VANCOUVER — Hurricanes TV host Mike Maniscalco said it better than I ever could at practice in Vancouver on Wednesday, as color commentator Tripp Tracy was three rows above us on the phone, per usual.



“Tripp Tracy is the Frank Sinatra of the National Hockey League.”



We all laughed, as we overheard him explaining to who-knows-who that Justin Bieber is actually a huge hockey fan. But don’t get it twisted — we’re never laughing at him. That’ll get you punched by a number of your favorite hockey players, who let him into their lives like he’s family.



Tracy is so universally loved because he’s such a relief. We’re always laughing with him, or rather thanks to him. And, he’s ours. No one else is in the center of the Venn Diagram of being completely connected in the hockey world while also doing and saying whatever he wants every single day.



It’s understood that today he’s on the...