
Logo courtesy NHL.
The National Hockey League masterminds of this fantasy draft format—league vice president Brendan Shanahan and commissioner Gary Bettman—have no clue if tonight's draft will be a dud or a compelling spectacle. Many sets of crossed fingers will protrude from the sleeves of many shiny silk suit jackets. Many smiling mouths above designer ties will emit many forced guffaws.
Not knowing what will happen. Isn't that the definition of drama?
But let's be frank for a moment. Hockey players, almost to a man, are understated guys. There's a blue-collar, team-first humbleness even in the superstars of the game. Dentists have to be employed to extract colorful quotations from most of these guys. Will they be able to relax and have fun in front of the cameras for this draft? Will Staal and Lidstrom, neither particularly loquacious or even that quick with a smile, be able to captive as emcee anything like they do on the ice?
I'm betting yes. The players involved are already having a lot of fun teasing each other about being picked last, texting bribes and good-natured threats to the captains. Shanahan also plans to gather players shortly before the event and coach them a bit about coming out of their shells and enjoying the event. But who knows if they will?
No one does. That's drama. And that's why we will watch.