It took me a little while to notice, but the Dallas Stars have some adorable Draft Day videos up on DallasStars.com.
Steve Ott looks about the same age now as he did back in 2000 when he was the Stars’ first pick. Even on the day he was drafted, they knew he was going to be an agitator. He was a big-time scorer with the Windsor Spitfires, too.
Stu Barnes looks so adorable! Look at that smile! He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets (defunct) in 1989 and he “[struck] a blow for the little guy,” according to the announcers. He already had a reputation for being a character guy and it has proven to be well-deserved.
Brenden Morrow was unfortunately nicknamed “Chunks” as a kid, apparently, but I think he’s showed them. He also was just dripping with adorability as a kid. The announcers in 1997 thought 5′ 11″ was a lack of size. Times have changed.
And Mike Modano was the cutest of all. He was the first overall pick in 1988 and he was pretty overwhelmed, I think. There was talk all the way up to the moment of the first pick that it could either be he or Trevor Linden. He is embarrassed today by that haircut, but I’d venture to say it wasn’t his worst over the years. He made up for it by wearing a normal suit. In 1988 there was no telling what kind of outfit he could have chosen. His y’know-laced interview is priceless. He said he hoped to turn around the club and did he ever. That was twenty years ago.
The Draft just might be my new favorite thing.
I guess they put those up right before the draft. We had a fabulous time watching them all. I loved that Ott still had braces. We howled over the size of Barnes’ mullet. I love how you described Morrow, he really was dripping with it! Modano’s chipmunk cheeks were looking so pinchable. After that, we were left with just wanting more!
Gosh. Baby draft Trev might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. No offence to Mike Modano, but I’m SO glad he went first. :D