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The incredible fall of prospect Seth Ambroz

2011 NHL Entry Draft - Top Prospects Media Availability

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 23: Seth Ambroz talks to members of the media during the Top Prospects Media Availability as part of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Walker Arts Center on June 23, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

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Seth Ambroz was one of the highly touted prospects in this year’s draft. He was part of the media availability leading up to this weekend’s draft and he was a guy that was thought at one time to be a potential top ten pick. NHL central scouting had Ambroz ranked out as the 31st best North American skater in the draft.

After all that pomp and circumstance, Ambroz didn’t have his name called on Friday night. With where he was ranked out, that outcome wasn’t entirely too surprising. On Saturday with the final six rounds of the draft kicking off, Ambroz knew he’d be called eventually. As the second round passed he wasn’t called. Then the third round sailed by without his name being announced. And the fourth. Finally, at pick 128 in the fifth round Columbus bit and selected the future Minnesota Golden Gopher.

Ambroz falling that far and into the Blue Jackets’ lap was something general manager Scott Howson was happy to have happen.

“It just got to the point where you couldn’t say ‘no’ anymore,” Howson said. “He’s a talented kid... Hopefully he’s got a chip on his shoulder and he’s going to show the hockey world that everybody was wrong. It’s up to him now. We’re glad he was there and we’re glad we used a pick on him.”

Ambroz falling the way he did was surprising. Last season with Omaha of the USHL he scored 24 goals and added 22 assists while piling up 89 penalty minutes. His favorite player is Boston power forward Milan Lucic and he plays his game with a snarl and that’s something that excites Howson.

“He’s got some grit to his game, he’s got the ability to score goals. We’re always looking for offense in this game. Nobody ever scores enough except the really, really successful teams. It’s goal scoring, it’s size, it’s grit, it’s coming to a great program here in Minnesota. We’re excited.”

So what would make a kid that can provide that sort of play to the game fall like a rock down the board? After all, Ambroz had such high expectations for where he would land in the draft. Howson explains his take on the situation.

“We’re surprised he fell that far,” he said. “For us, he wasn’t going to be a first round pick coming in in our own rankings but he was certainly a respected, sought after player and it just came time where it was the right thing to do.”

Ambroz’s story is one that shows that sometimes things aren’t all they’re cut out to be at the draft. Sometimes the sky high expectations aren’t met and fate intercedes to change things around. For Ambroz, his aspirations of being a first round pick went by the wayside and whatever the reasons were for his tumble he’ll have to make those adjustments and use this humbling moment as motivation to succeed. Howson and the Blue Jackets certainly hope that he’ll do that and help them build for the future.