Imagine a world where 30 teams have a shot at the playoffs. Imagine a moment in time when the Red Wings and Islanders stand on equal footing. A time when every prospect is going to score 30 goals and every young defenseman is going to be reliable. Where every off-season trade works out perfectly and every free agent signing is a stroke of genius. If John Lennon were a hockey fan and alive today, that’s how he’d describe the feeling of hope that surrounds Opening Night.
There’s nothing better than that feeling of walking into the arena for the first time of the season. For 29 teams, last year ended with the huge letdown of defeat. For some teams, the season ended in bitter disappointment of a 7 game series gone sideways. Other fans didn’t even feel the thrill of the playoffs—they experienced their disappointment as early as February when their teams made it clear they weren’t going anywhere. You can argue whether it’s better to come close and lose or never have a chance. I’m sure Sharks fans will give you one answer. Lightning fans will give you another. Either way, I think we can all agree that they both suck.
Is this the year that Johnson lives up to that "JMFJ" thing? Damn right it is!
But those feelings of disgust are a thing of the past. It’s a new season—with new hopes and dreams dancing in our head. If you’re a Pens fan, you may dare to let your mind wander to the thought of back-to-back championships. If you’re a Blackhawks fan, you daydream about conquering the Wings and making it to the Stanley Cup Finals (and beyond). If you represent the San Jose Sharks, you might even hallucinate long enough to envision a trip to the playoffs that lasts longer than 1 round. That’s right, I said it.
What’s great about Opening Night is that it allows everyone to dream. That’s the funny thing about expectations: a season that is celebrated in Nashville would be lamented in Detroit. Do you think Predator fans would be happy if their team made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs? They’d be happier than a 19 year old boy at Hugh Hefner’s place! But if they Red Wings were knocked out in the 2nd round, all of Detroit would riot. Wait—they only riot when they win. My apologies.
Just think about what could happen with the Kings this season. Allow yourself to dream about Drew Doughty and Wayne Simmonds continuing to grow into their roles in the NHL. Think about what the Kings will be able to do if Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth stay healthy all season. Envision Anze Kopitar developing into one of the most dangerous top-line centers in the entire league. Imagine Jack Johnson fulfilling his JMFJ moniker. If all of those visions come to fruition, the Kings could make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. That might not be anything to the New Jersey Devils—but it would be a huge step forward for a fanbase that’s desperate for ANYTHING to cheer for. There are a ton of “what if’s,” but right now—everyone is still hoping for the best.
Obviously, the fans in Pittsburgh have high expectations...
The great part about Opening Night is every fanbase in the league has some version of the same dream. Which players are going to take the next step in their development? Which of their young players are going to be future superstars? Which of those great offseason moves will prove to be THE MOVE that helps get their team to the next level? Everyone’s dreaming the same dream because EVERYONE has a chance. Even the worst teams in the league can ask themselves, “Is this the year that we start seeing the fruits of our rebuild?” No one has started the Tank for Taylor Hall movement—yet.
On the other hand, there are teams that feel like this is the start of something special. Fans for teams like the Penguins, Red Wings, Blackhawks and Flyers (among others) think that the regular season is only the start to bigger things this spring. They’ll look at their team under a microscope because in the back of their mind, they know that they have the kind of team that can win it all. There’s a feeling of hope stemming from the fact that they KNOW that they’re good. It’s like walking into a party with the hottest girl (or guy) in the room—some fans KNOW they have the hot date going into the season. Let’s be real: Penguins fans have a sexier date than the Panthers.
As of October 1st, everyone has something to hope for. It’s a clean slate and everyone’s starting from scratch. No one is out of the playoff hunt. Nobody is dealing with season ending injuries. Nobody is watching their rivals down the 5 freeway win the Stanley Cup.
Within a month, people will be calling for trades and new coaches—but today there’s a feeling of optimism. THAT is the greatness of Opening Night.
Matt Reitz is the Editor-In-Chief here at ViewFromMySeats.com and former NHL Writer for ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports. When he’s not shoving a mic in the face of NHLers or explaining why home teams should wear white, he’s usually trying to figure out what song to play next on his iPod. It’s a never-ending job.
