Del Zotto eyes enjoyment at NHL draft

STOUFFVILLE -- A little over two years ago, Michael Del Zotto was as highly-rated as they come.

The 17-year-old native of Stouffville knew beforehand he was going to be the Oshawa Generals' first pick, second overall in the Ontario Hockey League draft. Midget teammate and friend Steven Stamkos was tabbed ahead of him by the Sarnia Sting with the first pick.

Fast forward a couple of years and a few things have changed while a few remain the same. Stamkos is going No. 1 again, and in all likelihood to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft gets underway tonight in Ottawa.

As for Del Zotto?

Well, there are no assurances this time around as his hockey future lies in the hands of NHL general managers.

If the uncertainty bothers Del Zotto, he is not letting it be known.

"We'll see who falls before me and we'll see what happens," he said when asked about his expectations. "I talked to (former Generals teammate and Phoenix Coyotes draft pick) Brett MacLean a couple weeks ago before I went to the combine and he just told me to enjoy myself. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I've got to go out there and have fun and take it all in.

"I am more excited then nervous, but still a little nervous," added Del Zotto. "This is a point in my life that I have been waiting for for as long as I can remember. Not only is it exciting for me but it's exciting for my family. My family has put in a lot of effort and sacrificed a lot to get me to this point and it's really exciting for me to see how happy they are right now."

Del Zotto, who left for Ottawa on Wednesday with many of the other top prospects, enters the draft as the 15th-ranked North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau after posting 16-47-63 totals with the Generals this past season. He's one of 15 blue-liners ranked among the top-30 players.

When he hears his named called, likely in the first round, the elation will no doubt offer a more lasting memory than the NHL Draft Combines he attended recently.

"The testing wasn't too bad until the last two exercises, including the bike test," he recalled. "It was tough. It was definitely as tough as people say it is. You either go until you throw up or you pass out, that's how it works. I can't even remember what happened after. They have a doctor there who checks your blood when you're done and I just remember him taking me over somewhere but I can't remember much else."