How strong locker-room culture gives great teams an edge

EDMONTON — Culture may be the most controversial word in hockey.

It separates people who play in the National Hockey League from those of us outsiders who think we know a lot about playing in the National Hockey League – even though we’ve never been inside an NHL locker room like the players. .

We hear people mocking “culture.” “I don’t want a guy who’s great in the room. I want a guy who’s great on the ice.”

The term divides the trade market, as teams avoid players who appear to be good but are quietly considered “bad in the room,” while collecting players who are less productive and less analytical — because they are perceived to be “The good guy in the room.”

It divides the NHL itself because teams that we thought were very good struggle with chemistry because they haven’t built a culture that can handle adversity. Maybe like the New York Rangers. Or sometimes the Vancouver Canucks.

But teams that have built great cultures like Vegas, Boston and Tampa perform well no matter what new players arrive or who gets injured because the team’s emotional level is anchored with the ultimate goal of winning games. Not affected by factors such as underperforming players, some tough media or a difficult away schedule.

It took many years to develop a proper, successful culture in Edmonton. A few years ago, these leaders were in their 20s, just like today’s Darnell Nurse, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl ) as is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Now, older, characterful people like Adam Henrique, Mattias Ekholm and Mattias Janmark want to share here things that are happening, and by doing so, making it a better place. Better culture.

Corey Perry is one of those veterans eager to win one more trophy before the game is over.

He’s been in some locker rooms: Anaheim’s Stanley Cup locker room with Chris Pronger, Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer Scott Niedermayer; Olympic locker room, as many as “10 or 12 captains out of 23 players”; North Dakota’s Canadian World Junior Team considered the best ever.

“Let’s get in there,” I said to him as he sat in a locker room stall on Tuesday afternoon. “Tell the fans what it’s like here when it’s just you guys.”

“This is a great room,” Perry began. “If you get a chance to come here before a game, between games, the players are always upbeat. There’s a brotherhood here.

“There’s a little bit of animosity at times, but that’s what keeps us on our toes. Everyone holds each other accountable,” he said. “It’s a fun group and when you’re here every day to witness it – you’re a part of it, you see it – it’s great to be a part of. Because not everybody has that.”

The right culture starts with the best players. It must be so.

That’s part of the reason the Rangers are in such a mess right now: Mika Zibanejad is minus-15 in 30 games, and he’s the Rangers’ second-highest paid guy. Their captain, Jacob Trouba, was alienated by management before the season began.

Culture has a lot to do with what’s going on in Vancouver, where they wonder every night if their highest-paid player — Elias Pettersson, $11.6 million — will be “engaged.”

The players, they always know. They watch the video, hear the coach’s request, and all realize who among them is fully committed and who is less committed.

If you’re wearing a letter, sitting on the payroll, or exhorting others to pick up their game, you’re better off doing it yourself.

In an NHL locker room, if you don’t see yourself as the leader, you can’t ask anyone to follow.

“If these guys do it, everyone else will follow,” said Perry, who went from first-line alpha dog to fourth-line supporter in 1,342 NHL games. “Guys don’t want to be the ones who get yelled at by the leaders – by the top – because they’re not doing the right thing. The top guys have to (example). It’s a trickle down.”

“Our team can’t have three, four or five passengers,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said of the Oilers earlier this week. “Edmonton, they can have four or five.” Personal sleep. They have players who can win games for them.”

Are Edmonton’s top two players better than the Canucks’ players? Of course – but that’s not the point.

The key is there is no “engagement” issue with Edmonton’s top players.

They struggled in 82 games. No one does this. But they did the right thing in 82 games. They set the right example through 82 games, so players further down the list will either be right behind them or have to take responsibility for their own play when the leader calls their name.

“No one wants this. That’s why these people become leaders,” Perry explained. “Because if they see it, you’re going to get called out. That’s why this room is tense, because we have the ability to tell people, ‘Do your job.’ Pick it up. Block that shot, or whatever.”

The 39-year-old has scored six even-strength goals this season. That ranks fourth among the Oilers, two more than Pettersson and Zibanejad and one more than Mitch Marner. He will be tied for the lead with his old team, the Anaheim Ducks.

As for Edmonton’s ultimate leader, Connor McDavid, we hear this all the time: When you see McDavid constantly working to improve his game, how can you not work to improve yours? Woolen cloth?

This is culture. It starts at the top, or not at all.

“If it comes from the top — your leadership — that’s why they’re wearing those letters,” Perry said. “It runs through the entire team.

“You’d better do the same.”