Eichel invited to attend the NHLPA Rookie Showcase In Toronto http://t.co/gSEnCuV0Xi pic.twitter.com/CW5dQUnwgW
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 19, 2015
Forty of the top NHL prospects/rookies will gather in Toronto at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (site of the former Maple Leaf Gardens) on September 1 for the 2015 NHLPA Rookie Showcase.
Now in its seventh year, this unique event provides Upper Deck – the official trading card partner of the NHLPA and the NHL – with an exclusive opportunity to photograph many of the game’s top young prospects/rookies in their official NHL team uniforms, in shots that will be used for upcoming trading card and memorabilia launches.
You can't call it an extravaganza unless the both generational players show up and participate. Have no fear. Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid will be there.
If I'm being honest, I have no clue why Sabres super snipung sophomore Sam Reinhart wasn't invited to this event. Reinhart did represent the Sabres at the 2014 NHLPA Showcase. Hell, bring him back for an encore based on the MVP performance he delivered for Canada's gold medal winning squad at the World Junior Championships in Montreal and Toronto last January.
The players invited to the 2015 NHLPA Rookie Showcase are:
Connor McDavid (Edmonton) Jack Eichel (Buffalo) Dylan Strome (Arizona) Mitch Marner (Toronto) Connor Brown (Toronto) Noah Hanifin (Carolina) Ivan Barbashev (St. Louis) Robby Fabbri (St. Louis) Chris Bigras (Colorado) Madison Bowey (Columbus) Oliver Bjorkstrand (Columbus) Michael Dal Colle (NY Islanders) Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg) Zach Fucale (Montreal) Nicolay Goldobin (San Jose) Ryan Hartman (Chicago) Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg) Julius Honka (Dallas) Kasperi Kapanen (Toronto) Ronalds Kenins (Vancouver) Slater Koekkoek (Tampa) Dylan Larkin (Detroit) Sonny Milano (Columbus) Sam Morin (Philadelphia) Mike Matheson (Florida) Mike McCarron (Montreal) Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg) Brendan Perlini (Arizona) Nic Petan (Winnipeg) Shane Prine (Ottawa) Emile Poirier (Calgary) Ryan Pulock (NY Islanders) John Quenneville (New Jersey) Mike Reilly (Minnesota) Nick Ritchie (Anaheim) Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Mackenzie Skapski (NY Rangers) Brady Skjei (NY Rangers) Shea Theodore (Anaheim) Jake Virtanen (Vancouver)
***
Danny Briere touched a lot of lives in the NHL. His fans adore him for his humble, never-say-die work ethic. His former teammates are just as in awe of the now retired sniper.
Had a lot of fun watching your signature goal celebration over the years @DannyBriere48 enjoy your boys and congrats on a great career.
— Ryan Miller (@RyanMiller3039) August 17, 2015
Congrats to my good friend @DannyBriere48 on a great career! Enjoy your well deserved post career time with your boys! Cheers bud..
— Jay McKee (@JayMcKee74) August 17, 2015
Thanks for the great memories, Danny!