Dan Baillie Jr: A Unique Draft Experience

[wcats 246]

 

Dan Baillie Jr.

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 225

Drafted: 21st Overall

 

 

As we get ready for the upcoming seasons, with the draft now in the rearview mirror. I thought I would talk about my draft experience this time around.

 

First of all, let me just say that I have no regrets from season 72. If I had to be on a third line all season to win a championship every year, I would do it again in an absolute heart beat. I was lucky enough to play with some total beasts. Not only that but if you look at the playoff stats, we as a whole team were going off.

 

Well, after a less than stellar statistical regular season as a part of the S72 Founders Cup champions Saskatoon Wild. I found myself slipping out of the first round of the draft. Granted, numbers don't lie. Statistically DBJ had a mediocre season if you look at it on paper. If you take into account that he spent the majority of the season on the 3rd line things start to look a lot more sunny.

 

On to the draft.

 

I was hoping to be drafted by Prague #15 but they decide to go with Andre Lebastard. Honestly I think they made the right decision after seeing how everything turned out. With the first round out of the way. I was eyeing that first pick of the second round because I knew the teams after were likely to go in a different directions. With Prague on the board I was sure to be picked there.

 

To go back just a bit; I had thoughts about going somewhere in the back half of the first round. Truthfully I more or less convinced myself (I should say) of this being the case.  Now honestly, I was a bit rattled at first because the second round started and I still hadn't been drafted. There was even talk about this during the live draft. I knew I was not the only who thought it was a bit strange. But all teams have their own strategy and I do understand that.

 

Well that pick (after some personal anguish) and what felt like an eternity in time. Gets traded to Warsaw in a package that saw them jump to 17 and Prague move down to 21. Finally my name gets called. With the twenty first pick in the season 73 VHL draft, Dan Baillie Jr is now a member of the Prague Phantoms! What started as a stressful experience turned into relief from being drafted by one of the teams I'd hoped would draft me.

 

I couldn't be happier to be a part of this team. I plan to do everything I can to help The Phantoms become a successful team for a long time.

 

I have a lot of work to do here. But, I'll be capped out when the season starts. I have no doubt in my mind that Dan Baillie Jr will be as good or more realistically even better than his father. The future is looking very bright for Prague and I can see much Continental Cup success with this squad.

 

I look forward to proving everyone wrong who decided to pass on me!

 

 

538 words.

Edited July 21, 2020 by wcats

[Gooningitup 1,290]

7/10 

 

Good team mate last year in Saskatoon, you actually played in the top 6 alot of the season so a bit incorrect. I think you only slide to the 3rd after we acquired Brown late season. However, were a very solid role player i think your semi activity hurt more than stats. Especially as i think most of your players in the league have fizzed out.  

 

That being said i wish you best of luck with this player of course. And hope you can prove teams who passed on you wrong 

[Rhynex Entertainment 488]

Good read. Still not sure what position you play though. Best of luck for the season. 7/10