JEN:
Dear Diary,
The off-season sure is boring. Yet, being a hockey addict, I had to get my weekly fix. This past week wasn't too bad, but it wasn't super exciting either.
Last Saturday, I went to my first ever Ducks' prospects' conditioning camp. Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are that anything Ducks related that doesn't include Ryan Getzlaf got me out of the house on my day off. I asked Kristin if she wanted to go, and her response? "Heh, yeah...I'm not going to that with you." Anyways, I wouldn't be totally alone because I promised Arthur I would be there, and I didn't want to disappoint him - again (ask Arthur).
I feel like such a slacker compared to Arthur. He is, quite literally, a walking encyclopedia of hockey knowledge. He knew everything there ever was to know about every player on the ice. What did I know? Not much. I had to stop telling myself that jerseys "54" and "51" were not Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf, but Cam Fowler (the draft pick I'm SICK of hearing about already) and Kyle Palmieri (the guy who really enjoys adult beverages), respectively.I wasn't totally clear on the rules of the scrimmage, too. There are no power plays, instead there is a penalty shot. It's not your regular penalty shot, either. The shooter gets a head start to streak down the ice and then everyone chases him. I have no idea why. Also, the game ended with one team winning, but they went into overtime. Huh?
Next to Arthur, there were two other bright spots. I finally got to meet the elusive Earl Sleek from Battle of California , in his lucky green shirt. I felt like I had come face to face with God himself. Ok, maybe that's a little bit of exaggeration, but it was still quite thrilling to meet him. He is hysterical. Yet, our time together was brief, as Earl had to leave for his own birthday dinner. My heart was crushed, but I knew there will be other times for me and Mr. Sleek.
After Earl left, we were joined by the young man we've all grown to know and love as brokenyard. I had to laugh when he came up and asked, "Are you guys Jen and Arthur?" For some reason, it was really funny to me that anyone would know (and care) who we are and didn't want to punch us in the face. Being the angel that I am, I took the boys out for a drink after the scrimmage ended. Yet, oddly, neither of them put out. I thought that was the rule when you buy someone a drink...?
The rest of the week was more about hockey news or the lack thereof.
We found out that Teemu and Bob Murray were "talking" during the week. Yeah, that means nothing. I want to know if there's going to be a press conference or a contract - that's it.
The over-speculation on Bobby Ryan's contract situation is starting to get on my nerves. Since everyone and their mom have been talking about it, that would indicate that means progress had been made on a deal, right? NOPE. Nothing has changed since weeks prior when Bobby turned down the 5 year, $25M deal and the 4 year, $18.4M deal. It's a long summer and I don't foresee any progress soon. Same goes for Ilya Kovalchuk being a King...zzzzzzzzzz. Wake me up when something happens.
The Ducks signed some other people that weren't Teemu or Bobby.
I'm a little sad that Mike Modano won't be joining the hot-ness trifecta in Anaheim. No, I didn't want to pay him to play for us, but he is kinda pretty to look at.
The man I fell in love with at the draft while he was an executive with the Montreal Canadians, Julien Brisebois, is now the assistant GM in Tampa Bay. Looks like I'll be stalking him when the Bolts come to town. Hopefully he's gotten rid of that pesky wife, in the meantime.
And finally, my heart was ripped out once more this week as the love of my life, Ryan Getzlaf, posted his engagement pictures online; thus beginning my shame spiral.
Until next time America,
Jen Getzlaf