Last night (for me at least), we held the live draft for our 12 man roto league, 9 we're there in person and 3 we're on auto draft (Team legowski, Team mackenzie and Shero's Heroes) . Many in the league we're drafting for the first time and so the most important question of the day was: ehm how do I draft someone? After that was sorted out we had a lot of fun but no soul (AO going first, Pronger and Hossa drafted early on). In this draft recap I'll give for each round my favourite pick and also what could be a headcase. I'll also give you my reasoning for my own pick each round and a general note on the round. Hope you enjoy it :)

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With the new season coming up fantasy hockey is also starting and I am wondering if people are interested in creating a Pensburgh league like last year. So this post is to see if anyone is interested, let me know in the comments if you are and if so what kind of league you want to form.

I am just starting this year with fantasy hocky (or fantasy sports of any kind for that matter), so I don't think I'd be a great commish but I'd try if others don't want that hassle.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34070-The-Straight-Edge-Powerhouse-programs-not-always-best-for-prospect-development.html

In this article ( and mainly the NY times article linked), the European and American customs in developing talent are discussed, with the focus of the article being that a much more individual approach to the most talented kids lead to higher level pro players later.

As a European I've marveled at times at the college system, something that's completely foreign for me. In Europe you play for teams, for example I played soccer for ten years for the same club from age 8 through 18.

I also am having a really hard time explaining this American system to people here in the Netherlands.

Being an Amsterdam native im quite intemately familiar with the main subject of the NY times article: Ajax' youth acedemy. Some of the country's and indeed the world's best soccer players learned the trade there. One of the big benefits in my oppinion is the abbility to play in a teams system, any player who spend time in the Ajax system is intimately familiar with the Ajax system (which tradionally has been an 4-3-3 attacking system), they also usually show an incredible technique in controlling the ball because the Ajax youth academy focuses a lot on individual talents and technique.

The result is one of the most storied teams in Europe's and especially the county's history, winning a Dutch record 29 national championships and many european cups over the years.

Though these days it's just abut impossible to win for a Dutch team because of differences in income between clubs from different countries (clubs in Spain, for example, get much more money from tv rights and therefore have much more to spend.) It's a bit like having to compete against 4 Yankees teams and 6 Red Sox teams (comparison on relative level of spending)

The current Dutch team features many (ex-)Ajax players still. With the Dutch being an outsider for the world cup, that shows the level of elite talent that still comes through in this system.

To make a long story short: What's your perspective on the differences and merits of the American and European ways of developing sports talent?

Wang is in Mario's shoes, the council of Long Island has till now been very reluctant to approve (or even disapprove) the "Lighthouse Project" the ambitions plans for a new multifunctional stadium. He is now threatening with relocation, just like Mario was a couple of years ago. But what if they move? Depending on where they move to, this could solve some problems that the current divisions face. Especially in the west.

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