Blackhawks GM Interview as “Kyle from Chicago”

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — An interview with a man on the street in Nashville’s NHL draft went viral when the man turned out to be Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, unbeknownst to a movie crew who thought he was a random fan.

Davidson was already going to have a memorable week in Nashville as the Blackhawks drafted phenomenon Conor Bedard with the first overall pick. But before that happened, he created an instant sensation in the hockey world by playing with the Penalty Box Radio podcast, covering the Nashville Predators.

Davidson was out for an early stroll in downtown Nashville with Associate General Manager Jeff Greenberg, wearing a running back jersey and hat.

“I was just walking down Broadway. It was very early in the morning, so it wasn’t busy at all. Just taking a walk, trying to get out of the hotel, get out of those four walls we’ve been kind of confined to the last few days,” he said.

He was asked for an interview by a podcast film crew, who thought he was a fan. At first, Davidson refused. But then he mentioned to Greenberg that it would be funny if he agreed.

“They have no idea who we are, what we do,” Davidson recalled saying. “You know what? I’ll be back.”

Davidson had to wait for two actual Blackhawks fans to finish their interviews – one wearing a Patrick Kane jersey and the other wearing a Brandon Saad jersey.

“They didn’t know me either,” Davidson said. “Maybe it was the back hat and freshly shaved face. I don’t know, I looked a little younger.”

Davidson introduced himself as “Kyle from Chicago”, who had previously visited Nashville for a Blackhawks game.

The interviewer asked him how much he knew about hockey on a scale of 1 to 10. “I haven’t played professionally or anything, so I’ll say about 4,” said Davidson. “I don’t know, some people say I don’t know much.”

He was challenged to name as many hockey players as possible in 20 seconds. He has hired 18, mostly from the 2013 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks and a few from the current roster. “That was the most nervous thing I got when I got the question,” he said. “If it turns out they realize what I’m doing and I get stuck and I can’t name the players, I’m in big trouble. So the pressure is on.”

As the interview continued, Penalty Box Radio asked Davidson if the NHL rigged the draft lottery so the Blackhawks could pick first overall.

“No,” he said, before breaking the fourth wall and looking directly into the camera. “I am very confident.”

After completing the recording, Davidson told the interviewer that he was actually the Blackhawks’ general manager.

“I think he just gave me a sideways look — ‘Whatever, buddy.’ So maybe they looked at me afterward and realized it was me. I wasn’t lying.”