Seven Musings: Hand the Stanley Cup to captains, not owners

There’s nothing like seeing the captain of the profitable staff take the Stanley Cup from commissioner Gary Bettman and lift it to the heavens.

It’s a glance of pure pleasure. It’s a fantastic second.

The path of the Cup from that second ahead turns into the stuff of folklore. Generally it’s the alternate captains subsequent. Final season, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog handed it to Erik Johnson, the longest-tenured participant on the staff. That’s form of the factor in Colorado. In 2001, captain Joe Sakic didn’t raise the Cup, however handed it to 22-year veteran defenceman Ray Bourque. In 2018, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin gave it to longtime linemate Nicklas Backstrom. The path of the Cup is the story of the staff.

Seems, that is one thing of a Canadian factor. Just like the Gray Cup, it’s the gamers who get the championship trophy first. (European soccer does it, too, or so I’m instructed.)

Correctly. They received it. Followers have adopted them alongside all season. They need to see their favorite participant with that smile on his face.

Which brings us to Invoice Foley, proprietor of the Vegas Golden Knights. Hockey Night time In Canada’s Ron MacLean puzzled if Foley — one of the vital influential homeowners in hockey — would possibly get the Cup first from Bettman’s fingers, defying hockey’s custom, however becoming a member of the likes of the NFL, NBA and MLB the place the proprietor is first to have fun.

Who needs to see an proprietor be first to hoist the Cup? It will be a little bit of an emotional comedown.

Foley’s a terrific proprietor, an exquisite character, and appears to be good for the sport. He’s accessible. His gamers love him. He predicted a Cup win by the Golden Knights in six years and his staff appears bang-on to make that come true. However he can have his second with the Cup later.

Let’s hope MacLean was simply musing (hey, who doesn’t prefer to muse?). Let’s preserve this explicit custom going.

Let the gamers hoist the Cup first.

Bought a query? Electronic mail me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I’ll reply it within the subsequent Mailbag. It’s Tuesday Museday. Now to the Seven Playoff Musings.

1. It’s value noting the highest choose of the 2014 NHL draft is within the ultimate for the primary time: Aaron Ekblad (to not point out second total Sam Reinhart and fourth total Sam Bennett). This follows 2013’s high choose Nathan MacKinnon profitable the 2022 ultimate. Can Connor McDavid (2015) be far behind? Or Auston Matthews (2016)? Let’s hope not.

2. So Connor Bedard ultimately then? I’ll do extra draft musings nearer to the draft, however have this little tidbit from Buffalo and the NHL mix. Numerous media varieties requested Adam Fantilli what it was prefer to play with Bedard. Only a few requested Bedard what it’s prefer to play with Fantilli. Fantilli dealt with it with grace.

3. It’s not a straight line from the highest of the draft to the Stanley Cup. Not one of the high 10 gamers from the 2012 draft (topped by Nail Yakupov) have made it to the ultimate. In the meantime, the highest 5 from the 2008 draft have all received the Cup, some a number of instances (Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian, Alex Pietrangelo, Luke Schenn).

4. Someday between the handing over of the Stanley Cup and the coronation of Bedard as the primary total choose, Bettman is predicted to take care of some heavy points. Notably the Montreal Canadiens may have a gathering with the commissioner over the way forward for Logan Mailloux of the London Knights. Bettman will even take care of former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and supervisor Stan Bowman.

5. There’s additionally the matter of the report into members of the Staff Canada’s 2018 world junior staff. The league is predicted to launch its findings over the summer time. Till it does, it would clog up trades. Carter Hart, for instance, was the goalie on that staff. GMs are prone to wait and see earlier than making offers for any participant from that staff.

6. Generally new GMs discover consolation in bringing with them folks they know. Thus Shane Doan joins his good buddy Brad Treliving in Toronto. Marvel if Treliving want to convey Matthew Phillips with him. Treliving drafted Phillips within the sixth spherical in 2016. The five-foot-seven centre is an unrestricted free agent at 25, however scored 36 targets with the AHL Calgary Wranglers final 12 months.

7. On that notice, undecided what the marketplace for Milan Lucic can be. The 35-year-old needs to maintain enjoying, but when he does it might be for an enormous pay reduce. Ending his profession in Boston seems like the appropriate name. However perhaps Treliving needs Lucic’s toughness.

SHARE: