SURELY THE NHL CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT

 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. T 

think they get good money to ask stuff like that. BOOOO!!

Sorry, guys but there are few athletes, much less hocke 

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 in 2025.

You had to believe there were a LOT of people, more than jus 

fans of the Islanders (who drafted him), who heard Schaefe 

talk about his mother (who died) and hoped he would do wel 

as a rookie, which he did.

ACTUALLY, NEITHER the league nor SportsNet, which was

responsible for draft coverage, distinguished itself early … wit 

a corny introduction of 2026 top choice Gavin McKenna by … 

singer/songwriter JUSTIN BIEBER … or “Biebes,” as 

JOHN BUCCIGROSS called him.

“I’m ready. Should I go for it?”the Biebes said to a chorus o 

boos. “Mr. McKenna, we would like to draft you to the Toront 

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 sai 

to McKenna, who obviously wasn’t, “You walked out to ‘Yukon 

by Justin Bieber, you are sitting next to Justin Bieber, is thi 

more than your wildest dreams?”

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

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 

COSSAto 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,  

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 with whom he played with 

Weekes. 

All along Caleb figured to be Vancouver’s top choice … that is

until recently when his father was named coach … and ther 

was some question whether the son could handle it, knowin 

Manny is a strict disciplinarian and isn’t about to treat Cale 

differently. 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 troubl 

benching you if you don’t follow the rules?”

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

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 bi 

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 ...