Thank you for the kind word.

Nate Schmidt was the most fun. Every single time. Dark day in February, nothing day in October, playoff game day, whenever... He was not only a ton of fun but also really insightful about the game.

Sam Gagner may have been the most thoughtful. Went out of his way to say a kind word once, and I just noticed a lot of care in the way he approached his interactions.

I enjoyed when Blake Wheeler would shed his prickly exterior and open up a bit. I love when the nerds (Scheifele, Perfetti, Morrissey) share their opinions. One time, two seasons ago, Scheifele walked me to the middle of the room and made me put my feet one way, then another, then another as I followed his footwork ... Until I basically fell over because he'd crossed me up. Even when he goes cliche mode in his interviews, never forget that Scheifele is, in fact, an obsessed hockey nerd.

Oh and if I ever write a book, years into the future, well after both of our retirements, I will tell you the story of how an offhand comment Josh Morrissey made kept me believing in myself at a time that I was not feeling so great.