
The NHL player's long path to the big leagues is not as easy and enjoyable as one might believe. The journey certainly has its bumps along the road and challenges to overcome and the players who are able to survive, persevere and learn from each challenge will certainly develop the intangibles to become better professional athletes. Each year the NHL entry draft rewards two-hundred ten players for their hard work and effort fulfilling long time dreams of donning an NHL sweater for many kids. That moment when Brian Burke, Ken Holland, George McPhee or some other NHL General Manager calls out your name on stage provides the player who has spent hours upon hours working towards their goal of becoming a National Hockey League draft pick with a sense of satisfaction. The toughest part of that journey towards the NHL draft might just be in the ten months before their NHL eligible draft year. As players enter into this critical year there is an added pressure to maintain that high level of performance under the critical eyes of many important hockey personnel.