Last Friday I went to the NHL Draft and I didn't know what to expect for my 7-year-old son.
I asked myself if he would be entertained enough to stay at least through five picks. After all, what does a draft look like to kids? As a former reporter I remembered my experience watching prospects names get called and then having to interview them. That was pretty much it. I never paid too much attention to the pageantry. I really should have.
We were fortunate enough to have seats in between two of the top prospects, and the whole experience hit so differently as a fan with a young kid. Seeing the tears, hugs and overall joy from the families was incredible. Also, there was more than enough cool stuff to keep my son entertained.
Every time he saw "The Pick Is In" on the marquee above the stage he got super pumped. Gary Bettman hitting the trade red button was also good fun for us.
Our downfall ended up being an inability to find hot dogs in the Peacock Theater, but we probably should have snacked up better beforehand.
It really goes to show that you can assume what a kid will like, but ultimately, you never know. The draft was a huge hit for us and a memory that will last forever. He's still asking when the NHL Draft will be in Los Angeles again.