Hoffman was 'dreaming' on drive to NHL Draft

MONTREAL -- Thirteen years ago, Mike Hoffman took a once-in-a-lifetime road trip that he'll cherish forever.

Accompanied by his parents, Todd and Debb, the then 19-year-old QMJHL standout made the six-hour trek from Kitchener to Montreal to attend the NHL Draft at the Bell Centre.
Naturally, his mind was racing with anticipation as he prepared to learn where he was headed.
"There were a few possibilities here and there of which team was going to pick me, so I was just talking over scenarios. I was dreaming a little bit of eventually playing in the League one day," recalled Hoffman. "You're excited and you're anxious, almost like you're driving to a hockey game. You've got a lot of adrenaline going, and obviously you're a little nervous at the same time."
Hoffman was ultimately selected on the second day of the festivities.
The Ottawa Senators made him a fifth-round pick (130th overall) after choosing defenseman Chris Wideman with their previous pick in Round 4.
"With me being from Ontario and my mom actually growing up in Ottawa, it was very cool and kind of fitting to the whole situation," mentioned Hoffman, who went on to play 342 regular season games over seven seasons for the Sens. "She always said it would be cool to go back there to see me play at some point, and thankfully it worked out."

Hoffman didn't become an NHL regular overnight, though.
It took five more years before he was a mainstay in the nation's capital beginning in 2014-15.
"There was still a lot of work ahead of me, a lot of hard work and determination and wanting to be an NHL player behind it all, but obviously being a fifth-round pick, you're not given everything, so you've got to work for everything that's gone your way and take advantage of every opportunity," stressed Hoffman. "Things change quickly and there's new players drafted every year, so it was really about taking no time off. You've got to have the right mindset and keep working hard if you want to be successful. That was my motivation."
It's no surprise that the veteran's message for the incoming Draft class is along the same lines.
Success at the next level isn't always a given.
"The Draft is a tremendous experience, something you'll remember for the rest of your life, but it's only the beginning. You never want to take anything for granted. It's a great accomplishment, but there's a long road ahead of you," insisted Hoffman. "You've got that extra bit of confidence now, and hopefully that can lead to you evolving your game, evolving as a person off the ice, and learning how to become a pro."

The Canadiens winger appreciates that his career has come full circle now that he calls the host venue for his Draft his hockey home.
And he can't wait for prospects to experience the magic of the building for themselves early next month.
"I got a taste of the Bell Centre atmosphere the day I was drafted and all the history behind it. I couldn't tell the future at the time, but it's kind of cool the route that your career and life takes you. Sometimes, it circles back around to where it all started," reminisced Hoffman. "Being drafted in one of the coolest buildings in the world was pretty special, and now having the opportunity to play for Montreal, it's another good memory."