There is a progression to these things.
It starts with soul-crushing disappointment and that comes just after the final horn. It’s that immediate realization that a team that has always found a way, just couldn’t find a way. In this case, that disappointment lasted only a few seconds though because in that moment, the most important thing was to let that team know how much their efforts were appreciated.
The second wave of disappointment comes the day after. Shock, is probably the best word for it. Watching highlights, reading other people’s thoughts on what went wrong and in my particular case, nursing a devastating hangover. Some people will immediately move on to talking about what went wrong and how they can fix it in the off-season. Some of us will just kind of stare blankly into the distance.
Phase two is honestly worse than phase one.
This morning is the start of phase three. The Void. This is the time when you truly appreciate the scale of the loss and the unsettling void that has been left in their absence. It’s the first day when there should be another game and it’s the first day when you can truly begin to confront how long it’s gonna be until we see them again. It’s when you start to notice all the jerseys and shirts and random memorabilia that has accumulated around the house over the last few weeks and when you begin to consider the possibility of putting some of those things away. I’m not ready to do that yet but soon.
That’s where I’m at this morning.
Appreciation comes next. For the team, for their incredible progress and in my case, for the loyal readers that kept this site going this season. Then there’s Opportunity. Where I’ll start to really consider the strides the team took this year and what they’ll be able to accomplish next season. It’s in here where I’ll start to feel joy again and it will most likely come in the form of each Florida Panthers win. Growth follows opportunity. This is where the mind drifts to the off-season ahead and improvements that can be made to the roster and in my case, ways that we can take this site to the next level. It ends with Excitement. The Draft, Free Agency and an irrationally early countdown towards the first rookie camp scrimmage.
I’ll get to all of those. Some of your are already onto those last couple steps. But if anyone needs me, I’ll be in The Void until further notice.
Go Sens Go.