going through old videos from mack of his time during steel and at BU and why does no one talk about mack’s perpetual heart eyes when it comes to anyone he’s close with 😭 he’s so adoring whenever he looks at lane and jayden, it’s adorable. he looks at them like they hung the sun and moon and stars. the willmack looks are the most talked about, but he’s always been that much of a sweet heart on his sleeve kind of person. though nothing compares to the way he looks at sidney crosby is or his team canada teammates ofc
no for real!!!! baby mack was so sweet and obvious with his crushes, it was no wonder jayden and lane were famously extra gentle with him (i will share some bu stories eventually when i’m not busy as hell, but it was always a big deal that lane was so indulgent with mack when lane did have a few issues with other players on the team)
i do think it’s because people like to lean into this narrative of mack never liking anyone until will (which is fine by the way! rpf however you want), but the truth is that will is far from the first boy he’s ever loved, and mack has always been a fall hard and fast kind of romantic. you can see that with any team he plays on, but it’s especially clear whenever he goes to play for canada and instantly becomes everyone’s baby (not just this year either. mack was immediately adored and starry-eyed over his teammates at last year’s worlds and his world juniors team too)