In an all too predictably awkward hybrid event, the NHL tonight announced their annual award winners alongside the new Vegas Golden Knights roster. There were poorly-timed fist bumps, terrible jokes that inevitably fell flat, and a few incredibly touching moments, like this one:
Oh you thought you were done crying about Bryan Bickell? No chance. And as if it were any question at all, Bickell’s legacy as a true inspiration was further cemented with the touching sendoff he and his wife Amanda received at the awards show last night.
Another Carolina Hurricanes player was in Las Vegas last night, as Derek Ryan had been named a finalist for the Masterton trophy — given to the “player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.