I’m sure I was like anyone else waiting for the season to start. The offseason is a desert—a long stretch of time with no hockey-related sustenance in sight. Yes, the Predators picked up Dan Hamhuis; I remember being excited about the upgrade to the third pair. And, yes, the team did not re-sign Alexei Emelin, which was a kindness, but there wasn’t much off-season activity to keep me nourished. No major UFA signings, no major rumors…nothing.
In order to stay alive, I had to work with memories—traces, if you will, of last season to sustain me until the new season started.