But not the tabloid stuff you'll see in New York. There have been years here when things haven't gone well, and the poison pens were out. It's been a rocky relationship sometimes, but for the most part, that's your voice to the fans and you have to deal with them. If you don't, the message won't get across to the people who truly love the game and the city. We are a phenomenally popular team in this country.
Popularity is a burden some players are happy to deal with.
Before becoming a Maple Leaf, Darcy Tucker played in Tampa Bay, where the Lightning struggle to gain headlines. For that reason, along with his competitive nature, Tucker likes the pressure. We have a lot of guys in our dressing room who like to play under that pressure and scrutiny. I love it. It's no problem for me.