Stanley Cup Handoffs: Honoring Teammates, Not Just Captains

0:00On April 17th, every hockey fan knows the Stanley Cup tradition, where the captain doesn't just hoist it first. He passes it to a teammate who truly deserves the moment. Think back to Joe Sackett canning it to Ray Borkay after 22 years without one, or Scott Needermayer giving it to his brother Rob. Last year, Alexander Barkov made Sergei Babrovsky the first goalie to get it straight from the captain. This playoff season, all 16 teams are dreaming big, and experts are guessing who gets that first pass based on longevity and heart. Captains like Colorado's Gabriel Landiskov might skip lifting it themselves to let 41-year-old Brent Burns touch it first. He's got the most. Regular season games without a cup at 1,578. Fans love these moments because they honor the grinders and loyal vets over superstars sometimes. In Boston, David Paschernack or Charlie McAvoy could start, then pass to a long time brewing like Sean Caralli. Pittsburgh's Sydney Crosby has done it with vets before, so Eric Carlson in his 17th season seems next in line after three cups for Sid.

1:07Other hot picks include Edmonton's Conor McDavid to Ryan Newgen Hawkins after 15 seasons together, or Tampa Bay's Victor Headman to Cory Perry, who's chased it hard lately. Even newcomers like Utah's Clayton Keller might go to loss and crowds from their Arizona days. These handoffs remind us the cups about more than one player. It's the whole team story, building hype as the playoffs heat up. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to NHL News today. AI-powered team coverage?