If we remember that this all boils down to entertainment it seems to make more sense, at least to me anyways.
Hockey news ha always been what I consider a ‘man’s soap opera’ (not culturally sensitive I admit, but for expediency’s sake that is how I view myself enjoying it).
Most writers and bloggers and official media guys are passing on speculation and a few tidbits of second hand information, and crafting beautiful narratives around them for our entertainment. Happy, angry, it all works for interest. Ambivalence/indifference is the only death knell.
Bruce does his nice and easy consumption pieces, and folks like that while eating breakfast, or riding the bus. There is no in-depth thought required, nice and simple reads. He doesn’t get daily feeds from the team and he does speculate on the things he hears, but he is cautious about being overly critical towards the team. Being around the team and building, he will hear and know things that others won’t, and he definitely doesn’t share much of what he sees (personal things). No chance Dorion leaks contract or trade details to Bruce, as in zero (Onviously not zero, and my opinion based on what Bruce writes, and what Friedman had to say about our front office). We are current tighter than a nun’s bun.
Ian likes to write on issues, perceived or real, and there is a place for that as well, and it can spark a lot of discussion, but it is a very different animal. He can’t really be the spokesperson for the team because he has evolved to more of a critic of the team at times, and someone who wants to ask and write about niche concerns of the super fan. While enjoyable and relevant, that’s not the role of ‘team spokesperson’, and that’s ok.
