One of the best ways to stay focused on the National Hockey League playoffs, especially when your team isn't in the fight for the Stanley Cup is the good ol' fashioned draft.

A few of us hockey fans from around Humboldt gather on an evening just prior to the playoffs opening up to pick our team all with the hopes of collecting a whopping $200. Let's be honest, drafts are much more about bragging rights and ribbing your buddies rather than winning the prize, but that's alright too.

There are many different game plans contrived by the dozen or so entrants in our annual pool. Mine consists of breaking down the brackets and deciding who you think will last the longest and trying to gather as many top scorers from those teams as possible. You have to remember other people think those teams are going a long ways too.

Many people think it's easier without your team in the post season, as a Habs fan that didn't think they would win it all do you still choose players from your team to back your heart up or do you just choose with your head? Always a tough decision to factor in!

So I figured this was the Capitals year and with the third overall pick I got their leading scorer, Nicklas Backstrom and I figured I was rolling. A few more Capitals, a couple Montreal Canadiens, on the west side I had Anaheim and Chicago battling for a spot in the finals so I nabbed a few Hawks; that went painfully wrong, not as bad as for Andre Kruger however, the former Chamber President took Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith with his first pick which garnered more than a handful of remarks from the peanut gallery. Much like Al Smith's choice of Caps floater Lars Eller.

Like the actually games however, upsets can happen, maybe a guy gets stuck with taking a few Nashville Predators or Ottawa Senators and they ride their success to title, if you do, go on you!

As you can see by the photo, I am not doing well, last year I came in last place which does get your entry fee back plus a towel to cry in.

Perhaps I am looking for back to back last place finishes. Again it's all in good fun and another way to enjoy the march for the greatest trophy in sports.