NHL COULD DO MUCH BETTER JOB TELEVISING DRAFT

 Isn’t it about time for the National Hockey League to grow up and stop pandering to its annual draft? I mean, don’t viewers deserve better than what they were forced to endure during Friday’s first round?

Like every interview with the chosen few was the same. Talk about predictable.

Uh, congratulations. How does it feel to be taken by -----? You have a lot of friends and family here. How important have they been in your hockey journey to this point? They’ve got great fans in -----… Anything you’d like to say to them now? Again … congratulations … and welcome to the National Hockey League.

Just like that, one after another, on and on. Ad infinitum. To think they get good money to ask stuff like that. BOOOO!!

SORRY, GUYS, but there are few athletes, much less hockey players, who have the depth, charisma and meaningful message that MATTHEW SCHAEFER, last year’s No. 1 selection, offered with such eloquence (in its simplicity) to your viewing audience as a welcomed if unintentional addition to first-day draft coverage.

You had to believe there were a LOT of people, more than just fans of the Islanders (who drafted him), who heard Schaefer talk about his mother (who died) and hoped he would do well as a rookie, which he did.

ACTUALLY, NEITHER the league nor SportsNet, which was responsible for draft coverage, distinguished itself early … with a corny introduction of 2026 overall top choice GAVIN McKENNA by … singer/songwriterJUSTIN BIEBER … or “Biebes,” as JOHN BUCCIGROSS called him

“I’m ready. Should I go for it?”the Biebes said to a chorus of boos. “Mr. McKenna, we would like to draft you to the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

Wonderful.

Bieber, who described himself as “a life-long Leafs’ fan,” then introduced team captain AUSTIN MATTHEWS who, for reasons not explained, appeared via video to welcome McKenna, clearly reading a brief message.

Adding to the awkwardness of the moment, interviewer ALLISON FORFAR asked Bieber, “When you wrote that song [‘YUKON’], were you thinking about adding that hometown boy to your team?”

“Sure,” he said, finally, “We’ll take it.”

Clearly giddy over the appearance of The Biebes, Forfar said to McKenna, who obviously wasn’t, “You walked out to ‘Yukon’ by Justin Bieber, you are sitting next to Justin Bieber, is this more than your wildest dreams?”

McKenna didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” he said, adding. “This is nuts.”

Amen, brother. Amen.

Buccigross joined KEVIN WEEKES, EMILY KAPLAN and MEGAN CHAYKA on the independent network’s A-team for first-day coverage of round one. A former goaltender, Weekes took the lead in commenting on all things shinny, as he should have.

AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED the Red Wings had dealt SEBASTIAN COSSA to Utah for the 23d overall pick, Buccigross noted “Kevin Weekes had this trade a month ago.”

Chayka, a newcomer, learned the hard way, suggesting one of five blue-ribbon defenseman would go third (behind a couple of forwards, with McKenna the obvious No. 1).Unfortunately, her sources left her looking bad when none of the quintet was named CALEB MALHOTRA, a center to Vancouver now coached by his father, NHL journeyman MANNY MALHOTRA, a former first-round (1998, No.7 overall) selection of the New York Rangers. 

ALL ALONG CALEB figured to be Vancouver’s top choice … that is until recently when his father was named coach … and there was some question whether the son could handle it, knowing Manny is a strict disciplinarian and isn’t about to treat Caleb differently. Like being even more demanding so as not to leave even a hint of favoritism that undoubtedly would strain Coach Malhotra’s relationship with the rest of the team. In other words, what has all the appearances of a loving, close-knit family could be tested severely.

We watched JOANN MALHOTRA tear up after her son’s name was called. Naturally, Forfar (That’s REALLY her name, honest!) didn’t ask, assuming they were tears of joy, I guess.

Well, she did ask Caleb,”Will [Manny] have any trouble benching you if you don’t follow the rules?”

Say what? “Oh, no … I’ll do my best,” he said. Poor kid.

LIKE CHAYKA, Buccigross (who has been around long enough to know better) tried to sound like an insider … and blew it. With the Sabres on the clock with No. 4 overall, he said, “I was told yesterday it’s going to be CHASE REID.”

Oops! Would you believe DAXON RUDOLPH, who was fifth on Chayka’s list of defensemen? Reid, No. 1, went seventh overall to Seattle.

As usual, commissioner GARY BETMAN was greeted by a round of booing from the audience. He isn’t liked in Buffalo, N.Y., either. But, once again, he deflected the lack of love.

“I love the enthusiasm,” Betman said.

NEXT IS WEDNESDAY’S first day of signing free agents but, as ELLIOTTE FRIEDMAN, NHL insider and possibly the best at what he does (any sport) sees it,“Free agency isn’t that much of a deal now because a lot of the key guys are gone. The big conversation will be on trades. [Buffalo forward] ALEX TUCH, the top free agent, is in Washington. No. 1 in conversation on trades will be ZACK WERENSKI... and Columbus will have to decide what to do.

“There are other names … DYLAN LARKIN, JASON ROBERTSON .. There’s CONNOR HELEBUYCK, who many of us thought would be dealt to Buffalo yesterday. Didn’t happen. There are big names available, and teams want big prices. With good reason.”

What about ZAC JONES, native Richmonder who received the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League’s best defenseman? The parent Buffalo Sabres have no interest. He signed a one-year contract with them … and never suited up for a game. 

Until next time ...