"With the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders select ..."
---Mike Milbury storms the stage like a wrestler: "We've traded it. It's gone. The pick and Kyle Okposo both. To D.C. for Fleischmann and Poti. Mad Mike is back, baby."
{whew} Sorry. Had a little mini-nightmare/flashback there. The Islanders have formally announced plans for Erik Gudbranson, er Brett Connolly Night, also known as their 2010 Draft Party. Friday, June 25, 5:30 p.m. at the Coliseum.
John Tavares will appear modeling the new Islanders away jersey (which will look a lot like this), and surely there will be beverages and your favorite encased meats, as well as the usual giveaways and revenue-generating resales.
I won't be able to make festivities (same reason I can't make our attempted community party; next time though, next time). And of course hopefully next year the draft won't be such a big deal for the NYI.
Elsewhere from the official site: Kyle Okposo talks World Championship, next season, Rob Schremp Hockey and captaincy on HNIC. Good interview. First exhibition game for Team USA is May 4.
You goin' to the draft party? Or a draft party? A few of you have shared some hilarious memories from draft parties' past (e.g. heckling a player -- was it Travis Green? -- for showing up without a contract), so if you have any more of those, let 'em fly in comments.