| p>Imagine you are 18 years old. Your parents, who | | | | the New England area. |
| truly believe you are the next coming of Mario | | | | It was exciting, boring, and a fabulous networking |
| Lemieux, insist you fly alone to Columbus for the 2007 | | | | event. Everyone who was anyone in hockey was |
| National Hockey League Entry Draft so you can | | | | there: general managers, presidents, coaches, agents, |
| accept your team's jersey in person-- against your | | | | scouts, media, and alumni. |
| agent's advice. Preceding scouting reports indicate | | | | From the media perspective, there wasn't a lot of |
| you'll likely go in the fourth round. Your parents can only | | | | downtime. After the luncheon on the same day as the |
| afford the one ticket and stay home with your siblings | | | | Expansion Draft, a media availability of players |
| to watch the draft on TV. | | | | afterwards included most of the players that were |
| After your plane lands in Columbus and you pick up | | | | slated to go in the first 10 spots. I remember being able |
| your bags from the baggage turnstile, there is a van | | | | to get in a couple of one-on-one questions with |
| waiting for you and a group of other players who | | | | Gaborik. |
| arrived from other destinations. With the belongings all | | | | The entire hockey world was set on its heels on the |
| loaded and players strapped in, the van then proceeds | | | | first pick when New York Islanders General Manager |
| along International Gateway, steering towards the 670 | | | | Mike Milbury picked Boston University's Rick DiPietro. It |
| West/US-62 West/Cassady Avenue exit. Along the | | | | was the first time in hockey history that a netminder |
| 670, the van turns left on Neil Avenue and pulls in front | | | | had gone first overall since 1968, when the Montreal |
| of the media entrance of the Nationwide Arena | | | | Canadiens drafted Michel Plasse. Back then only 24 |
| alongside Nationwide Boulevard. This will be your home | | | | players were picked altogether. |
| for the next few days. | | | | Of course, for me, the draft was over. My job was |
| Draft day comes and you're sitting in the lower bowl | | | | basically done in the first pick. What a story. I spent |
| of the arena - by yourself. There is quite a buzz of | | | | about three quarters of the rest of the first round |
| activity. About two or three whole sections of the | | | | sitting in the press conference when DiPietro was |
| stands are set up as a media area, with tables and | | | | brought to the podium in the media area and then |
| plug-ins, where some familiar well-known faces are | | | | waded through the scrums, vying for a one-on-one, |
| sprinkled in, talking, working on their laptops, and mulling | | | | only getting to pitch maybe two questions total. My |
| around. | | | | story was all about DiPietro with a few footnotes |
| The floor of the arena has no ice. Instead there are 30 | | | | about the other New Englanders who were picked in |
| sets of tables with numerous chairs and each table | | | | subsequent rounds. |
| has a sign with its team's name and logo. You can see | | | | Over the years I've spoken with players about their |
| Brian Burke of the Anaheim Ducks on the phone and | | | | lives behind the scenes, but not just the NHL guys, the |
| several individuals you don't recognize talking all around | | | | juniors, too. I've always had a strong passion for junior |
| him. You see Wayne Gretzky from the Phoenix | | | | hockey, stemming back to my adolescent days in |
| Coyotes, Glen Sather of the New York Rangers, and | | | | Edmonton. One of the questions I talk to many of |
| a host of other familiar faces and legends of the | | | | them about is the NHL Entry Draft. |
| game. | | | | The draft story that sticks out the most is the one that |
| There are people sitting intermittently throughout the | | | | has inspired me throughout the last 10 or so years of |
| stands: groups of people representing a player and his | | | | my career - after Theoren Fleury told it to me. In his |
| family; others who are probably agents assessing the | | | | first year of eligibility (1986), Theo was at a wedding in |
| mood of the floor; and interested bystanders who just | | | | Rosetown. He said he must have called his dad about |
| want to see what the event is all about. | | | | 20 times. Nothing. No calls from anyone. |
| You took a tour of the building on the first night, when | | | | "I made the last call around midnight and nobody had |
| Round One was conducted, and saw the press | | | | called," says Fleury. "It was a real disappointment to not |
| conference area, where the drafted players have | | | | be drafted the first year. I didn't have a great year but I |
| been directed to go after their names are announced, | | | | didn't have a bad one." |
| to face the media and questions. There is a podium | | | | The following year, he had made the World Junior |
| with a microphone set up in front of a blue backdrop | | | | team and had a great season. He stayed home for |
| with the NHL logo and the Columbus 2007 Draft logo. | | | | the draft and was about to give up when in the final |
| The area is basically set up for just the first two | | | | round, he finally got the call. |
| rounds. | | | | "It was about 3:00 when (Flames scout) Ian |
| Your agent checks in on you periodically but he has | | | | MacKenzie phoned me and told me I was drafted by |
| three other players attending the draft, all touted for | | | | the Flames. It was nice to be at home and share it |
| the first two rounds and there is an anticipated bidding | | | | with my family. We were all pretty excited. I think the |
| war for one of them. He does his best to make you | | | | biggest thing was, even though I was really |
| feel comfortable and ease your nervousness, but his | | | | disappointed the first year, in the second year, all I ever |
| cell phone is going off every two minutes. It's almost | | | | wanted was a chance and an opportunity. Fortunately, |
| better without him there. | | | | the Flames gave me that chance." |
| The first round took the better part of three hours to | | | | He was picked 166th overall by the Calgary Flames. |
| go through. The second round is almost as long. The | | | | So what's the big deal? Well, Theo was drafted at a |
| whole thing is real long. Because the first round is | | | | time when teams were looking for size and strength - |
| televised and with there being a set time between | | | | guys like Eric Lindros - big and bulky with some talent. |
| picks for teams to make their assessments and put in | | | | Guys like Brendan Shanahan, Glen Wesley, Joe Sakic, |
| their order, the day drags. There are a few people you | | | | who went in the first round. Theo was 5'7" and small |
| can talk to, mostly rival players in your division. They | | | | by the 80s wish list standard. |
| are at the draft with their families, so it would be | | | | But the story doesn't end there. Unbeknownst to Theo |
| uncomfortable for you to sit with them for any length | | | | at the time, he almost didn't get drafted. When it came |
| of time. You mostly chat with each other in the | | | | time for the Flames to make its final pick, they weren't |
| concourse. | | | | going to pick him. MacKenzie almost had to get on his |
| You sit and wait. Round three rolls by...round four...round | | | | hands and knees and beg then GM Cliff Fletcher to |
| five. Your name is still not called. The sixth round | | | | give this kid a shot. He said they wouldn't be |
| comes and goes, and now, your stomach is really | | | | disappointed. And they weren't. |
| starting to clench. Your mouth is dry, regardless of | | | | To me, that story epitomizes everything that sports |
| how many bottled waters you drink. Your heart starts | | | | stands for. Every situation can be filled with high |
| pounding. You think about why you're there. Will you | | | | drama. And then, no matter how bad the odds seem |
| get picked? Why does nobody want you? You love | | | | to be stacked against you, anything can happen. And |
| your parents but can't help but feel a bit of anger | | | | like in life, if even just one person stands in your corner, |
| towards them for insisting you be here. | | | | it's all you need to get where you're going. |
| It's the middle of round eight and still no call. You see | | | | For all of those fortunate to be chosen, it's only the |
| the hub of tables on the floor area winding down. | | | | beginning. They still need to do the work to get to |
| There are only a few picks left and you can see there | | | | training camp and they are a long way off from |
| are no more deals being made. | | | | making a team. For those who aren't chosen or even |
| The last name is picked and it's not you. You just want | | | | on the list, it's not always the end of the line. Some of |
| to sink into your seat and hide. You don't want anyone | | | | the league's undrafted players include Ed Belfour, |
| to see you and know what a failure you are. You | | | | Curtis Joseph, John Madden, Andy McDonald, Martin |
| didn't get picked. Out of all those names, yours wasn't | | | | St. Louis, and Dwayne Roloson. Some of those names |
| one of them. But what about that scouting report? It | | | | are engraved on Stanley Cups. Then there are those |
| said you'd go in the fourth. Did everyone lie to you? | | | | drafted players, even in the first round, who never get |
| In 2000, I attended my first NHL Entry Draft. It was | | | | out of the minor leagues or they go to Europe and |
| also the same year that Minnesota and Columbus | | | | disappear from the radar. |
| were accepted into the league, hence the pick | | | | Sports is an emotional roller coaster in every aspect, |
| announcement for the Expansion Draft was held the | | | | be it the draft, a shift, a game, and even a career. |
| night before. It was the year of Dany Heatley, Marian | | | | Some of the best lessons are taught through |
| Gaborik, Marcel Hossa, and John-Michael Liles. | | | | adversity, but definitely, the easy ones are to learn are |
| Although I filed a report for one of my usual sources, | | | | from watching others, like athletes, go through their |
| my main assignment was for the New England Sports | | | | own. |
| Journal - to do a story on the players that were from | | | | |