Luxe Life Blog

Photos: Boston Bruins deliver Stanley Cup for today’s NHL Awards at Palms

Posted June 22, 2011 • 10:04 a.m.

Preview and media day for the 2011 NHL Awards at the Palms on June 21, 2011. Palms head honcho George Maloof is pictured here with the NHL Awards trophies.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

Palms head honcho George Maloof breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the victorious Boston Bruins checked into his casino resort. The NHL champions safely delivered The Stanley Cup, the highly valued and coveted trophy they won by defeating the Vancouver Canucks last week.

Moments later while baggage without skates and padding was sent up to suites, George placed The Stanley Cup with the other 15 NHL trophies that’ll be presented tonight at the 2011 NHL Awards at The Pearl at the Palms. Photographer Tom Donoghue and videographer Richard Corey were on hand for our advance galleries and coverage as the big-name stars of the NHL met with fans, trade and media.

Today is the grandest day of the year for the NHL -- its teams, executives and fans (preview coverage was posted yesterday). Thousands of fans -- some already waiting in line this morning -- will salute the players who will make an arrivals loop through the casino’s front valet zone before posing on the red carpet.

Yesterday also was set aside for rehearsals for Luxor headliner illusionist Criss Angel, host Jay Mohr and performers Dierks Bentley and Far East Movement. Vegas DeLuxe had a first look at the stage for tonight’s telecast across the U.S. and Canada.

The Vancouver riots by hooligans and Canucks fans when they lost the seven-match series to the Bruins were softened by the gentlemanly handshakes between the rival players at the finals’ end. Some reasoned that if the players didn’t brawl after the victory, then neither should have fans.

“Everything is set for a magnificent day and a fantastic show,” George said. This is the third consecutive year the NHL has brought ice to the desert, and everybody agrees it has been a tremendous success -- with fans and players loving our city. Discussions for a new three-year renewal have begun.

We’ll wrap up all the festivities with photos, video and reports tomorrow. Meantime, follow me on Twitter (@robin_leach) for up-to-the-minute news.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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