Had the NHL draft not been held at Xcel Energy Center this week, Steven Fogarty would have been a no-show to one of the biggest moments of his life.
But fate has a way of working out.
The New York Rangers selected Fogarty, a 6-2, 194-pound forward from Edina, with the 10th pick of the third round (72nd overall) to the surprise of just about everyone in the building.
That includes the man himself.
"At first I wasn't planning on coming, but since it was here ... " said Fogarty, who scored 40 points for the Hornets this season and was ranked 90th among North American skaters on the Central Scouting list. "I was shaking the whole way down [to the main floor]. I definitely didn't see myself going this high, but it's an honor to be drafted by a great team like New York. It still hasn't sunk in yet."
It surely soon will, when Fogarty makes his first trip to the Big Apple and skates at Madison Square Garden at the Rangers' rookie camp.
"Going into the draft, I just wanted to go somewhere," Fogarty said.
About a month ago, Rangers scout Tom Thompson had a lengthy visit at Fogarty's home. Though it was one of several meetings with NHL teams in anticipation of the draft, the feeling was mutual that the encounter was a sign.
