Players don’t need to have an X or Instagram account to see what fans are saying about them. If something they said off the ice or did on the ice goes viral, they’ll hear about it. If a keyboard warrior is talking smack, a buddy is likely going to take a screenshot and text it to them. There’s no escaping social media these days, even if you’re never on it.
But do any NHL players actually seek it out? There might not be anyone in the NHL quite like Kevin Durant, chirping back and forth with random fans online, but they’re not all plugging their ears and covering their eyes. Just most of them. Probably for the best.
The Athletic asked 120 NHLers about their social-media habits for our 2025 player poll. Here’s what they said.
Note: Some player quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Not every player surveyed answered every question.
Many players have learned to avoid social media the hard way. Early in your career, it can be tougher to have the mental discipline to stay away, but eventually, you learn it’s better for your mental health.
“I did early in my career, like when I first got in the NHL,” one player said. “Everyone’s talking about you. It’s a new thing for people when you come into the league. I did a little bit when I first came in, and it affected me for sure mentally. So I consciously don’t look at it, and I think everyone should not look at it. It doesn’t do any good in my mind.”
“It doesn’t bother me anymore because I’m old enough to handle it,” another said. “If you’re under the age of 25, you should not read anything.”
“I don’t honestly watch too closely,” said another. “Once in a while. Mostly when one of my buddies sends me something. Or like my mom. My mom’s always sending me stuff. She always gets me involved.”
Other responses:
“You can’t seek it out. If you do that, you’ll get in a bad headspace. But with the f—ing algorithm now, you can’t get away from it. But also everybody knows if they’re playing good or bad. It’s not a secret.”
“Maybe sometimes you just glance for something, but try to stay off it as much as possible.”
“I don’t follow it. Do I see some stuff? I see some stuff. But I’ve gotten better at ignoring most of the stuff. If it’s certain people, media people, that’s a part of hockey that helps our sport grow. But the other stuff … most of it is just so negative.”
“Being in the Canadian market, it’s just very tough. You could see it in Toronto. So I try to stay off it as much as I can, just because, you know, if you have a bad game, you don’t want to see comments and everything.”
“You get a lot of messages if you have a bad game. People like threatening and stuff. You get a lot of bad, but I guess it’s part of it.”
“If they’re not tagging you, you don’t see it, but once they DM you or tag you, you’re pretty aware of it.”
“They’re mean behind the keyboard.”
“When the season starts, I get completely off of social media.”
“I do not. I would be a pretzel if I did.”
“I’ve done a lot to be off of social media in terms of like seeing what people say. I don’t have mentions on my X account and Instagram. I don’t ever post. I just look at the stuff I follow. … I just watch soccer accounts.”
Of those who answered yes, staying off X in particular was a theme.
“I try to limit reading the content and the comments and everything, but, yes, I do sometimes,” one said. “I did delete my Twitter many years ago, so I stopped that. I think less is better.”
“I see it, but I only have Instagram,” another said. “When I had Twitter, I would see a lot more written. Instagram is kind of more just like someone comments on my post.”
It’s not all bad, of course. Social media, when used wisely (and perhaps sparingly), can be a conduit between the players and fans — a means of connection that didn’t really exist beyond the hand-written fan letter back in the day.
“I’m not looking for it, but if it’s out there and you see it, I will,” one said. “You want your fans to be happy, honestly. You don’t want to get booed off the ice. You want to win so bad for the fans. Everyone remembers being a fan once.”
“I get tagged on stuff, and people are behind their computer or tablets and having things to say,” another said. “It’s good. Social media makes us talk about the league. Good or bad, we’re talking about it.”
“I usually just read Twitter to see what the coach is saying or what teammates are saying,” said another.
Only 5 percent of those surveyed copped to having a burner social account, but even anonymously, would they really tell us if they did?
“Guys definitely do,” one player said. “But I don’t think they have a burner for chirping people. They have burners to see what people are saying.”
Most were adamant in denying it, though.
“Definitely not,” one player said. “I can barely handle my own account.”
“I don’t have time for that s—,” another said.
One common theme was players saying their main account could just as easily be a burner for how much they use it.
“My account might as well be a burner,” one said. “There’s no action on there.”
“I have an account that I don’t post, like or comment,” another said. “I only follow everything but hockey accounts. It’s like food, cool places, dogs, houses, stuff like that.”
“I just use my regular Twitter account and scroll through the feed, but I don’t read what fans say,” added another.
And another: “I have my dog’s account. But the last time I went on that was a long time ago. I should post more.”
Some players seemed confused over the whole prospect.
“What’s a burner?” one asked. “Ah, no.”
“What the hell is a burner account?” echoed another.
A few players seemed to like the idea when presented with it.
“I’m thinking about it,” one said. “It can just be for my friends.”
“I don’t, but it’s a good idea,” another said. “I should maybe.”
The common refrain, though, was the same as players’ answers to the question about fans’ comments: Not worth the headache or time.
“When my son was born, one of the first days we were home, I caught myself scrolling on Instagram while I was holding him, and I was like, ‘What am I doing?’” one said. “And I just got rid of it. It’s like, ‘There’s nothing I need on here now.’”