Fan Feedback: Nashville Left Quite an Impression

Supporters of the Montreal Canadiens and other NHL teams traveled home from Nashville this summer with a suitcase packed full of memories after experiencing the 2023 NHL Draft.

The NHL Draft means a lot of things to hockey prospects and their families. For most, it's the culmination of almost two decades of hard work and sacrifice. Each player has their own dreams and expectations of what they'll experience at the Draft, a back-and-forth battle of anxiousness and hopefulness, excitement and trepidation.

Once the final games of the season have been played, once the NHL Combine testing equipment is packed away, and once the interview rooms are silent and empty, all that looms ahead for each draft class is the announcement of which 32 players will enter the history books as the year's first-round NHL draft picks.

On the day of the event, prospects are whisked through a packed schedule of community initiatives and media availabilities, all leading up to the night's big reveal. The drama of the day is palpable. Bright lights loom over swarms of temporary television studio sets. Camera shutters 'click-click-click' in constant succession. Smiles, laughter, and swagger seem bigger than life as a bold collection of fashion styles and personalities grace the red carpet.

Inside the arena, tension builds to an almost palpable point as the minutes tick closer and closer to roll call. Take a closer look around the lower bowl to see hundreds of bouncing knees, tapping fingers, and nervous smiles on the faces of players, families, and friends as they wait.

It's a life achievement few have the privilege to experience, and it's something which takes on a whole new meaning, with an entirely different impact, when it's witnessed in person.

That's the opportunity that has been presented to hockey fans through an initiative cultivated between Rocket Sports Media (RSM) and the NHL dating back to 2009. Each year, a lucky group of hockey fans gets to attend the NHL Draft in a meetup organized by RSM, with tickets provided by the NHL. Founder and president, Rick Stephens, who is also the site editor for The Hockey News-Montreal, remarks, "Habs fans are everywhere and we do our best to help them feel connected to the team and to fellow fans."

Each year, we like to check in with attendees after they've returned home and ask them to describe their favorite moments of the event or provide reaction to Montreal's draft selections. Their stories are unique and truly capture the special feeling of experiencing the Draft first-hand. We're happy to share them with you below.

To begin, we'll hear from Mike Raschle, a Rocket Sports team member and our representative on the ground in Nashville for the event, who was eager to describe his entire Nashville experience.

When we arrived in the city of Nashville, best known for its famous country music scene and one specifically famous strip of bars and honkytonks, we very quicky learned that the jam-packed Broadway strip, with Bridgestone Arena acting as its gatekeeper, offered so much more than meets the eye. Nashville's diverse culture, driven by its music scene and the tourists it attracts, also seems to thrive on a very underrated food scene rarely witnessed by the average party goer.

We had the privilege to experience some of the most succulent brisket (Martins BBQ Joint), the richest curry (Chauhan Ale & Masala House), and, of course,  the mild version of the famous Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (Hattie B's) all in a city best known for its music.

Once fully stuffed, we walked down Broadway and were shocked to find the atmosphere was already established at noon on a Tuesday. One bar after another featured live music on several floors, with many of these establishments offering different genres of music on each floor as you ascended to the inevitable rooftop bar where a country twang rang the skies.

Excitement was in the air and among our Draft attendees as we met up and snapped a group photo. Members of our group traveled from all over North America for the event. From Hawaiian shirts to cowboy boots, as well as plenty of hockey sweaters, the group proudly put their personalities and fandom on display. From Habs fans, to Preds fans, to a Devils and Avalanche fan, each of us had one thing in common: wanting to celebrate the game of hockey and the latest talents who were about to enter the league.

As we entered the arena, a contagious wave of excitement hit the group. Fun and friendly debate broke out over who would be selected in the first round.

One of the greatest experiences every year at the NHL Draft is witnessing live the reaction of all the individuals that helped mold each young man who takes the stage. It's heartwarming to see the tears of joy, sloppy hugs, and messy handshakes as the player slowly makes his way to shake hands with his new team's front office and put on those famous colors for the first time.

On day two, picks came in fast and furious, being announced about every three minutes or less. Our group spent the day sharing stories of the players we recognized, as well as discussing what we felt our respective teams will do in the coming days with free agency and potential trades.

A highlight of the event was one of the last picks announced. After making a somewhat lopsided trade (call it an early retirement gift from good friend Fitzgerald) to acquire the 218^th pick of the draft, the now retired David Poile selected Aiden Fink from the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL. This was Poile's last transaction and selection with the club and was followed by a standing ovation. What a fitting way to say thank you and wish farewell to a legend that grew a lowly expansion franchise to a multiple Stanley Cup contender in a city best known for music, football and parties. It's a city that is now better known as Smashville, home of the Nashville Predators.

"The highlight of the draft for me was meeting Kaiden Guhle and Geoff Molson. Kaiden says he’s healthy and ready to go when the season starts. I’m not crazy about the (David) Reinbacher pick, but it may work out. I would rather they picked (Ryan) Leonard. Nashville was quite the party city."

"Probably the favorite memories are when we met the players. We happened to run into Kaiden Guhle and Geoff Molson and had a quick chat and (took) pictures with them. It's a great experience to travel to different cities, especially when the whole family comes. It was great to have Dad along at 88 years young. The most surprising moment for me was (the Canadiens) taking a D-man with the fifth-overall pick. I was sure, hoping with fingers crossed, they would take (Matvei) Michkov, but Kent Hughes pulled another surprise. Time will tell."

"My favorite memory of this year's draft was going out for lunch with Chris G and chatting with him about hockey for an hour or two. I also enjoyed seeing the whole crew like the Gallant family from New Brunswick. It was great to talk to them again, and it's so cool that they are a multi-generational family that plan a yearly trip around the draft.

Nashville really knocked the draft out of the park this year. The atmosphere around and inside the stadium was amazing and there was great live music, food, and events all within a short walk outside the stadium. I think the biggest surprise for me was seeing (Leo) Carlsson go second overall. I thought for sure it would be (Adam) Fantilli. I can't thank you all enough for the amazing memories and experiences."

"Nashville itself, it's really a fun town. Not only at the draft, but Broadway was really fun. I enjoyed meeting a lot of journalists and players in the bar at night. It's the first time in my life that I got to talk with players and the media that much. Talking with Owen Beck was pretty nice too! My biggest surprise: the Canadiens drafting Reinbacher and not moving down. I love the kid but I think they should have moved down to select him or (Ryan) Leonard later on."

"We had a great time at the draft. Our husbands are the big hockey fans, but my sister and I do watch many of the games and go see the Habs every year. We loved seeing different players and Canadiens fans all around Nashville. We got to meet many of them on Broadway and everyone was great. We loved the combination of sports and all the great music this city had to offer. We were a little surprised by the Canadiens draft pick, but it’s ok. Everyone drafted worked hard to be there and deserves to be picked."

"I’m from upstate New York, I am close to Montreal and love visiting. Habs fans are cool. I really like (Juraj) Slafkovsky and I think he will be elite."

"I like the passion. I interact with all the fans. I have season tickets for the Preds so I try to get to know the away fans and the Habs [fans] are always very nice and friendly. The passion is hard to compete with."