Tomorrow night, 30 teenagers will see their dreams come true when they are chosen in the first round of the NHL draft. The next day over 180 more NHL-hopefuls will be picked by NHL clubs in rounds two through seven.
There's nothing quite like watching a jubilant kid here his name called by a crusty old NHL exec and hug all his family members before nervously making his way to the stage. It's a feeling none but those who experience it can imagine, try as we might. Whether you're watching it on TV, heading to LA, or going to a draft party, the draft is always an enjoyable time for hockey fans.
It's truly an amazing event for a number of reasons:
- It provides us with a glimpse of the adolescents who will one day be the stars of our favorite teams
- The wheeling and dealing on the trade front during draft weekend is second only to the trade deadline, and the rumor mill works overtime
- A lot of us played hockey growing up and envisioned our own draft day thousands of times. An old teammate of mine once said "I always thought I was going to get drafted until my 18th birthday when I was sitting at home on the couch eating cheese doodles and saw a kid younger than me get taken first." While his dream was obviously unrealistic, there's something romantic about the idea of waiting, and knowing that you are going to be drafted; and then reality sets in and it doesn't happen
As a Rangers fan, I've learned the hard way that there's no subsititue for good drafting. Signing free agents and trading is simply not an effective way to build a winner in the NHL. Teams must build from within, and for that reason the draft has never been more important. But as serious as it an be, the draft is really a ton of fun for everyone involved. It's a celebration of the accomplishments and hard work of these young men, and a taste of hope for the future of every NHL franchise.
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