It was precisely this measure that led The Senators very early to the player around whom they would build their franchise. The early scouting reports on Czechoslovakian teenager Roman Hamrlik were outstanding, but it was only when Bridgman and Sexton traveled to the Four Nations Cup in Vierumaki, Finland, that they understood his character. On a leg he had just fractured blocking a Russian shot from the point, Hamrlik walked on icy street for a mile Co meet with the two, refusing a ride and refusing, as well, to admit he was in any pain.
"Mel," Sexton said, "he's our guy."
Hamrlik was instantly tagged as the first player they would draft. If they won the upcoming flip to decide which would select first, Ottawa or Tampa, they would have him for certain. But even if they lost the flip and had to go second, they figured Hamrlik would still be available.
The Tampa Bay Lightning was having a very hard time selling tickets. How would Phil Esposito sell a single seat in aging, conservative Florida with a teenaged kid from a recently communist country who couldn't speak a word of English and, besides, is still a year away from being ready?
Ottawa, with all seats sold out and knowledgeable, patient fans, would have no such worries. Hamrlik was declared a sure thing. They even began thinking about building a marketing scheme around his first name: a Roman to wear the centurion crest for The Senators.
[...]
The Senators tried to put a brave face on it, claiming they had won "one out of two," but no one was fooled. They took consolation in the growing certainty that Esposito would go for the good-looking, highly marketable young Windsor scorer, Todd Warriner.
They were headed for Montreal with confidence. It was all on computer, all available on paper. It would probably happen as predicted.
[...]
And coming into Montreal, Ottawa had been thinking about a 6'5" kid from Medicine Hat if Hamrlik wasn't available.
In a matter of hours they completely changed strategy. Thanks to a large contingent of Russian prospects, they were able to do some fast interviewing, including Alexei Yashin, whose name was being heard more and more often.
They met Yashin and were most impressed with his intelligence, his demeanor, and his intent. While Hamrlik was walking around telling reporters he would soon be buying a Porsche, Yashin told The Senators his goal was "to play in the National Hockey League and move his parents and brother to a cleaner environment.
Character.
[...]
Friday evening Rick Bowness and Sexton took the young Russian out to dinner and were very impressed. Sexton came to the conclusion that Yashin should have been the chosen one all along.
But there was still one slim chance to get Hamrlik. Esposito had offered a deal. The Senators could get the player they wished if they would give him a draft pick. The Senators refused. They would go with Yashin.
"Even if in the end Phil had gone with Warriner we would have taken Yashin," says Sexton.
Esposito went with Hamrlik.
Ottawa took Yashin.
Rathje went to San Jose.
And Warriner, who was expected to go first, ended up with Quebec.
The laptop computer worked fine.
Ottawa made no more mistakes.
