For the past four
NHL seasons, 12 friends and myself have created our own fantasy pool for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With hockey being my favorite sport to both watch and play, I take great pride in my picks and my team... the
Detroit Red Wings of Hockeytown. "Wait, aren't you from Denver? Why aren't you an Avs fan?" It all started in 1996 when the biggest cheapshot (
Claude Lemieux) cross-checked Kris Draper from behind, inevitably mangling his face into the boards. I lived in Michigan from ages 3-13, so that did it for me... I sold my Sakic jersey, bought a "screw lemieux" t-shirt, and swore to myself that I would never cheer for the Avs. But things have settled down over the past decade, and my hatred for them is still there, but at a much lower level. With that being said, I don't mind seeing them miss the playoffs by one point on the second-to-last day of the season.
Getting back on track... So we all sat down on the couches, drew numbers from a hat and started the draft. I got the 4th pick, which isn't necessarily bad, but it's like getting a sloppy joe instead of a burger. You know you're still gonna eat it, but it's just not what you wanted. I started my dream team with the top power-play performer of the regular season Teemu Selanne. At first, I felt it was a solid pick but his inability to score multi-point games was a bummer.
Coming back around for my second pick, I was amazed to see that Chris Drury hadn't been taken.
WA-WA-WE-WAW... This was without a doubt the steal of the draft. If only the Sabres could close the deal as a team. I can't believe the Avs traded him. That was the worst franchise decision they've ever made.
The draft continued and I finished up with Henrik Zetterberg & Nick Lidstrom of the Wings, Brian Rafalski from the Devils, but then I was forced with a decision. All my friends had selected goalies early and I was stuck with the leftovers. Ottawa or Nashville? I glanced over at one of my friends who is the biggest (and only) Sharks fan I know. And with a smirk on my face I said, "Um Yeah... I think Nashville's got a better shot at the 2nd round, so I'll take the Preds goalies." Come game 5, when the Sharks closed out the pitiful Preds, I felt like the Detroit Pistons did after passing on Melo & Wade for Darko the Destroyer.
But hey, I was still in this thing. My forwards were scoring, my defense was contributing, but that's when I had a revelation. I would much rather see the Red Wings hoist the Cup than win this hockey pool for $200. Sure the money would be nice, but the bragging rights outweigh the useless ways in which I'd be spending that $200 anyways. So, after a little scare with the Flames in Round 1, the Wings had to face the Sharks, and I had to face my Shark-friend.
Lost game 1... Uh Oh
Won game 2... Thank God
Lost game 3... We better win game 4
Won game 4... Ok, we can do this.
Won game 5... Come on! One More.
Won game 6... brought a Sharks pennant to my friends house and lit it on fire. (Hey, he said he was buying me a broom after game 1... it was well-deserved)
Next stop, the Ducks... only this team had
Giguere in net instead of
Goldberg. I really wish they had Goldberg. He stole the show, he eliminated my team that out-played them, and he made me stop watching hockey until September. No, I like hockey too much so I watched some of the finals... plus I still had Teemu Selanne trying to score me a nice two hundo. Unfortunately, my brother had Giguere in the pool and I got second place... AGAIN!!! I'm really hating the fact that I voted for the "winner takes all" policy.
Oh well, next year is a new season and another chance for the Wings to return to glory.
Comcast NHL Center Ice Package...... $160
Chelios and Hasek Re-Signing............. $2,200,000
Another Fantasy Playoff Entry........... $25
Seeing the Wings get Cup #11............. Priceless
