Why The Fuck Is The NHL Making Us Raise Our Banner at 5PM EST????

Alie Skowronski. Shutterstock Images.

I’m sorry, but why the fuck are the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions being forced to raise their banner at 5PM EST on a Tuesday? Like, seriously, what are we doing here? We are the BACK-TO-BACK STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS. That’s supposed to mean something. You’d think the league would want to celebrate that, not bury it in the middle of a random weekday when half the fanbase is still stuck in traffic or sitting at their desk pretending to work.

We’re not talking about some mediocre playoff team that got lucky, we’re talking about a dynasty. This team has been too good, too dominant, and too damn consistent to get hit with the 5PM treatment. Banner night is supposed to be electric. It’s supposed to be the moment where the fans get to relive the glory, where the players soak in what they accomplished, where the arena is absolutely buzzing before the puck even drops. And instead, they’re supposed to do that while people are still wrapping up Zoom calls and excel sheets? Come on.

And I don’t give a fuck if the Panthers vs Blackhawks shouldn’t be the main event. The champions should always be the main event. You could put them against a beer league team and it should still be prime time. The fact that the league didn’t make this a standalone night game is pure disrespect to the organization, to the players, to the fans, and to the legacy that’s being built.

This team is hockey right now. Whether you love them or hate them, you tune in. They’ve earned the spotlight, and the league just dimmed it for no reason. It’s an absolute joke. The best team in hockey deserves better. Give the champs their moment. Give the fans their night. And for the love of God, stop scheduling banner raisings at 5PM on a Tuesday.