony and will is all up in macks face? do you think it’s intentional (that they saw a camera and did it for shits and giggles) or something else entirely?.. thanks!!
Hello hello 🫡 (sorry for the late reply)
First of all thank you so much!! I'm glad there are people who enjoy my tendency to overanalyse (and psychoanalyse) every little thing
I'm about to do it again. Sorry in advance.
As for the video, perspective plays a part. From where the camera is, it's easy to misunderstand the distances between the people in the booth.
Seeing this, they do look very very close, but in the second picture, Mac has to twist backwards quite a lot to keep talking to Will.
Same thing here. First picture they look… very close. Second, Mack has to twist around just to look Will in the eye.
They're close -- close enough to whisper in a crowded room -- but really not as close as it looks.
Here's the thing:
Bit of a ramble incoming, but I tie it back to the video, I swear
They're just famous enough to know there's always going to be at least one pair of eyes on them at all times. Every interaction is B-Roll for someone with a phone pointed in their direction. 90% of being a celebrity is coming to terms with the fact that privacy is no longer a right, but a privilege.
It's fucked up, but it's the way it's always been. People like people, and to maintain a fanbase, you gotta hook them on something more than talent -- you need personality, something for audiences to gossip and argue about.
Fans like to know about the person beyond the art (be that athlete, actor, singer…), so they're mic'ed up and filmed and interviewed and followed and questioned.
This inevitably leads to a constant hypervigilance.
Especially with athletes, who are usually very awkward in interviews and social media challenges because being famous was a side effect of being talented, not their end goal. Singers and actors want eyes on them, they're entertainers, but athletes have no choice but to put up with it.
And it's no secret the Sharks (and the NHL itself) have been exploiting Will and Mack's friendship for clicks and engagement. And it's worked, massively so.
The result is Will and Mack being 50 times more scrutinised. Now people want to know everything about their personal lives, they want to catch a candid moment between them, a clip of one mentioning the other. Same thing with rivalries -- they sell, so they're exploited (re: Crosby and Ovechkin)
All this to say:
That video was taken in September, before the 'willmack boom'. They were already popular prior to this season, for sure, but not like they are today.
I think it was a genuine moment of them forgetting they're public figures after a summer of being normal guys on holiday with their families.
I very highly doubt they did it on purpose. I think they didn't notice they were being filmed at all. And the fact that they were all over each other only shows that it's the way they act when there's no one around.
The hypervigilance slipped and they weren't two celebrities, but two guys having fun
I'd never seen this version of it, and… yeah no they're… very close.
I don't think I can excuse this one as perspective.
Either way, I think they're goofing around and I don't think they were aware of the camera in the slightest
Them acting like that even when people are around (at a stadium, mind you) does make me wonder how comfortable they are with touch and closeness when there aren't 200 cameras rolling/eyes on them, though…
What do you think willmack ARE..? I mean are they friends/best friends/brothers/twins separated at birth/platonic soulmates/soulmates/situation-ship would love to hear your thoughts.
heyy sorry the incredibly late reply 🫥
If we step outside of RPF, I think they're incredibly codependent best friends. The kind that would room together in college and then get apartments in the same building but still spend 90% of their time together.
I personally couldn't see them as siblings even if I didn't dabble in RPF. Sibling bonds are a very specific thing that they both already share with their own -- we've seen them act as brothers and I don't think that's what they see each other as.
There's a specific sort of touchiness and fondness between them that speaks of a friendship forged in a high stress environment like the NHL.
Being so young and having known each other beforehand, I'd say their bond started as a normal (if not mostly professional) friendship and became something deeper when Mack got injured not long into his rookie season and Will was struggling to perform on the ice -- they were being scrutinised by the media.
So, this was a very long winded way of saying I think they're indeed platonic (?) soulmates. They both reached the NHL after an incredible college season in which Will led the NCAA in points and beat records (and won Juniors) and Mack got the Hobey only to join the Sharks and get whacked -- from being the two most dominating players to almost an immediate downfall. They leaned into each other during a very hard time for two teenage boys and it created an unbreakable bond.
can I just say...i'm an avid rpf-er, but i never truly believed the narrative that if there's even a possibility that will gets traded, mack would "fight for him" (whatever that looks) because come on now. there's something bigger than a boybestfriendship (that you can replicate with other teammate/s, it's a thing in hockey right like they're not special), but with what mack has shown today, literally fighting for will and letting that ignite his game...i fear i can be convinced. the boy's in too deep. devoted. (i'll be sending the same ask to other blogs bcs i'd like to know multiple perspectives, hope u don't mind!)
I think once you’ve reached that level of friendship, there’s always going to be a fight—in any sport. The men in suits will always have the last word, players and athletes are nothing more than pawns and statistics to them; but I assure you, players fight.
They’ll never be able to speak on it outright, talk about it in an interview, they’re too deep into legal contracts they barely understand, but you can always tell when teammates don’t agree with a trade.
So, yes—in a non rpf way—Mack would fight, he’d throw a fit, we (fans and general audiences) just wouldn’t see it. We’d get the media trained responses and spend hours overanalysing his body language trying to gauge his real feelings on the matter, but he’d never be allowed to explicitly complain.
This sport moves billions of dollars, one boy’s feelings aren’t worth a dime to the Men In Suits. But, as long as it’s not a public tantrum, they don’t really care if players argue or oppose the decision.
They’ll be allowed to complain as long as they do it in private.
That said, what happened today (at least in my opinion) was less about defending Will’s honour—making a statement of sorts—and more of a panic response.
I went into more detail here, so I’ll try not to ramble and bore everyone to death by repeating myself
The gist of it, though, is that I believe Mack’s thought process to have been something closer to “what have you done” than “how dare you touch him”
Less ‘protective’ and more terrified that he could’ve just witnessed his best friend’s career being cut short
And that fire we saw from him afterward? Personally, if I was scared my best friend could’ve gotten seriously injured, I wouldn’t want it to be in vain. Days/weeks/months off the ice and sitting out games for a 5-1 loss? If my best friend was going down that way, at the very least, I would’ve made it count for something.
And Mack did. He woke the entire team up, it wasn’t just him.
Less of a knight in shining armour moment, more of a terrified kid trying to cope with a horrible situation in the only way he could
"He does have the self awareness and is constantly hinting at it hoping Will gets with the program"
This fits with my real mental characterization of Mack. I don't understand the autism spectrum link/theory that some people reach for. I see his social awkwardness as a byproduct of being self-aware (and self-conscious) to a pathological extent. Hypersensitivity rather than reduced sensitivity. I think it's logical this emotional/psychological perception would extend to understanding his own emotions. Not necessarily psychoanalyzing himself but still the farthest thing from aloof.
Carrying this over into RPF, I could see him having a bit of a crush on Will for years and then suddenly they're teammates and roommates. They recognize the drive they each have in the other. They're intertwining their careers together and becoming neary insepry friends off the ice as well. The sexual attraction is there isn't misunderstood, but pursuing it could ruin a great thing they already have. Maybe he tries dating someone else. (Enter Trinity.) But the contrasting feelings only clarifies to him how far gone he already is for Will. (Exit Trinity.) He keeps it to himself for a while. Then they're roughhousing in a hotel room or at the Marleaus or Thorntons one night and a touch lingers a second too long. The delicate dance of avoiding their feelings for each other is over. He has a split second to decide whether to take what he wants or to pull away and hope they can try to go back to the way things were moments before. (And I strongly think it would always be Mack making the first move. He can try to collapse the hierarchy between them as much as he wants, but it will always be there. Will would always have more to lose.)
First things first anon, I need you to write a fic and send it to me. 10/10 writing happening here
I will say I do recognise some traits in Mack that could easily lead people to believe he could be autistic (ie: monotone voice, hyperfixation/one-track mindset, many tics/stimming, apparent moments of dissociation, those 'spazzing out' episodes his friends allude to, often looking to others for cues before laughing or approaching new people, hood up/beanie on at all times + aversion to any kinds of jewelry, rituals (meticulously taping his stick every game and starting over at the smallest imperfection), bluntness…)
That said, would I be bold enough to diagnose him as such? Probably not. I think most of his awkwardness can be traced back to the camera/crowd/celebrity of it all, and him being an impulsive and single-minded guy. Maybe he's just a strange lil dude who gets awkward having 40 people with mics, 13 light rings, and 7 cameras pointed in his direction. I don't know enough about this man to diagnose anything. I haven't seen him in a truly comfortable environment or interacting with friends without a camera on him to say
I can't say I've seen many people describe him as aloof, though. I've always seen people referring to him as the overly emotional one of the pair/team (but maybe that's just my algorithm? idk). I agree with you on that anyway -- Mack is emotional and very sensitive. I don't see how anyone would think otherwise
(I mean, we've seen him almost crying after bad games, sometimes looking numb due to the guilt he thinks he's meant to carry for failing the team, getting offended over stupid jokes, getting flustered at the tiniest hint of a genuine compliment, seeking approval from just about anyone he cares about, going feral in the penalty box, firing the whole team up and leading them to a win, being giddy at practices, giggling nonstop around friends -- you don't do any of that if you're apathetic or distant)
As for the RPF side of things:
In the scenario they acted on their feelings, I agree Mack would likely make the first move. Maybe after months/years of bottling up feelings and knowing they're not unrequited, he'd snap.
In this situation (Will also having feelings for Mack but refusing to acknowledge them because being queer wouldn't even cross his mind), I think Mack would reach a breaking point where the lingering looks and soft touches and constant dates (even if neither called them that) would become too much to bear and carry alone; it would bubble over.
They'd get back to the hotel room after celebrating a win, one too many drinks in them, Will would plop down on Mack's bed, and Mack would just stand there. The hesitation would last all of 2 seconds before he'd go 'fuck it' and kissed Will.
I think Will would kiss back without a thought. Because yes of course this was happening why wouldn't it, in fact he can't think of a good reason why they hadn't done it sooner.
Alcohol and instinct would take the wheel until next morning. Will would then wake up, still in his suit, dry sweat and beer on his shirt, Mack passed out and drooling on his chest.
The first thought would be 'it's fine, we were drunk. people do stupid things when they're drunk'. The second would send him into a panic. 'I'm not drunk now. I'd do it again'
After that, I honestly don't know if he'd run to the bathroom and pray until he ran out of ways to apologise to God, or feel so guilty he'd immediately take off the chain, no longer feeling worthy or pure enough to deserve wearing it
If they never acted on their feelings, however
Mack would carry it to the grave and know better than to try and shatter the (very flimsy) illusion Will had built around their friendship to try and excuse all their behaviours.
They're both pining and yearning and touching and looking and sharing every waking minute together, but it's never given the label or called what it is.
Will would live with a heaviness in his chest he couldn't quite name or place, never shaking it or understanding why it was there to begin with when he'd been nothing but good and pure of soul in the ways that matter. Going to church would leave him queasy and he'd insist on telling Mack all about the girls he'd hook up with, aware that it somehow soothed him to discuss girls with Mack and see him nod and laugh along.
And Mack would, every time. Nod and laugh along because he understood they were both feeling equally nauseous and queasy, even if he was alone in having given it the actual reason.
Will would hover and hold him and hug him and pick him up for lunch and buy matching clothes because they were best friends, because he loved Mack. And Mack would hug back and text at all hours and spend the summers and holidays with him because they were best friends and he could admit they were in love.
It would weigh him down, and more often than not he'd wish to be equally God-fearing enough that he'd remain oblivious to the 'sin', but he'd never say anything.
They would both be aware, each in their own way.
Mack would carry the knowledge. Will would carry the guilt. And both would live forever with something unspoken rattling in the background
(Jesus. Fucking. Christ. I'm so sorry for the rant I went on?? Good Lord)
