NHL players say one fan is ruining their love lives

“The whole league knows about it.”

What started as a seemingly harmless social media trend has quickly turned into a growing source of frustration across the NHL. An X account known as “NHL Follow Tracker” has been monitoring which players follow and unfollow on Instagram and posting updates multiple times an hour.

At first glance, it might sound trivial. But for players, it has become something far more invasive. According to The Athletic/, several NHL players, almost all of them speaking anonymously, say the account is exposing personal habits and drawing unwanted attention to their private lives. For single players especially, Instagram isn’t just a public platform; it’s also a way to connect with people on a more personal level. Now, those interactions are being tracked in real time.

One example highlighted just how closely things are being watched. In the middle of the night, the account flagged Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger’s activity, posting updates complete with red X emojis to show who he had unfollowed. It’s the kind of detail that once went unnoticed, but is now being broadcast to thousands.

And the audience is growing. The account is nearing 17,000 followers, and its updates have already started gaining traction during key moments. Teams are aware of it too, particularly when it comes to sensitive situations like trade rumours or waiver decisions. Even the smallest social media move can now spark speculation.

It’s also opened the door to public discussion about players’ relationships. When Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews followed Vanessa Piunno, it quickly became a talking point online, with fans dissecting what it might mean about his personal life. When their relationship was confirmed by Piunno online, fans speculated, because of previous tracking, that they have been dating awhile.

For players, the issue is simple: the line between public and private is getting thinner. And in a league where every move is already under the microscope, this is one more layer many never asked for.