1. Skate with the Cup around the ring. That way every fan will have a picture with it. Looks much more impressive than small circles.
Agree. The Cup presentation was FAR FAR better when they skated full laps.
The main reason they don’t do this is because there’s too many people and too much crap on the ice. They need to minimize the hazards — clear the ice of everything but the players and a couple of camera guys — so they can move around safely. It only takes a few minutes and
it’s the best visual experience of the entire season.
Once the laps are finished, then they can release the coaches and families and media to swarm the ice. Not before.
2. Picking Up Conn Smythe Trophy should be in the Contract. What happened yesterday was awkward and stupid. Show some class, be humble, and learn how to lose. Pick up a trophy or change its meaning. This is a pro league, you have to come out.
Absolutely not. This is disrespectful to the player, especially in a road game where the crowd is booing him. Let the man go be with his teammates, the moment is not about pretending to care about a consolation prize.
3. Make the losing team stay on the ice until Conn Smythe Trophy. Provide them with some kind of award: flowers, silver medal, etc. Just like at international level, or youth level. Losing in the final is no shame.
It’s not about shame, it’s about heartbreak. Nobody wants to see devastated men holding back tears while Gary Bettman gives them flowers. It’s like ritual humiliation, no need for this.
4. Let players thank and say good bye to the fans at one corner of the ice.
Do you mean personally interacting with fans? That seems risky to say the least. There are way too many attention seekers out there, someone will ruin it.
5. Allow people who bought tickets to receive the stubs for the final.
Strongly agree. Not getting a physical receipt/souvenir for a $1000 ticket is ridiculous. This is basic customer service that was ruined by switching everything over to Ticketmaster.
