2007 NHL DRAFT (Show and Tell).

[doniceage]

2007 Nhl Draft In Rewind:
Well as usual I found time to take a few days and head off to the 2007 NHL DRAFT. So the wife and I left Thursday morning to get there for the NHL DRAFT PROSPECT CLINIC where they would be signings auto's afterwards (WOHOOO)!!

As I drove up there all I could think about was all the radio announcers, t.v. analyst, etc. talking throughout the Stanley Cup Finals that the NHL has nothing to offer the fans. This is my 3rd NHL DRAFT that I will be attending and how many other fans do I know from other sports that attend anything where they can meet all the stars of tomorrow plus a hearty mix of old and current stars. I can't think of one of course I guess the radio talk show host and such have never taken the time to check the NHL DRAFT out to see it does offer something no other sport does.

So upon arriving we found the Ice Dispatch Haus which is the place that the Columbus Blue Jackets practice when not in the Nationwide Arena. This is where the Clinic was to be held so now I was going alright only a few more hours. Now here again I am thinking back to all those comments on the t.v. and radio by the various professoinals. So I thought to myself. where do current NHL STAR's and FUTURE STARS give a clinic for the kids of the community in another sport? The clinic was to include Rick Nash, Dan Fritsche, Manny Maholtra, and Pascal Leclerc from the Columbus BlueJackets. The Draft Prospects included James VanRiemsdyk, Keaton Ellerby, Patrick Kane, Karl Alzner, and Sam Gagner. Now how many local kids get to do this on a yearly basis as this happens every year at the NHL DFAFT HOST CITY. This was not the only event that happens like this as I think the day before they had a soccer game of some sort. I couldn't attend that as the wife could not get off work that day. So I settled for the CLINIC as it said the players and future draft picks would be signing.

Now I am at the NHL DRAFT and I need to get some items for auto's as I did could not obtain the Numbers I wanted to from Rivercity Sports. I was hoping to get a 07 and have them signed to be put on a Columbus Bluejackets jersey later down the road with a nameplate NHL DRAFT with the 07 numbering to make it a nice piece to be auotgraphed and kept in the Personal Collection. Problem turned out the numbers were stitched by hand and would take a couple of weeks plus the shipping could possibly be a few weeks.

So I headed up to the Blueline store which is a line of stores that are spread throughout Columbus and carries all the BlueJackets apparel. So upon getting into the store I spotted a mini stick and hat that both bore the design Quote:
COLUMBUS 2007 Draft
. So I picked up the Hat for me and the Stick for the wife as that is what she chose to get autographed time permitting.

So heading outside we seen a flock of guys standing around and I said this is where we need to stand. So we sat down on some benches and sure enough we seen a draft prospect come out of the NATIONWIDE ARENA. According to a sign that said TOP PROSPECT LUNCHEON they would be coming out the doors to head back to their hotel. So we hung out there for a few hours and picked up a few autographs of such players as Angelo Esposito, Jeremy Smith, Jacob Voracek, etc. to name a few.

Here is what the autographed Hat and Stick's looked like at the end of the day:

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/202.jpg


Here is a close up of ANGELO ESPOSITO autograph. Let just say it not pretty at all.

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/203.jpg

So we finished a hour or two outside the Nationwide arena and headed off to watch the CLINIC without much fanfare. As mostly it was parents and a few autograph hounds that assembled in the building to watch. Here are a few pictures from the CLINIC (I have some video but that might be a few days or next weekend before I get that up).

James
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/204.jpg
KARI ALZNER
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/205.jpg
KARI ALZNER
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/206.jpg
SAM GAGNER
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/207.jpg
KEATON ELLERBY
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/208.jpg
SAM GAGNER
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/209.jpg

So the draft clinic ends and I am thinking the few fans that have attended and kids alike will get some auto's. Well, I was in for a rude awakening when I see the all the Bluejacket players along with the future stars get behind the bench. Then the kids participating in the clinic lined on the outside and skate oh so slowly as they were adorned with autographs from all. I was like oh no as most of the fans in attendance would have to treasure the memories of the Pic's as not auto's would be given out as the Players quickly retreated to the locker room. So the wife and I headed to our hotel to plan our mojo for the next day.


So upon arriving at the hotel I returned some phone calls that I had left go unanswered from two friends (P-NUT-BUTR and Darryl that I try to get here to post his in person auto as well). Darryl arrived first as he was driving up from Nashville while Ian was driving from South Carolina. Darryl cam bearing a sign that said Quote:
BRING IT ON HAMILTON!!
He had season tickets last year and he couldn't afford them this year with the price increase. He had quite a few people from Penguins fan being the most supportive aloing with Buffalo and Toronto fans not wanting another team between them. Of course a few people from Hamilton took resentment to the sign but he kept packing it with him the whole day. SO we added a few auto's to our hat and stick from last year as we were waiting for the line to form for RICK NASH auto's.

Rick Nash autographs were worth me waiting as I was there before anyone else but ended getting in line 3rd and 4th with my wife respectively as we were close to were the line started but not the exact location. So we waited about 3 hours while we added a odd autograph here from a prospect as well. During the wait the band YELLOWCARD was preparing for their set around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Here is a shot at the stage and the Nash autographs that we obtained.


https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/210.jpg

Rick Nash auto's:

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/211.jpg

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/212.jpg


So after getting Rick Nash's autograph we headed to Nationwide Arena to get in and see what they had to offer. SO we went in and were given the handout plus our NHL DRAFT TOWEl:

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/213.jpg
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/214.jpg
Landed a nice auot of VanRiemdsdyk (2nd overall pick) plus one other top right.

SO we spent the nite watching the 1st round, checking out the hockey dealers that were setting up, UD and their redemption program which I thought was pretty weak compared to years past.

1) If you bought 6 packs of UD or 7 of Fleer you rec'ed a 6 card Redemption Set:

2) If you came back on Sunday and spent a $100 on product you would receive a A.O. UD VINYL FIGURE. If you were going to spend close to a $100 you might as well go for the free figure as they do sell well withing the first relase. This figure was suppose to be only for the NHL DRAFT. SO that pretty much finished up the evening as we headed back to the hotel as the 1st round went pretty quickly.

This draft was pretty much like all I seen in the past. Bettman was booed, the owner of COLUMBUS rec'ed a big STANDING O, the Columbus pick of Voracek Rec'ed a big applause and the fans flooded out of the arena in drove's. So we stayed around hunted a few more graphs and then headed back to the hotel to grab a bite to eat as we usually do not eat while hunting down graphs (bad for business).

Sunday came quickly and the Blue Jacket Fans were back in line for this autograph session:

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/215.jpg

So with the draft starting at 10 and the auto's at 11 and 12 respectively the fans who arrived and got in line first would have to wait roughly about 3 to 4 hours before they got the 5 autographs of those 5 players. I figured I could get more on the stick as I went and bought a new mini stick to obtain some more autographs. SO throughout the day I chased only prospects and passed up many stars such as Hunter, Bowman, Foglino, Hull, Yzerman, and many many other current and other veterans. I did make one exception as I did grab SAMAKOS autograph as he will be eligible for the draft next year.


Here is what the two sticks looked like at the end of the draft:

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/216.jpg
https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/217.jpg

So about 2 or 3 we went and ate with Ian and his mother at a local pub (bar and tavern) on the porch and again it was loaded with Hockey players and draft picks. Dale Hunter was eating with a group of older players. This guy sat down next us at the table adjacent to us and I did not bother to ask for a autograph even though I would have loved to (IT RUDE)!!! They posed for a picture so I took one while they shot one for themselves.

https://www.sportscardforum.com/imag...007/06/218.jpg

This is prospect Joakim Andersson from Detroit who was the 3rd round selection with the #88 pick. What was funny is that he invited a fellow Swede over as he went down to the street and brought back Lars Eller to their table (4 of them). I didnt' bother with a autograph but Ian did. As Ian said he obtained a few nice auto's of Ron Francis, Jim Rutherford, Joakim Andersson, Lars Eller, and a few others to round out his day. As he was bummed he kept missing BIG DADDY KANE.

p.s. I will try to edit this later of all the autographs that I have and who is who for those that would like to know what some people sign like. Hope you enjoyed the read.

[Lord Vader]

Alot of great graphes and pics to go with. I really wish I could have made it up there. Looks like it was alot of fun.

[mikesilvia]

Nice article and pics! It's on Digg:
Digg - The NHL Draft - A look at What Goes on

Digg it if you have an account!