Let the NHL Season Begin!

It's been a wonderful Summer...swimming, golfing, relaxing on the deck. But now it's time to put on the shoulder pads and the goofy looking pants, remove the front teeth you lost in a bench-clearing brawl in college, pull up your favourite chair, and watch some HOCKEY!

The 2011 / 2012 NHL season starts tonight, and promises to be another competitive battle for Lord Stanley's cup. One of the marquee machups tonight is a battle of Original Six rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs against this year's eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Montreal Canadiens (get used to the attitude people, it's going to be a long season).

I know what you're thinking. "Don, can you give us some of your insightful predictions for this season in general, and the Habs in particular?" Well, since you asked so nicely...

The League

The league clamps down on the head-shots. Brendan Shanahan, the league's disciplinarian, is busier than Macy's on Christmast Eve, and gives out several multi-game suspensions, including some double-digit gamers. He's not popular, but teams adjust.

Sidney Crosby never quite regains his brillance of years past. He returns to the game, but always lacks the spark that made him great.

The newly reformed Winnipeg Jets start the season with some excitement, and quickly fade into oblivian. Bobby Hull contemplates a comeback.

Boston proves to be a one-hit wonder, never regaining the magic that brought them last year's Stanley Cup. (Hab fans try to feel sorry for them...but fail)

The Habs

Markov plays, off and on, but never has full impact on the ice. The rest of the defence pick up the slack, and his lack of productivity is hardly noticed.

P.K. Subban continues to get under the rest of the league's skin. His fresh, emotional attitude to the game lifts both fans and fellow teammates. His point total rises, and he's voted into the All Star Game.

Scotty Gomez puts the past behind him and pushes the 25 goal mark. People stop wondering what all the fuss was about as he finally claims his position among the team's elite.

Carey Price plays 2,000 straight games and when he finally takes a night off, backup Peter Budaj can't find his skates (he sold them on eBay at the start of the season, and nobody noticed).

In the Spring, Brian Gionta is presented with the Stanley Cup. The folks from Guinness immediately rush onto the ice with a measuring tape and declare a new world record in the height difference the cup was raised in successive years.

My sons are Lightning and Black Hawks fans, so just for them...

Tampa Bay's offence pops in goals like they're constantly on the power play. Unfortunately, their defence plays like they've pulled their goalie. They do okay in the standings but fade come playoff time.

Chicago tries to make up for last year when they were the reigning cup champions and barely snuck into the playoffs. They improve to 5th in the conference and get by the first round of the playoffs, then it's golf season for them again.

The best part about a new season is the possibilities. As in life, possibilites bring new hope and excitement to see how things play out. Anything is possible. Good luck to you and your team! I look forward to the battle.

   Don

Homework

I spent many years doing homework. It was never enjoyable, watching your siblings play while you slogged through seemingly endless math problems. I became grumpy...and sad. And even though I knew it had to get done, I always found something better to concentrate on. "I wonder how many pencil-lengths it is across my desk? Let's find out." I work best in short bursts. I always have. Long-term concentration and focus was never my best attribute.

Today I get to do homework again...with my kids. It's still not enjoyable. It still makes me, and them, grumpy. We still find any excuse to distract ourselves. "Hey, Dad. I bet I could flip my eraser into this cup. Let's find out." My kids work best in short bursts. Very short, apparently. Long-term concentration and focus isn't their strong suit. Ask their teachers.

The only positive thing about helping them do their homework these days, is that I can usually find a way to use some sort of computing device. I wish I'd had all this technology when I was a kid. Correcting typing mistakes with White-Out was pretty slow. But my parents helped me...so I'll help my kids too. It's just the way it is.

And in case you're wondering....my desk is almost 9 pencil-lengths across.

   Don

Sleep

Why do we need sleep? I suppose I get that there is a requirement for us to shut down, repair our wounds, and recharge our batteries. But seriously, is it really necessary? My brain continues to work (all that blood pumping and air breathing), and my eyes continue to twitch (the whole REM sleep stuff), so why can't I just lay still and relax? Is there really any difference between watching TV and being stone-cold asleep? And 8 hours? Come on!

The best part about going to sleep is the interesting journey I can send my mind on. I can be anything I want to be, and do anything I want to do. And if I fall asleep, I get to dream in vivid Technicolor. I don't care whether it's a good dream (wow! This is really FUN!), or a bad dream (I'm soooooo sad....but when I wake up, I'm THRILLED to learn it was just a dream).

The worst part about going to sleep is (no, not sharing the blankets with my wife) the total waste of time. I have LOTS of things to do in my life. I have so much to learn, and hopefully, so much to contribute. I can't waste my time curled up in a ball sucking my thumb (ok, so I don't do that anymore). There really needs to be a faster way to rejuvenate the body.

Science! We need you on this one. Get to work please, and report back your status. I'm going to go take a nap.

   Don