Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3168: Connor McDavid on 2015 NHL Draft Lottery Day - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Connor McDavid, who's predicted by many to be a Wayne Gretzky-caliber player, is shown in the above video during the 2015 NHL Team Draft Lottery (18 April 2015). Although the respective teams will not announce their player choices' until 26-27 June, a lot of people have speculated that the young hockey phenom does not what to play for the Edmonton Oilers - the team who drew first choice.

What follows is a partial body language analysis of Connor McDavid.

McDavid is shown here just after the 2015 NHL team draft order was announced. He knows now that he'll probably be picked by the Edmonton Oilers. His Loose Forward Lip Purse (5:05) (as opposed to a tight lip purse or a lateral lip purse) shown here indicates his clandestine disagreement and/or his clandestine plan. This nonverbal tells us that he knows he must not voice his true feelings aloud - which, particularly for being only 18 years old, we will see momentarily - he does a fairly good job (yet not a perfect one). It's helpful to think of this expression as, "I'm not going to show (or tell) all my cards (plan)" or "I'm going to make them think one thing, but not my true feelings/plan."

His very prolonged false watch adjust is a very common anxiety tell, but more specifically this nonverbal MAP surrogate (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) tells us that although he's certainly a dominant personality - McDavid is trying to call-forth more alpha qualities for his upcoming TV interview. This is one of many alpha up-regulating nonverbal tells.

After he realizes another man who was accompanying him is no longer by his side, Connor McDavid takes in a moderately deep breath and reaches for his heart (5:18).

He's being pushed out of the nest. He's nervous (no surprise).

At 6:59 we see McDavid's loose forward lip purse repeated as he again is feeling strong disagreement (and he's brainstorming a way out of the Oilers) - but when this expression is made, such disagreement is rarely voiced aloud.

The loose forward lip purse nonverbal is always made by a person who believes they are the alpha relative with who(m) their interacting - AND they believe they have a good chance of success in implementing and executing their plan(s).

Few of us would be able to handle ourselves on TV as Connor McDavid did - yet he had multiple other tells (nonverbal, verbal and with respect to his paralanguage) which betrayed his true thought-emotions (What others did you note?).

Considering the millions on the line in professional sports, players (particularly rookies) would be wise to be coached in preparation for such camera appearances, lest they lose tactical contract negotiation strength, salary, bonuses and endorsements.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3165: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part I - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3167: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part II - Confidence, Vulnerability and Sincerity - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3158: ESPN's Britt McHenry's Narcissistic, Berating Rant of a Tow Company Employee - A Valuable Body Language Teaching Point 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3162: Robert Downey Jr. walks out of Interview - Star walks out when asked about past - Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2894: Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin and Subtle Body Language of .... (PHOTOS)

Maria Kirilenko has called off her engagement to Alex Ovechkin. Although in this image, the Russian tennis professional may not be directing it at her then Hockey Player (Captain of the Washington Capitals) fiancé - she is feeling anger. Note that her eyes and face are not directly facing the object of her anger. When we do not like, do not respect or do not trust another - we tend to not direct our feet, our torso, our head or our eyes directly at them.

Ms. Kirilenko's jaw is clenched and simultaneously slightly jutting forward (ergo "Jaw Jut") - both nonverbal signals of anger.

Maria's mouth is foreshortened as her lips are thinned - particularly her upper lip. These signs are also significant for anger.

The area above Kirilenko's upper lip and her nose (termed the "mustache area" in both genders) is contracted and tense. This tension co-exists with nostril flaring.

What other very slight signals of anger are seen on Ms. Kirilenko's face?

Maria's face does not have a full expression of anger. There are other components of this emotion which are not present here. Moreover, nonverbal signals of all emotions may exist for fractions of a second (microexpressions). These subtleties of both proportion and time are only two reasons why many don't see emotions displayed right in front of them - and thus suffer their ramifications. How many emotional displays have gone unseen by you this week?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No 2893: Petro Poroshenko - Downed Malaysia Air MH17 - like 9/11 & Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie Bombing)

Flirting and Romance Secret # 51:  Dominance Display in a Couple:  Maria Sharapova & Sasha Vujačić

Negotiation Secret # 131:  When the eyes are "White and Wide" - Marion Bartoli

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2563: President Obama's Subtle Anger - Body Language of Government Shutdown & the Debt Ceiling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2599: Spotting Subtle Signals of Arrogance - Tiger Woods and Rachel Nichols

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2870: Cate Blanchett and a Subtle Body Language Signal of Insincere Laughter 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2858: Hope Solo, Domestic Violence, Arrests and Wedding Rings - Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2880: Bowe Bergdahl & Badruddin Haqqani Photo - What Does Body Language Tell Us?

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