After much careful thought and several discussions with people whom I trust wholeheartedly, I have decided to resign my position here at HockeyBuzz to pursue other opportunities.
This may not catch very many of you by surprise, as the mulling of this decision in my head for quite some time has probably been noticeable to even the casual observer with hints here and there in recent months.
It has been a tremendous run for me here and both the following I have built and the progress I have made, through many difficulties over the last three seasons, make me very proud. I am also very appreciative to have made several acquaintances, contacts and even a few friends through my association here while covering the Lightning since the summer leading up to the 2007-08 season (and, really, even before that, when I was just blogging Islanders stuff for fun behind the scenes).
I have no other news to announce along with my resignation and nothing is immediately forthcoming to that end though, again, I am exploring several opportunities. That said, as I made clear in my official notice to Eklund, there were no outside factors contributing to or forcing this decision.
Quite simply, it’s just the right time for me to move on.
While I certainly plan to continue my local coverage of the Bolts and, perhaps, something more widespread down the road, any responsibility I take on moving forward will have to fit the very strict criteria I have established as what is best for my growing family. To this point, nothing has materialized but I am still digging and that is no secret.
If and when I have something to announce, I’m sure I will do so via Twitter, so make sure you’re following me
@JonJordan (and give a look to
Y2JJ.com every now and then for some off-the-wall, non-hockey stuff, while you’re at it).
Some very necessary thank yous before I say goodbye:
To the readers: Your patronage has never gone unnoticed. Thank you.
Though my following has never been the most vocal, it has been a pleasure exchanging messages with you and meeting several of you in person over the years. In the beginning, some of you picked on the new guy until you realized that this guy picks back … And then we evolved into some spicy conversation … And then I got a little too ornery at times, I’m sure. Nevertheless, it was in good fun, for the most part. (And a couple of you have become quite the fans of mine when we all deemed that impossible at one point long ago! You know who you are … And one of you owes me a beer!!!)
Despite criticism from fans in other cities (and the general haters out there), your support of my work here made this little blog about a struggling Sunbelt team in an oft-overlooked market internationally relevant. That is the simple truth.
To Lightning management, both past (though we’ve certainly had our difficulties) and present, as well as the public relations staff: Your acceptance and cooperation has been vital to my success. Thank you … And I’m sure (I hope?) you’ll be hearing from me real soon.
To the HockeyBuzz behind-the-scenes staff and fellow writers: It’s been a good ride, albeit a rocky one at times. Thank you as well.
I bumped heads with a few of you once or
nine times twice but I wish you all the best and will remember many of you very fondly for your support during both my highest of highs and lowest of lows in the birth of my son two summers ago and the passing of my brother late last year. That sort of thing, one doesn’t forget.
Finally, to Eklund: As I’ve said several times privately, a sincere thank you for the opportunity years ago and the doors that have opened for me thereafter. I wish you the best of luck.
Well, I guess that’s it … I’m off to crack a cold one and take a few deep breaths.
If When I resurface, I hope you’ll all find me and that the new direction suits us all well.
Thank you all, again, for everything.
See ya when I see ya …
JJ
[email protected]
JJ on Twitter
Y2JJ.com 
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