THURSDAY COMMENTARY – YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

SEATTLE KRAKEN NHL EXPANSION DRAFT DAY DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

WELL, ACTUALLY IT DID, BUT IT WASN’T THE KRAKEN’S FAULT.

THE NHL, ESPN AND THE KRAKEN PLANNED A TELEVISION EXTRAVAGANZA WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR THE LEAGUE’S NEWEST TEAM TO ANNOUNCE THEIR PICKS FROM THE EXPANSION DRAFT.

THE MECHANISM OF PULLING THIS OFF WILL HAVE TO BE EXAMINED NOW BECAUSE SEATTLE HAD TO HAVE THEIR PICKS INTO THE NHL OFFICE BY 10 AM EASTERN WEDNESDAY.

THEY DID, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THOSE PICKS WERE LEAKED TO THE MEDIA – SPECIFICALLY TSN’S PIERRE LEBRUN AND INDEPENDENT REPORTER FRANK SERAVELLI – AND WERE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE WITHIN MINUTES.

I’M NOT SURE WHO’S RESPONSIBLE BUT THE FINGER’S BEING POINTED AT GM’S FROM THE OTHER TEAMS, NOT ANYONE IN THE NHL OFFICE.

IT COMPLETELY RUINED THE TV EVENT, WHICH WAS THE NHL’S FIRST ON ESPN SINCE SIGNING A NEW TV DEAL. COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN HAD TO HAVE BEEN FURIOUS.

PIERRE LEBRUN TONED IT DOWN AFTER BREAKING THE NEWS THAT CAREY PRICE WOULD NOT BE TAKEN BY THE KRAKEN, BUT SERAVELLI WAS JUST PICKING UP STEAM. HE DESTROYED THE DAY.

SERAVELLI AND TSN PARTED WAYS IN MAY AND HE’S NOW DOING HIS OWN THING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD. AFTER STEALING THE THUNDER OF NHL EXPANSION DRAFT DAY, HE’S EITHER GOING TO BE SNATCHED UP BY ANOTHER NETWORK, OR WILL NEVER WORK IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AGAIN.

I’M GUESSING FRANK’S LIKE ME – HE’S GOOD WITH IT EITHER WAY. ONCE YOU GET A TASTE OF CONTROLLING YOUR OWN FATE, IT’S HARD TO GO BACK.

AS FOR THE SEATTLE KRAKEN ITSELF, I FOUND IT TO BE A LITTLE UNDERWHELMING. IN A NORMAL DIVISION THEY WOULDN’T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS BUT SINCE THEY’LL BE BATTLING THE KINGS, SHARKS, DUCKS AND CANUCKS – ALL NON-PLAYOFF TEAMS THIS YEAR – THEY’LL ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE.

BUT TO MAKE THE STANLEY CUP FINAL IN YEAR ONE? FORGET IT.

THE TV EVENT ENDED UP BEING PRETTY GOOD AND IT WAS FILLED WITH SEATTLE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LEGENDS, NOTABLY FROM THE SUPERSONICS, SEAHAWKS AND POP SINGER MACKLEMORE.

IT WOULD’VE BEEN NICE IF THEY’D HAD SOME SEATTLE HOCKEY CELEBRITIES BUT THEN YOU REALIZE THERE AREN’T ANY.

HEY … YOU’VE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(Photo: Seattle Kraken)