It's not often that you run into a respected NHL celebrity who is willing to waste some of their free time to sit and talk hockey.
The Tuesday night ritual went on as planned. Steve-O and myself laugh and leave Grimm behind at work while we head over to the local watering hole. Some time passes, then I notice this man walk in who looks very familiar but I know I have never met him in person.
I take a glance again, then right away SMS Vinnie that sitting a few seats down from me is former New York Rangers GM, Neil Smith. This is confirmed by the Hugh Jass ring on his right hand. That being from the 1994 Stanley Cup victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks beat the Leafs that year to advance to the finals.
Being myself, one who doesn't shy away from speaking to anyone, I decide to go up and speak to him. My first comment was, "does it really feel like 10 years now?". He knew what I meant right away without me having to elaborate on the generic statement. You could tell the pride he had in that ring and just the perspective someone of his current and former position takes towards the game. We shared 'hometown player' stories of who in the NHL grew up or played in the small towns we live(d) in as kids. We also watched a replay of himself on the NHL Network talking about this one player, as he put it, "watch what McGillis does here". He didn't need to point out the player on the ice because with my knowledge of hockey I already knew the players position just by the name. It was an interesting conversation indeed and one that I'm glad I made the effort of initiating. We shook hands and went on our merry ways.
He departed some time later and not long after that Steve-O and myself made our exit.
Pretty interesting evening for sure. It's good sometimes to be able to sit there and just talk hockey with a peer who knows as much, and in this case, much more than you do.
The Tuesday night ritual went on as planned. Steve-O and myself laugh and leave Grimm behind at work while we head over to the local watering hole. Some time passes, then I notice this man walk in who looks very familiar but I know I have never met him in person.
I take a glance again, then right away SMS Vinnie that sitting a few seats down from me is former New York Rangers GM, Neil Smith. This is confirmed by the Hugh Jass ring on his right hand. That being from the 1994 Stanley Cup victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks beat the Leafs that year to advance to the finals.
Being myself, one who doesn't shy away from speaking to anyone, I decide to go up and speak to him. My first comment was, "does it really feel like 10 years now?". He knew what I meant right away without me having to elaborate on the generic statement. You could tell the pride he had in that ring and just the perspective someone of his current and former position takes towards the game. We shared 'hometown player' stories of who in the NHL grew up or played in the small towns we live(d) in as kids. We also watched a replay of himself on the NHL Network talking about this one player, as he put it, "watch what McGillis does here". He didn't need to point out the player on the ice because with my knowledge of hockey I already knew the players position just by the name. It was an interesting conversation indeed and one that I'm glad I made the effort of initiating. We shook hands and went on our merry ways.
He departed some time later and not long after that Steve-O and myself made our exit.
Pretty interesting evening for sure. It's good sometimes to be able to sit there and just talk hockey with a peer who knows as much, and in this case, much more than you do.