Contents
5. Zanders
Overview
Evan and Eli endure a pre-game interview that spotlights Evan’s playboy persona while sidelining their mental-health charity, frustrating both. After a tough loss, Evan skips a staged hookup and needles Stevie on the flight, easing his mood. The next day, Evan finds solace with Eli’s family and confides in Logan about his mother’s attempts to reconnect and his distant father, underscoring his reliance on found family and therapy.
Summary
Before the Denver game, Evan Zanders and Eli Maddison give a phone interview. The reporter praises Eli’s family life but goads Evan about his reputation and women, even referencing Evan’s mother. Evan and Eli try to pivot to their mental-health charity, Active Minds of Chicago, but the interview keeps returning to Evan’s image. They reaffirm their Stanley Cup ambitions, and Eli later vents about the media reducing Evan to a caricature.
After a disappointing loss, Evan’s agent texts that he arranged a postgame woman for photos, but Evan ignores it, unwilling to feed the narrative. A text from Logan with a photo of Ella wearing Evan’s jersey lifts his spirits. On the team plane, Evan playfully fixates on Stevie’s exit-row briefing, peppering her with questions until both end up laughing; during the safety demo, Stevie subtly flips him off, and Evan is amused by her refusal to be charmed.
The next day at Eli and Logan’s penthouse, Evan brings Ella a Denver magnet, dotes on newborn MJ, and jokes with Eli. With Logan, he discusses his mother hounding his sister Lindsey to reach him and admits he hasn’t told his father. Evan reflects on how his dad withdrew after his mother left, leading to Evan’s teenage panic attacks and anger, and how therapy in college helped him start loving himself.
Logan reminds Evan that their family loves him, and Evan reciprocates, highlighting his dependence on found family for support while maintaining his hardened public persona and season goal to win the Cup.
Who Appears
- Evan ZandersRaptors winger; media fixates on his playboy image; frustrated charity is ignored; teases Stevie; opens up about estranged parents and therapy.
- Eli MaddisonBest friend and teammate; family man; defends Evan against media caricature; hosts Evan at home with Logan and kids.
- StevieFlight attendant; exchanges playful, annoyed banter with Evan during safety brief; pointedly flips him off mid-demo.
- LoganEli’s wife; sends Ella’s jersey photo; comforts Evan; urges openness about his mom’s contact and his distant father.
- Ella Jo (EJ)Eli and Logan’s daughter; wears Evan’s jersey; delighted by a Denver magnet; bonds affectionately with Evan.
- MJNewborn son of Eli and Logan; sleeps in Evan’s arms, symbolizing Evan’s bond with their family.
- Jerry (Chicago Tribune reporter)Conducts pre-game interview; spotlights Evan’s bad-boy narrative; sidesteps discussion of the charity.
- RichEvan’s agent; tries to stage a postgame hookup for publicity; Evan declines.
- LindseyEvan’s sister; reports their mother is repeatedly trying to contact Evan.
- Evan’s fatherOnce supportive, became emotionally absent after wife left; source of Evan’s lingering hurt.
- Evan’s motherEstranged; attempts to reenter Evan’s life trigger anxiety and resentment.