CHICAGO — As part of the NHL Draft Festivities the NHL Centennial Fan Arena has taken up residence in the parking lot across the street from the United Center.
The traveling exhibit, which visited Dallas back in January, is miniature hockey Hall of Fame on wheels.
Century old skates worn by Georges Vezina hang on the wall near sticks from each NHL era. Original jerseys from the Cleveland Barons and California Golden Seals are on display in one exhibit, while there are interactive videos centered around the Stanley Cup.
At the end of the exhibit there’s a silver board that guests are asked to sign before exiting the trailer. Those guests in Chicago included top prospects Nolan Patrick, Nicho Hischier, Gabriel Vilardi, and Casey Mittelstadt, who got an advanced tour of the Centennial Fan Arena before putting on a ball hockey clinic with Chicago Blackhawks legend Denis Savard for area kids.
Patrick and Hischier each signed the board, but with a twist.
Hischier signed as Patrick, adding a No. 19 to the signature for perceived authenticity. Patrick signed as Hischier, mimicking the Swiss center’s signature by signing off with a No. 13.
While there is obvious competition to be the No. 1 pick (and they both might be jumped by a defender), Hischier and Patrick have formed a bit of a friendship over the past couple months, that’s what happens when you get paraded as the face of the draft around various events including the Stanley Cup Finals and the Draft Combine in Buffalo.
“It’s a fun time,” Hischier said. “I’ve really been enjoying it.”
And Hischier actually missed out on the most recent publicity stunt after travel plans from Switzerland forced him to miss Wednesday’s game at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.
Before that game Patrick was honored along with Vilardi and Mittelstadt. All three player wore Cubs jerseys with No. 1 on the back, while Patrick looped in the ceremonial first pitch for what would have been a high struck from a generous umpire.
“It was pretty good down the middle,” Patrick said. “It was a lob, so it didn’t have much heat on it. But it wasn’t bad.”
It was pretty good considering the circumstances. Patrick didn’t have any warmup tosses and he never had played baseball as a kid.
“They just threw me right out there and I was winging it,” he said.
Mittelstadt and Vilardi thought it turned out pretty well.
“Not sure if I could have done much better,” Vilardi said. “Can’t remember last time I threw (a baseball).”
For all four prospects full attention turns to the draft on Friday, which starts at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on NBC Sports Network.
“You try not to think about it too much,” Mittelstadt said. “We’ve reached the point where really nothing is in your control anymore. We just have to wait and see what happens.”
And there is a real possibility Vilardi, Mittelstadt, Patrick, or Hischier could have their name called by the Stars on Friday — especially if Patrick or Hischier fall out of the top two spots and are unseated by defenders Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar.
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