Play By Play: Talking 1999 Cup Final with ex-Stars forward Dave Reid

By the time Dallas lined up across from the Sabres for Game 1 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final in Texas, the home team had won matchups over Edmonton, St. Louis and Colorado. That meant to win the Cup, Dallas had to beat goaltenders Grant Fuhr (Blues), Patrick Roy (Avs) and then The Dominator, the Sabres' Dominik Hasek.

No easy feat. I chatted with NHL Network analyst Dave Reid for this week's episode of "Play By Play" about the 1999 Final, which is currently airing as part of "Sabres Classics" on MSG.

Dave is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion and his first celebration of the NHL's ultimate prize came at the expense of the Buffalo Sabres while playing for the Stars. Reid would then go on to sign with Western Conference rival Colorado and be part of a Cup run with them as well.

He ended up playing 961 games with four teams over 10 years and it was during his playing days that Dave admits he was pretty at ease in talking to the media. Reid says the star players on the Avalanche were not keen about talking to the media postgame and Dave saw this as an opportunity to step up and take on an off ice role for his teammates and himself as well. He gained confidence and experience that eventually led to his second career.

Once he retired the 2000-2001 season in Colorado, the idea of becoming a broadcaster started to take shape. Reid shared the same agent as Canadian hockey insider Bob McKenzie of TSN. That agent, Rick Curran, suggested Reid be open to an interview with the people at TSN, who were leading the way with the startup NHL Network.

Dave auditioned as a studio analyst, and eventually landed the job.

For more on the 1999 playoffs and Dave's experience as a broadcaster, I hope you check out our "Play By Play" conversation.