Kirby Dach going dark online during playoffs proves the Maple Leafs rebuild demands strict mental armour
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Kirby Dach went silent on social media as his sole focus is on the playoffs and it shows the Maple Leafs need the same discipline if they want to find success.
For teams in the NHL Playoffs, it's gotta be all gas, no brakes. There's no real excuse for not giving 100% effort and with the Stanley Cup the ultimate goal, it takes the utmost dedication and passion in order to lift Lord Stanley high.
Sometimes that involves making the extra effort on the ice, whether it be fighting for more loose pucks, adding more physicality, or finding that second or third gear when your back's against the wall.
Kirby Dach's unique approach to avoiding the social media chatter during the NHL Playoffs
Other times, it's as simple as turning your phone off.
That's the road that Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach has taken as he heads into the postseason against Tampa Bay, as we noticed that there was a particular lack of posts and visibility for Dach on his Instagram.
With a blacked out picture and only an email to contact his agency and complete silence, it looks like Dach took the easiest way to avoid all the chatter and simply wants to focus on what's on the ice — not off it.
Dach, 25, only appeared in 37 games this season for the Canadiens but put up 15 points, 53 hits, and a minus-2 in only 13:39 TOI. He dealt with injuries at the start of the year but looks ready to go in the postseason.
But it's a solution that really seems obvious; but in actuality is hard to do. It's human nature to be curious about what people say about you (especially athletes) so just cutting it out completely is the best way to silence things.
How the Maple Leafs can learn from Kirby Dach
Well, it's not like the Maple Leafs are scrolling social media during commercial breaks, there does seem to be an onus on trying to present a focus on players when maybe there shouldn't be.
You have guys like William Nylander and Max Domi who are very socially active and with there being criticism thrown towards both, if they are constantly looking at messages or posts then it could throw them off or make them resent the fans.
Instead, cut out the noise. It's genuinely crazy to think that for an NHL player, the Stanley Cup comes secondary to a social media presence and the best course of action is to put the phone down and keep your mind on the game ahead.
Toronto has no doubt heard the chatter that they are playoff chokers, and this season seemed to show that perhaps the outside chatter may have played a bigger part than we thought.
So to avoid that being a problem in the future, it's time to go dark like Dach.
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