A Summer without Hockey

Most guys are putting up the skates and pulling out the golf clubs. It’s another customary close to another good hockey season.

I caught myself watching a replay of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals today. It really was a great series even though Sidney Crosby admitted at one point they were “hanging on as long as they can”. I think we all know what he was talking about. Detroit really was excellent, as much as I hate to admit it. I’m a die hard Avalanche fan and a Colorado native so you know where my heart lies. That’s why I hope the Wings start to show their age next year and stop cultivating such great young talent-- like that will happen any time soon.

I wish I was more excited about the new era of Tony Granato. Or is it the re-run of a past era? I don’t know exactly what has changed since he coached last, but the organization must have a reason to give him another shot at it. I hope. 

I did have to laugh at the press conference when they announced his appointment. I was reminded of Mark Twain’s famous quote that there are “lies, damned lies, and statistics” when they announced Granato’s numbers as a head coach. Apparently, he has the fifth highest winning percentage of all active coaches. Wahoo.

I just hope he can take a page from Babcock’s Coaching Handbook and get the Avs working on conditioning, positioning, and discipline. Heck, I’d be happy if he can get us into the playoffs relatively healthy. That would be a start anyway.
I want to be optimistic about the future for the Avs and I really do wish the preseason was starting tomorrow, but I’m not quite there yet. I think Colorado has a long way to go and some serious personnel decisions that I’m glad I don’t have to make. They need to keep Foote, but that’s about all I know for sure. 

Maybe I’m glad we don’t have hockey all summer. It will give the teams a chance to regroup. It’s obvious the refs need some time off after some of those sucker calls and a few of those non-calls (they did pretty well overall though). I know the Avs could use the time off to get healthy and refocus. And I know my wife is happy to have the TV back a few more nights of the week. This is good.

What am I saying!?!  I’m sorry, but that’s not what I want at all. I want to see hockey every night of the week again. I want to see if Jose Theodore is ruined for life after the Detroit series or if he can get back to his late season form. I want to see what Tony can do.    

I don’t want to go stinkin’ golfing. I want to be on an ice cold rink on a hot day with the promise of a few beers after the game.

I want hockey!  I can’t get enough of it and I wish the season started tomorrow… but that just isn’t going to happen. At least I saved a few games from the Minnesota/Avalanche series on the DVR. It might get me through the summer, but I seriously doubt it.

Anyway, try to make the best of it and don’t put those skates up just yet.