2009 Entry Draft

Ray Shero pauses momentarily as Eddie Johnston emerges, trying to

affect an easygoing appearance. Reaching Shero, he slips an

arm around his shoulder, trying to slow him as Shero leads

the gang toward the draft stage

JOHNSTON

Where do you get the authority to

draft this kid?

SHERO

Are you asking me as the organization,

or as the Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations, or

of our friendly interest, or what, Eddie?

JOHNSTON

I just want you aware of what you're

doing before you tinker with the life

blood of all those sage and discriminating

souls who live and die by this team. Next

week's the goddam Fourth of July! We've

got a couple free agents coming over here

who will gladly use the Madison Square Garden

if they can't use our arena.

SHERO

So what you're suggesting is we lay out

a smorgasbord for the boy. All you can

eat for the price of a contract with

Pittsburgh

JOHNSTON

We're not even sure it was a defensman.

SHERO

What else could do that?!

JOHNSTON

(to MARIO LEMIEUX)

Is he a brick wall?

MARIO LEMIEUX

Possibly. Yes....

JOHNSTON

Stalks the defensive zone...night...

Some forward comes along ---

SHERO

(looking at

both of them)

What is he?

JASON BOTTERIL

We've never had such troubles here,
Ray. He doesn’t go deep in the offensive zone.
No refs, or opposing forwards…nothing to keep him interested.

SHERO

You print whatever you want.

JOHNSTON

Ray, defensemen like this are like

ax-murderers. People react to them

with their guts.

SHERO looks toward the crowd. The scouts have made

a turn and are passing the front row marking the stairs

up to the stage

JASON BOTTERIL

Whatever was out there might still be

available. Defensive defensmen don't

have star power like other

defensmen -- they tend to keep moving

down the list.

JOHNSTON

It's one chance in a million this'll

happen again.

(points)

Look at that...safe and sound.

The scouts are giving them the go-ahead; some flop down

on their backs, happy it is over. SHERO considers this.

JOHNSTON

Had you yelled ‘Stefan Elliott,' those

scouts would have charged the stage,

then busted our backs with word of

mouth.

SHERO

If that's the test case for your

million-to-one shot, I'm glad I lost.

JOHNSTON feels secure that SHERO will not act in haste. He puts

a hand on his shoulder, turns and walks him toward the podium.

SHERO

With the 30th overall pick in the 2009

NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins
select...