It's 11:00 PM on a Friday. I shut off my work laptop and and take a shower for the airport ride. I got an Uber headed my way and I'm prepping for the NHL Draft.
Mind you, I haven't been to such an event before in my life. I've seen it on television sometimes. However, I never got to experience the spectacle in person. This year, it was in Los Angeles, home of the two-time Stanley Cup champions, the Kings.
I always love going to Los Angeles, specifically during Christmas time. It's always nice going to Venice Beach and checking out the various vendors and restaurants. L.A. is always known for having the most vibrant characters in town and that's no different here.
On top of that, sunny weather. It's always good to get into the sun and avoid being stuck in monsoon weather. Plus, you avoid the melting triple digits (although the humidity doesn't help).
So, how did my first foray into the NHL Draft experience go? What did I like the most? What did I wish was better with the experience?
What I liked about the NHL Draft experience
Pretty much everything was amazing as a Golden Knights fan. I parked my car, walked less than a mile to Peacock Theater, and had my ticket scanned. From there, it was easy access to my seat.
There, I was immersed in the entire hockey experience. The set-up was amazing, with the stage showing off a state-of-the-art draft board. Here, you could see who everyone picked. Plus, the board instantly updated with each trade.
Sure, that stuff sounds basic to the average hockey fans. But for me, it was the small things that made draft day authentic. You couldn't beat the simple nuances that the NHL added to appeal to regular fans.
The NHL also showed intro videos for all 32 teams, highlighting the unique rallying cries that each franchise possessed. Of course, that included the Golden Knights, who've had their own Sin City twist to the game.
Overall, the NHL Draft was a celebration of new beginnings and what each team brought to the league. Sure, we have our rivalries and hatred towards certain fanbases. But at the end of the day, we're all in the same boat together.
My NHL Draft day experience wasn't perfect, though
Once the Golden Knights made their second sixth-round pick, I assumed that Bill Foley and Kelly McCrimmon were done wheelin' and dealin' and headed back to my car. Along the way, I met who I believe was Radim Mrtka of the Buffalo Sabres and shook hands with him. He was extremely humble about the whole experience and was absolutely chill.
No, that wasn't the bad part, by the way.
The bad part was my backpack was stolen from my car. Here, it had my clothes, work laptop, and even my charger port. The trip turned into a nightmare when I realized I couldn't do my articles without something to write them on!
On top of that, the assailants were spending $400 on laundry detergent, tattoo kits, and bluetooth speakers.
What was I going to do?
Luckily, I found a Best Buy and got a new laptop (with a touch screen, too!) and filed a police report with LAPD. They accepted the report and got to investigating. Of course, that also came with reporting my passport as stolen and cancelling my cards. Life was the pits.
Everything turned out great in the end
The good news is that this was the only big blemish on the road trip to Los Angeles. There were some minor inconveniences, such as many L.A. drivers constantly honking their horns since they lack patience. However, that could've also been from the relative inexperience of driving in Los Angeles compared to Las Vegas.
Overall, the trip was solid and my NHL draft experience was awesome. I plan on going to a Kings game this season (and actually hitting up Tom's Watch Bar this time!), which I hope will be around Christmas time. If not, oh well!
As for the NHL Draft itself? Let's do that again next year! I look forward to wherever the next location is, whether it's in the United States or in Canada. I'm primed to meet other hockey fans and enjoy this journey to the fullest!