Tips Come Draft Day

Unfortunately I am unable to make it to the NHL draft on Friday, but I will be watching with great interest as both Luke Schenn and Tyler Myers are selected in round one. Here are a few things I want to see at the NHL draft Friday night in Ottawa.

• I want to see Luke Schenn hug his dad once his name has been called. You don't shake your dad's hand once you get drafted...come on!!! Luke's dad Jeff has been instrumental in his son's hockey career and is his greatest supporter. Give your dad a hug Luke, he deserves credit for getting you to where you are today.
• I am looking forward to seeing Tyler Myers tower over the management of the team that drafts him in that oh-so-famous picture that happens once he reached the stage and puts on that NHL jersey. It's not your turn to look cool. If you are happier than a pig in s**t, show it with a big smile. If you feel the need to jump up and down with glee, you are given permission by me to 'act cool'.
• I want to see Everett Silvertips forward Kyle Beach taken in the top 10. My wish will likely be granted as Beach is one of those players teams will have a hard time passing on. I'm a Beach supporter, not a critic. I won't say a bad thing about Kyle until the day he cross checks me in the back of head after we complete an interview.
• While Schenn and Myers will be getting pictures taken with NHL brass and family and friends following the draft, I hope to see Rockets Director of Player Personnel Lorne Frey pencilled between Schenn and Myers for a photo op. Frey deserves a ton of credit for landing Schenn with the 20th overall pick in the WHL bantam draft and Myers with the 19th overall pick a year later.

These are some things I don't want to see from any of the WHL players selected in the first round with a national audience watching on TV.

• Don't pick your nose or bite your finger nails as you wait to get drafted. It looks bad on TV as the camera's will be panning the crowd with regularity in the opening round.
• Don't trip as you go up the stairs to meet the management of the team that just drafted you. Falling on your face is not a good idea as TSN's Bob McKenzie exclaims "He's an extremely quick footed forward and scouts like his foot speed".
• Don't put on the sweater backwards of the team that just drafted you. Also don't spent all day trying to custom fit the team hat they give you. While you've likely spent 3 hours doing your hair the morning of the draft, just push the hat firmly on your head and hope for the best.
• In the post draft interview don't say "It was the team I always wanted to be drafted by". If you are drafted by the worst team in the league, you were likely bad mouthing them with your buddy's last week and praying to the hockey God's they wouldn't select you.
• Don't look disappointed if you are selected later than your were projected by NHL Central Scouting. The more disappointed you look, the more the TV camera's will want to show your mug.