This is how obsessed I am with hockey: I completely forgot that the NCAA basketball tournament final game was on today. The only sports even that concerns me today is the Draft Lottery at 8:00 on Versus.
I would love St. Louis to get it, because I am a huge John Davidson fan and because, growing up, my family lived there and I went to a few Blues games so I consider them my second favorite team. Last year, they had 3 first round picks and got 3 solid people (one of whom played this year for them). They last had the first overall pick in 2006 when they chose Erik Johnson.
I think LA has enough talent already, they just need a few veterans who could help them in the clutch and a goalie who could steal some games for them (although the arrival of Erik Ersberg and Jonathan Bernier might help that along). The last time the Kings had the #1 overall pick: 1967.
Tampa Bay has chosen first overall twice: 1993 (Roman Hamrlik) and 1998 (Vinny Lecavalier).
Atlanta has chosen first overall twice as well: 1999 (bust Patrik Stefan) and 2001 (Ilya Kovalchuk). They also chose 2nd overall in 2000 (Dany Heatley) and 2002 (Kari Lehtonen).
I hope these two teams don't win the "Stamkos Sweepstakes." They both had their chances, and they both are in poor markets where a true superstar gets wasted (Lecavalier and Kovalchuk are both exception players, and who hears about them except on XM Home Ice 204?).
As an Islander-hater, the one reason I would hope they win - although they have the smallest chance of those involved - is so hockey makes a comeback on the Island. For the record, their #! overall draft picks: 2000 (Rick DiPietro), 1973 (Denis "Wifebeater" Potvin), and 1972 (Billy Harris).
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Scroll down to see my playoff predictions (Rangers over Sharks in 7) and Bryan predictions (San Jose over Rangers in 6), as well as award notes.
We got the fifth overall pick. Fuck. I think the top five in the draft are in the exact order as they finished. How dramatic.
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