On Wednesday night, San Jose Sharks fan Aaron Skilken was in a downtown bar when he spotted some Detroit Red Wings players relaxing on the eve of Game 7. Since these opportunities don't come around too often, his devious puckhead mind set a plan in motion.
"I felt like I had to get them a gift," he told us over email.
So he left the bar and walked over to a sushi place a few blocks away. The takeout order he requested?
Octopus sashimi. Nigiri style.
With a Styrofoam container in hand, he went back to the bar. By the time he arrived, Skilken said there were a few Red Wings still in the main dining area, including Kris Draper and Dan Cleary.
"I got a crayon from my waitress — I thought that made it more funny — and built up the courage to harass several professional athletes," he said.
Here's the video from the encounter, as he makes the presentation, gets a few autographs and engages in awkward banter. (There's nothing wrong with your screen; Aaron said there was a processing issue with the clip, which is why it's postage-stamp size. But the audio's great!)
The Red Wing that handled this the best? Dan Cleary. "When he signed it he just pointed and said, 'Stanley Cup champion,'" said Skilken.