1) It wasn't a banner year for the Montreal Canadiens, but it was a memorable one. Here's to redemption, from Pierre Gauthier and Jacques Martin to Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien; To the restoration of Habs values, soiled for a brief blip on the team's history map; To the end of the lockout; To the beginning of NHL careers for Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher; To a full slate of games for Andrei Markov; To P.K. Subban's bridge deal; To Subban's Norris-winning season; From 15th to 2nd, to the 4th best record in the National Hockey League; From an ugly burnout in the playoffs to a solid beginning to the end of 2013....
The Habs can look back on this year fondly, and they can look to the future optimistically.
2) Here's to Sidney Crosby making it half a year without a devastating injury. He was on his way to successfully achieving the same last season, until he had his jaw shattered by a shot from his teammate.
3) Here's to the Chicago Blackhawks incredible streak--unbeaten in regulation in 24 games. It was the best start to a season, ever!
The Hawks final record: 36-7-5, +53.
The Hawks then ripped their way through the playoffs and finished it all off with a sweet come from behind victory against the Bruins in game six.
4) Here's to the most absurd collapse; possibly the worst one the NHL's ever seen. Sorry Leafs fans... I'll say no more.
5) Here's to the Florida Panthers finishing with three less points than any other team in the league, then losing the draft lottery to Colorado.
And here's to the Avalanche grabbing Nathan McKinnon, and to the Panthers drafting Alex Barkov over Seth Jones.
Oh... and here's to the Avalanche, going from 29th to 9th, 3rd in what's probably the toughest division in hockey, riding rookie coach Patrick Roy's coattails there...
6) Here's to a coaching swap between John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault. It's working out well for one of them...
7) Here's to Roberto Luongo for bailing out the Canucks on the handling of his situation--which was probably cause for firing Mike Gillis, and yet...
8) Here's to Mike Babcock on HBO's 24/7. We now know exactly why he's the head coach of Team Canada. No panic, leads by example, and he's so clearly respected by his team. Even in the midst of a terrible losing streak, Babcock comes across as the elite.
Bonus: Ken Hitchcock by his side. Claude Julien too.
And I suppose Lindy Ruff's role will be of the "rah rah" variety.
9) Here's to Glenn Healy's brilliant analysis:
"He won't make Team Canada because he can't maintain a level of speed coming back up the ice on the backcheck."
10) Here's to cost certainty until, at least, 2019, possibly until 2022; To the end of Donald Fehr press conferences; To that shot of Bettman riding the escalator; To the added revenue of the new Canadian television deal; To the escalation of player salaries; To the escalation of the floor; To the teams that don't belong leading the NHL to talk contraction by the time 2019 rolls around; To the expansion of the league that will even out the playoff picture; To Quebec getting a team (they deserve one).
Here's to the Olympics.
Here's to 2013. It's been fun...