Draft Day Memories: Cam Fowler

To be drafted in the NHL is a moment frozen in time, the culmination of years of hard work and determination to achieve a goal so many dream of, but only a select few go on to experience. And while the NHL Draft is a memorable time, the range of emotions these young men go through is real.
As the 2018 edition nears, we asked a handful of Ducks to recall their experiences at the draft and the days leading up to it. Their recollections will be part of a feature series leading up to this year's draft on June 22-23 in Dallas.
Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler entered the 2010 NHL Draft in LA as the fifth ranked North American skater - the second highest-rated defenseman. In front of him were defenseman Erik Gudbranson (No. 4), right wing (and recent Stanley Cup champion) Brett Connolly (No. 3), left wing Taylor Hall (No. 2) and center Tyler Seguin (No. 1). A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Fowler concluded a Memorial Cup-winning season with the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires. He ranked seventh among OHL defensemen in scoring (55 points, 8g/47a) and added 14 points (3g/11a) in 19 playoff games.

As one of the top defensemen available in the draft, Fowler was projected by many to go somewhere in the top five. Because of this, Fowler was mic'd up and had a camera crew chronicling his experience. As he made his way from the hotel to Staples Center, and eventually to his seating location, he was filmed every step of the way. Expectations were high. Fowler was enjoying the moment.
"As I was walking into Staples Center, I was super excited," Fowler recalls. "A lot of butterflies. Pretty nervous. Basically the whole thing isn't under your control. You have to sit and wait."
He was with friends and family. "A lot of great people around me," he says.

The major storyline heading into the draft was dubbed Taylor vs. Tyler. [The first names of Hall and Seguin, respectively.]. Which one would get taken first? Edmonton held the first overall selection and Boston had the No. 2 pick. Then, it was Florida at No. 3, Columbus at No. 4 and the New York Islanders at No. 5. Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta were next with the sixth, seventh and eighth picks, respectively.
"Going into draft day, I was under the impression I wouldn't get past No. 5," says Fowler. "That's what I was told. That's basically the impression I was under."
As Fowler sat in his seat, he heard the names being called. The Oilers picked Hall. The Bruins picked Seguin. Florida took Gudbranson.
"Everything will work out in the end," Fowler said at the time to the camera that was filming his experience. "A team picks you because it's the right situation for you. Erik is a great player, and I'm really happy for him. Everything will work out for me. I'll find the right situation."
But as the picks kept coming, Fowler's demeanor began to change. At one point, former NHL executive/scout and current TSN analyst Craig Button made his way to Fowler and reminded him it's what happens on the ice that really matters; not where in the draft he's taken.
"You'll get there," he said to Fowler. "Keep your head up."
The Ducks were holding the 12th overall selection, the first of two picks they had in the opening round. Before them, though, were Minnesota at No. 9, the New York Rangers at No. 10 and Dallas at No. 11. Minnesota selected center Mikael Granlund, New York took defenseman Dylan McIlrath and Dallas drafted goaltender Jack Campbell.
As the Ducks brass made its way to the stage, the Fowler family braced themselves. It was after these words, spoken by Anaheim's Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray, when the wait was finally over.
"Anaheim is proud to select from the Windsor Spitfires, Cam Fowler."
Hugs and kisses followed. Fowler's dream had been achieved.
Nearly eight years have passed, but he remembers the feelings well.
"It was a really hard day, quite honestly," he says. "By no means am I upset. I consider myself extremely thankful I was drafted by Anaheim. Hopefully I'll spend my entire career here." [Fowler has since signed an eight-year contract extension that takes him through the 2025-26 season].
"You have those expectations, and people are telling you certain things, and then it doesn't happen," Fowler says. "I had cameras in my face the entire time, which didn't make it any easier. For an 18-year-old kid, for that to happen on national television in front of people, that was super hard. It was a hard day that turned into pure joy once my name was called."

Often times when a player is taken in the first couple of rounds, they will be handed a jersey with their name on the back. Teams come prepared with multiple nameplates of guys they think/hope they can get. Fowler's jersey, though, had no name. After all, he was expected to go much higher in the draft.
"What I was told was Anaheim pretty much had me in the top three," Fowler says. "I don't think they thought I was going to be there when they were able to pick."
Maybe everything really does happen for a reason.
"If there is one thing in my life that has made me realize that, it was that moment," he says. "I can't imagine myself being any place different. The way Anaheim has treated me and the life we're able to have outside of hockey living in a beautiful state. A lot of things worked out. But at the time, it was tough. I'm thankful with how everything worked out."
Fowler made the team out of training camp and spent his rookie season living at the Niedermayer house. His experience living with the likes of Hall-of-Famer Scott Niedermayer, his wife Lisa, and their four sons was documented in this

.
"Being able to do that was such a great tool for me because I was able to focus on hockey," Fowler says. "I never really lived by myself. As an 18-year-old kid, you have a lot of learning to do on the ice, but just as much, if not more, off the ice. How to treat your body, the things you should be eating, the rest you should be getting. To Scott and his whole family, they made the transition super easy for me. To this day, I'm still very thankful for that."