Blue Jackets Give New Meaning to 'Fantasy Hockey'

It's every fan's dream to own an NHL team, and I'm sure we've all spent some time thinking about what we would do if we actually did own one. Maybe take the Zamboni out for a spin? Challenge the star player to a bit of one-on-one? Or -- if you're really thinking this one through -- you can split up your players and draft fantasy teams during training camp and have a full-on competition. That's exactly what the Columbus Blue Jackets are doing during their first two days of training camp.

According to the Columbus Dispatch the idea was thought up by coach Ken Hitchcock as a way to get management more involved without stepping on any toes and to familiarize the players and owners with each other -- two groups that sometimes are very unfamiliar with each other. The team's four owners got together and drafted four teams which will play each other in a mini-tournament during training camp. They each drafted 16 skaters as the goaltenders will rotate throughout the teams.

There's no word on who got first pick and Rick Nash -- does that just go to the majority owner? -- and the draft order is being kept under lock and key. They certainly don't need a real life version of the South Park episode in which the girls make a list of the cutest boys and all hell breaks loose. Personally, I'm putting my money on whichever team happens to end up with Steve Mason.

Now if only I could get the money to buy a hockey team myself. This sounds like way too much fun to pass up. I guess I had better start buying some lottery tickets!