Undrafted: Hockey, Family, and What It Takes to Be a Pro | Nick Kypreos
True stories and hard-won lessons about a life of hockey, from a Stanley Cup champion and top analyst. I was unconscious before I hit the ice. The fight happened in New York, where just three years before Id won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers. And now, I was literally fighting to keep my job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, to prove I could help my team. I didnt know it, but my playing career was about to end. As a child growing up in Toronto, Nick Kypreos lived for hockey and dreamed of following in his idols footsteps to play in the NHL. Hockey was an important part of the Kypreos household. It was largely through the game that his immigrant Greek parents acclimatized to their new lives in Canada, and from a young age Kyper proved he was more than good enough to move through the ranks. But he was never a top prospecthe didnt even attend the NHL draft when he became eligible. And yet, through dedication and constant improvement, he made it to the show. Kypreos built a career on his tireless work ethic and made a name for himself for always having a positive influence on team morale. A medium-weight fighter, he squared off with the leagues toughest players, including Chris Simon, Joey Kocur, and Scott Stevensanything to give his team an edge. Ultimately, he was brought to the New York Rangers to help them win the Stanley Cup in 1994their first in 54 yearswith the legendary Mark Messier. And then he got to live his other dream: playing for his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. When a concussion forced him to retire early, it changed his life. But the lessons hed learned on the ice over eight seasons helped him build a new career as a top hockey analyst and personality for Sportsnet. For twenty seasons he provided unique insight on the evolving game, and a players perspective on the biggest discussions of the day. Revealing, fun, and brutally honest, Undrafted shows the challenges of being a pro player. Its a story of the resilience it takes to prove yourself every night, and how the right attitude can lead to the greatest success, not only in the arena, but in life.