Are we ready for some real, honest-to-goodness NHL hockey? Enough pre-season games, enough watching players who will end up back in junior hockey or the minors.
It’s almost time….
For the puck to drop for our team. Time to see if our early season optimism and excitement will be well-placed. Time to see how the big changes in Tampa affect the Lightning. Time to see if Steven Stamkos is NHL ready. Time to watch Brodeur, Kiprusoff and Fleury make incredible saves. Time to watch the defensemen like Phanuef, Chara and Rob Blake make and take incredible hits. Time for Crosby, Ovechkin, Lecavalier, Iginla, Datsyuk and countless others to pull us from our seats with their amazing play. Time to see how Coach Barry Melrose pulls it all together in Tampa Bay and how Ron Wilson withstands the heat inToronto. Time for new faces in news places – R. J. Umberger a Blue Jacket?? Wade Redden a Ranger?? The NHL without Jaromir Jagr?? The Canucks without Trevor Linden?? It’s only been a couple of months – how could the hockey landscape change so drastically?
It’s almost time…
To wipe the slate clean if our team had a bad season and look forward to a great one this year. Time to renew rivalries and to start new ones. Time to hope everything gels and we win the Cup. Time to hope the rookies fulfill their promise and the sophomores aren’t jinxed. Time for “stadium food” and heartburn!
It’s almost time…
To start scheduling our lives around games. Time to say to friends, “I’d like to go out tonight but, it’s the Ranger (or Avalanche or Kings, etc.) game!” Time to talk to other fans about the good and the bad. Time to say, “Did you see that? How did he do that? How did he make that save?” Time to read more hockey blogs and form more opinions.
It’s almost time…
For all the joy of the NHL to begin again, to start collecting memories and watching history made right before our eyes. Time to cheer at the top of our lungs along with 16,000 or so of our closest friends. I, for one, can’t wait!!
Happy Hockey Season!
Net on home page and puck photo credit: Andrew Lavigne
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