The National Hockey League revealed the official hashtags for all 31 of its teams on Monday. One received far more public attention than the rest.
The New York Rangers, who last year used the minimalist #NYR hashtag for its social media messaging, decided that bigger may actually be better this time around. Instead of a three-letter hashtag, the Rangers opted for a full sentence, #PlayLikeANewYorker, and the Twitter reaction was almost immediate.
As is to be expected on social media, there was no middle ground when people reacted to the new hashtag — fans were either all for it or thought it was the worst thing in the world.
There seemed to be consensus among hockey media, though:
LOL #PlayLikeANewYorker. That's as bad as #AllTogetherNowYippadeedooSTL https://t.co/k7MbU7c24a
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 30, 2019
I honestly can’t get over how bad this is #PlayLikeANewYorker. It’s an 18-character hashtag
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) September 30, 2019
#PlayLikeANewYorkerWhoGrewUpInRussiaButGladlyAcceptedOurFreeAgentMoney
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 30, 2019
And some fans had fun with it:
Does #PlayLikeANewYorker mean they’re gonna yell at the cashier at Bagel Boss? https://t.co/OAZccpqygw
— Kevin Schultz (@Schultz88) September 30, 2019
So the Rangers strategy this year is to complain constantly about the subway system? #PlayLikeANewYorker https://t.co/esjraHFZHS
— Jeff Yerger (@jyergs) September 30, 2019
The Rangers new hashtag is #PlayLikeANewYorker because “scream really loudly at your opponent until they give up” was just a little too long.
— Booker DeWitt (@ScoreyWebster) September 30, 2019
Of course, opposing fans from the New York area weren't going to let it slide:
#PlayLikeANewYorker pic.twitter.com/ge7o6VSXLi
— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) September 30, 2019
Kyle Palmieri, born in NY but grew up in Montvale NJ, sure knows how to #PlayLikeANewYorker 😏 pic.twitter.com/XqsCj6AkQD
— Devils Red Alert (@DevilsRedAlert) October 1, 2019
Some fans realized that all the kerfuffle over a hashtag has people talking about the team days before puck drop on a new season, which is the goal:
The #playlikeanewyorker is genius. People won’t stop talking about it. Mission accomplished #NYR
— Tyler Matson (@MatsonHockey) September 30, 2019
since islanders fans are trying to bash it I’ve decided #PlayLikeANewYorker is the only good hashtag ever created, truly genius work, great branding, etc
— CATS (2019) stan account (@EpicK8lin) September 30, 2019