Timothy T. Ludwig-US PRESSWIRE
Like a lot of other hockey fans, I’m not optimistic about the prospect of seeing any NHL hockey in the next few weeks. In no particular order, here’s what I’ll miss during the lockout.
I will miss Cal Clutterbuck’s mustache and slicked-over hair that would make him look right at home in the 1920s.
I will miss Clutterbuck crashing into 300+ opponents and chirping at them from the bench or penalty box.
I will miss Mikko Koivu making magical passes indiscriminately to teammates.
I will miss Dany Heatley lifting his stick to 12 o’clock and then hammering a slap shot, even if it doesn’t find the back of the net nearly as much as it used to.
I will miss seeing the Minnesota Wild third jerseys, the greatest uniform in all of sports.
I will miss seeing number 11 and number 20 take the ice for the first time.
I will miss seeing the smallest player on the ice in every game he plays, Jared Spurgeon, taking the puck from behind his own net and bolting across the blue line.
I will miss watching Nicklas Backstrom make impossible saves as he slides from one post to the other.
I will miss the look on Kyle Brodziak’s face while he plays, like he’s trying to solve a really difficult math problem in his head.
I will miss Mikael Granlund making his debut, and holding my breath every time he carries the puck so see what kind of wizardry he’s about to pull off.
I will miss checking the box scores every morning, and looking ahead to see who plays Saturday night.
I will miss the inexplicable wardrobe choices of Don Cherry, and the online videos of him playing his desk organ.
I will miss the Ryan Getzlaf jokes.
I will miss watching the games (in particular the Wild) and knowing that for three hours or so, nothing else matters in the whole world.
Most of all…
I will just miss the hockey.
