CHICAGO - Even while answering questions from a crowd of reporters in the pouring rain, it's hard to imagine there being anywhere other than Chicago that hockey's top prospects would rather be on Thursday night.
Besides, with barely 24 hours to go until their futures are decided at United Center on Friday, media day on the Chicago River served as a welcome distraction. Most of the prospects were in agreement that the reality of their situation was only now starting to set in.
"A little bit, yeah," Mississauga forward Owen Tippett said. "You try not to think about it too much. I'm not really picky, just trying to be grateful and thankful for whatever team picks me."