Avalanche Regrets, Board Ads, And Beards In DGB Mailbag

This mailbag swings from the Avalanche’s second-guessing to the modern NHL’s weird little details, and that is exactly why it works. The New York Times is digging into board ads and the disappearing playoff beard, which tells you the league is still wrestling with how much polish it wants without sanding off the charm. There is always a tension in hockey between tradition and the sales pitch, and this column has both in the same room.