Regardless of the year, being a top draft pick adds more stress and scrutiny to an already high-stakes situation. Mike Heika spoke with Jason Spezza, Kari Lehtonen, and Tyler Seguin about being drafted second overall in 2001, 2002, and 2010, respectively.
Lehtonen had no aspiration to go first overall and was happy to see Rick Nash go ahead of him, so he said the experience was a fun one. And even Seguin, who doesn’t mind jumping into the social media game, said he enjoyed Taylor vs. Tyler.
“It was fun being called one of the top players at my age. I never said this was horrible or annoying,” Seguin said. “Me and Taylor, we traveled a lot together, and he and I became good friends, and I think it was more just a media grab than anything. He was happy going first, and I was happy going to Boston.”
Spezza, who was drafted by the Senators after the Thrashers tabbed Ilya Kovalchuk, reflected on the pressure today’s top picks face.
Spezza looked back at the hype that surrounded Taylor vs. Tyler or Connor McDavid vs. Jack Eichel last year and said he’s happy he and Kovalchuk didn’t go through that. He acknowledged that you do get labeled by the draft, by a decision you didn’t make, and that sticks with you for the rest of your life.
“It is hard, because I just think too much gets made of guys and the number you put on them,” Spezza said. “You watch a guy slide from 20th to 40th, and you just see him slump in his seat, and it shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but you know that it is.”
There’s more from the trio at the link. [SportsDayDFW]
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Tonight. 7:30 p.m. Stars. Maple Leafs. The AAC. Be there. [Stars Inside Edge]
If you ask Razor, it seems like the Stars are crossing one thing after the next off their to-do list. [Razor With An Edge]
Mike Heika talks Bob Seger, Nicklas Lidstrom, and John Klingberg. [SportsDayDFW]
Also courtesy of Heika, you can find the answers to all your Stars questions by reading this transcript of yesterday’s weekly chat. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars GM Jim Nill didn’t hold back his praise when talking about the NHL’s young talent—which includes Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, of course. [NHL]
Seven new members were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.
If you missed any of the speeches and other fun, head on over to the link for video, the best quotes of the night, and more. (The HHOF Twitter also posted plenty of pics.) [NHL]
While speaking at the Prime Time Sports Management Conference in Toronto, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman sounded off on expansion and the 2018 Winter Olympics. [TSN]
Bettman also said this, which makes you hope his grandson wasn’t paying attention to his speech.
Bettman on if his 9yo grandson is a good player: ‘He’s not going to be in the NHL.’ Tough love, grandpa.
— Scott Stinson (@scott_stinson) November 9, 2015
Following an injury to backup goaltender Carter Hutton, the Predators used an emergency call-up on Marek Mazanec. [Predators]
From enforcer to author, Tie Domi shares stories from his upcoming book, Shift Work. [ESPN]
After firing, then re-hiring the team’s coaching staff, the owner of the Flint Firebirds released a statement.
Dear Fans, here is a statement from our owner. Thank you for your continued support.pic.twitter.com/kLXh77X60W
— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) November 9, 2015
As it turns out, the CHL is no stranger to family drama. [Sportsnet]
Thirty years after Flyers goaltender Pelle Lindbergh died in a drunk-driving accident, Brian Weitz explores the impact his death has made. [SI]
And finally, a group of filmmakers has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund NWHL: History Begins, a documentary going behind-the-scenes of the NWHL’s first season.