Ants on a Blog: Reflections on 88 Games

After Saturday's Game 6 loss to Colorado I set my Facebook status to "Jared Mason is sullen, down-trodden, and some other third thing." The last part is a Metalocalypse reference, but the more I thought about it I realized there definitely was some other third thing bothering me. I've been feeling it for months, probably; I only noticed it recently, though. Looking back, this was a very successful season overall. So why does it seem to me that this season stressed me out more than any other so far?

There were plenty of reasons for pride. This year, at least our regular season, was by far our best. But it seemed that for all the bright spots, there was also darkness causing me worry. I think there was more good, yet somehow I let my vision linger too long in the dark.

The Wild won the Northwest Division, their first in their seven seasons and Minnesota's first in 24 years (North Stars '83-84 season). Undoubtedly awesome. It will be a glorious day when we raise that banner to the rafters, the second banner raised in Wild history after retiring jersey #1 for Wild fans.

Gaborik stayed (comparatively) healthy all year and put up record numbers, showing his worth after years of patience from the State. He was held to a single point in six playoff games--more a testament to Colorado's attention than will or effort on Gabby's part.

Rolston was yet again a stud--in different ways, too, since fewer and fewer teams and goalies fall for his one-trick-pony slapshot. He lead the team in playoff points (2g, 4a) and was a +4. He was a calm, wise voice of reason in the locker room.

Parrish, too, said important things all season. This is good, since he didn't do many good things on the ice all season.

We're left to ponder what wonders Koivu could have accomplished if hadn't missed 25 games after Ohlund played Paul Bunyan with his ankle. Still though, producing 3g and 2a in the playoffs, Koivu emerged this season like a mighty narwhal through arctic ice. He lead by example, his teammates playing with him like an inspired murder of narwhals.

Backstrom was Blind Guardian in goal (that's a good thing for you non-BG dorks).

Harding struggled, but his starts tripled and included stretches of excellence.

Bouchard established a Wild record with 50 assists and gave us another (dare I say better) shootout spin-o-rama.

Burns became an historic Wild defender and an intoxicating player to watch. He made us have fun by having fun himself.

Schultz was Eastwood on our blue line. His inspiring Game 6 appearance is illustrative of what kind of professional grace we can expect for six more years.

Veilleux was like the ghost of Wes Walz. Honor Walz! Retire #37! Maybe the day we raise the Northwest Champs banner we'll raise a third one, eh? #37 to the rafters? It would be the height of classiness.

We ought to thank Fedoruk, Boogaard, Carney, Hill, Simon, and even Voros for the gravel in our gut and the spit in our eye. They policed accountability on teams taking liberties on our once namby-pamby physical game. They added fear to our arsenal.

Skoula... tried really hard.

Jaime MacDonald wrote pregame summaries for Wild.com all season. The only other writer I've read more is Tolkien. The two main things I've appreciated about MacDonald's summaries is his stubborn positivity and accurate eye for aftermath. I was a complete mess after each loss this year. The next day at work would reek of even grimmer death. Maybe the previous night I was looking only for our flaws. Maybe I was watching Skoula too much. Maybe I got too drunk--all three are probable. Then I'd eventually bring myself to read the upcoming pregame analysis, which would include observations and quotes about the previous game, and I'd feel better. Even after Game 4, which looked like the Avalanche against us warming house rubes, MacDonald wrote with hope and complied quotes that kept even me hanging on.

As for MacDonald's accurate eye, he shared an anecdote after Game 6 that I think summed up the entire season and the respect Lemaire deserves:

"It all reminded one of a subtle moment from Saturday's morning skate. Prior to the players hitting the ice, Lemaire was pushing a couple pucks around in one corner. As some of the coaches like to do, like basketball players shooting trick shots at practice, he tried to play a 200-foot bank shot off the far boards at the red line. Lemaire's puck made contact at exactly the red line, which is almost as much luck as it is skill, and it bounced towards the goal at the other end of the rink. The puck slowed down on the soggy, recently Zam-ed ice and eventually came to rest, straight on course for the goal, between the circles and the crease.

Lemaire did everything right, even found a little luck, but his shot, well on its way, just came up a bit short this time."

So back to the original question: why this dread? I think I invested a lot more into the team this year than in the past. Out of 82 regular season games and 6 playoff games, I can count how many I missed on one hand. Those that I missed, I taped... like, on VHS. I read game previews and pregame analysis (there's a difference) on Wild.com for just about every game. I read postgame summaries from three -.coms: Wild, ESPN, and NHL. I also read any article or segment on the three sites that gave mention of the Wild. I went to four games this year--not a lot but more than in the past--including Game 1 of the playoffs. Coincidentally, the Wild won one of those games (the only win I've ever seen live in nine seasons).

Maybe it comes down to simple logic: the more invested, the greater the risk. Like John Cusack in the rain: invested, soaking wet, yelling, "Wild, you fuckin' bitch. Let's work it out!"

I was angry leading up to Saturday night. I had put so much energy into the season and felt betrayed because the guys had let themselves (and myself) get into such a vulnerable position. Then I felt guilty because I realized I probably didn't have the right to feel betrayed.

So if it weren't for my hangover on Sunday morning, I would have risen early and driven to St. Paul and stood outside the Xcel, a boombox in my raised hands, Peter Gabriel waking the Wild and beckoning them to windows in their nighties.

It would have worked out; there would have been a yearbook ending before this season's credits. Even without an "In Your Eyes" ending, though, it'll still be OK. That's good, because it's probably better not to see Todd Fedoruk in frillies and lace.

It's my fault for feeling unwarranted betrayal. More invested, the greater the risk? There's just as much risk for reward, and it's my fault for not concentrating more on those rewards. Truly, this was the greatest season yet, but two comparisons make it a close running.

2007-08:
Marginally speaking, last season featured the Wild breaking 100 points (104) for a franchise record. It was a fun, high-scoring season with exciting shootouts and unknown players offering surprises each game. The season was soured only by a quick thwarting by the eventual cup champions, the Ducks.

2003:
2003 was magical because of heart taking the team so far into the playoffs, overcoming ridiculous odds. The guys made NHL history by wining two series after trailing 3-1. On paper, there was no way we should have done so well, and that's what made it so fun. It will take a Cup year to oust 2003 from being the most memorable season.

I feel better, but now what? There's the rest of the playoffs, another whole month of choking and heroism. Then we enter a dreadful lull. Luckily, though, it's summer and there are other things to distract:

- not getting ten-run-ruled in Park Tavern softball
- getting ten-pitcher-ruled at Park Tavern after softball
- Hip Replacement gigs
- Frisbee golf
- grilling and hefeweizen
- Sunday brunch with the Hawk, Kool Hanz, T-Square and the Hip Hop Nation
- scabs from biking
- garmz (Mario Kart Wii on April 27th! Who's hostin' the tourney?)
- camping/moss masks
- night swims at Cedar Lake
- bistro bar scenes--still looking for a local equivalent to Mankato's Blue Bricks

Hockey hibernates. Updates at Wild.com come about twice a month--thrice if I'm lucky. A couple important hockey-related events become the focal points:

June 20th:
2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Wild will have a pretty high pick because of their excellent season. Let's hope scouts Tommy Thompson and Blair Mackasey land another Bouchard, Koivu, Burns, Schultz, etc. Will there be another huge trade on draft day, like the one that brought Demitra into Gabby's arms?

July 1st:
2008 NHL Free Agent Market opens. This is the longest and often the most stressful part of the summer. The action really picks up in August, but each day could bring awesome or awful news. For once in eight years, the Wild are thin through center. Do we break from history and trade a draft pick for a big name center? Can you imagine: Demitra-Jokinen-Gaborik? We have a lot--I mean a lot--of weeding to do in our own garden, too. What do we do with Carney, Demitra, Rolston, Bouchard, and Foster? Those are the five biggest names in the list of restricted and unrestricted free agents. Do they let Demitra go or Rolston? Can we afford both Rolston and Demitra? At what expense? What about Gabby without Demo? Who's going to comb Gabby's hair?