The best moments from Avalanche's Stanley Cup parade
The Colorado Avalanche are celebrating their Stanley Cup championship with a parade Thursday in downtown Denver.
The parade never fails to entertain, and this year looks like it will be no different. Here are the highlights so far:
Kadri's troll job
Nazem Kadri continues live up to his reputation as one of the NHL's elite agitators. Kadri and his wife Ashley were sporting matching shirts that read “Too Many Men” with an image of the celebration that followed the forward's controversial Game 4 OT winner in his return from injury. It was a moment of redemption for Kadri, who was previously painted as a liability in the playoffs due to repeated suspensions and also received racists attacks and death threats in Round 2 after injuring St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.
The Kadri family are wearing “Too Many Men” shirts at the parade 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/611XA3AszH
— katie (marnylandersen) (@itsmitchmarney) June 30, 2022
Nazem Kadri ladies and gents.
I asked him if someone gave this shirt to him, and he said he had it made.
Baller. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/4oyJrVV0du— Rachel Tos (@RachRichlinski) June 30, 2022
Rantanen steals the show
Mikko Rantanen got the crowd fired up — and the beers flowing — by standing on the truck and chugging a beer through his jersey. If you recall, Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie first brought this tradition to the NHL mainstream back in 2018 after he delivered his speech.
MIKKO RANTANEN IS GOING CRAZY AT THE AVS PARADE 😂 pic.twitter.com/PM4nR2APLF
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) June 30, 2022
That was only the beginning. The Finnish winger followed it up with an even grimier display by doing a "shoey," an Australian tradition in which you drink beer from your shoe.
— HockeyClips (@hockeyclip) June 30, 2022
This was all setting the stage for an electric performance at the podium, with Rantanen moonwalking, doing the robot and dabbing before taking the mic.
i hope susanna slaps him for doing this pic.twitter.com/hkw5B4X5L0
— d ♐︎ (@_rantanen_) June 30, 2022
“I'm gonna say sorry that I lost my ability to speak any English after the parade.”
Same, Mikko. 😂@Avalanche | @AltitudeTV pic.twitter.com/SM3Kmi0aH7— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 30, 2022
Rantanen had a little competition in the showmanship department, as Samuel Girard — broken sternum and all — entered the stage by doing a cartwheel.
Samuel Girard enters the stage with a cartwheel. 😂🤸🏻♂️@Avalanche | @AltitudeTV pic.twitter.com/uVlVaPLuZe
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 30, 2022
Among the other highlights from the stage, Jared Bednar had the most heartfelt moment after getting choked up while giving his speech, thanking the Avalanche for giving him his first NHL coaching gig and sticking with him after a few disappointing playoff results.
Jared Bednar got choked up during his speech at the #StanleyCup parade. 🥺💙@Avalanche | @AltitudeTV pic.twitter.com/kVPLckHf5A
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 30, 2022
Erik Johnson led the crowd in a singalong of "All the Small Things," the Blink-182 song that has become an Avalanche tradition over the past few years, with fans belting out the lyrics in unison at Ball Arena.
🗣 TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, CARRY ME HOME!
Erik Johnson gets the All The Small Things singalong going. 🙌@Avalanche | @AltitudeTV | @blink182 pic.twitter.com/mHFkvWUtzi— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 30, 2022
🎶 All The Small Things: Parade edition 🎶#GoAvsGo | #StanleyCup | @Avalanche pic.twitter.com/EYGTx44Sd9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 30, 2022
Byram mistaken as fan
Bowen Byram found himself in a sticky situation after he left the truck float and headed to the street to take pictures with fans, sign autographs and share some drinks.
As he attempted to get back close to the trucks to reunite with his teammates, the 21-year-old was halted by a police officer who mistook him for a regular fan that was trying to get too close to the players.
The policeman pushed Byram back into the crowd, trying to kick him out of his own Stanley Cup parade. Despite his inebriated state, Byram, with the help of the fans, finally managed to explain to the officer that he was part of the team and was allowed back on the truck.
Omg , an officer thought BO BYRAM was a regular civilian. Trying to push him back into the stands! 🤦🏽♂️😂@Tyler_Polumbus @DMacRadio @byesline @bstokley14 @1043TheFan pic.twitter.com/SgvjDf5BvT
— Zayyy (@Zayyy_Lesss) June 30, 2022
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