And So It Begins....

The annual rite of passage in the NHL known as "Free-Agency Frenzy" has unofficially arrived with yet another salary dump (nous allons a la "Duump") by the Chicago Blackhawks. The oft-mentioned rumor of Kris Versteeg's possible departure became a reality earlier this evening as he was sent packing for the hockey-crazed town of Toronto in exchange for forward Viktor Stalberg, who is still working off his Entry-Level Contract. Also part of the deal are Toronto prospects Chris DiDomenico and Phillipe Paradis, both forwards, who will head west to the Windy City in exchange for Hawks forward prospect, Billy "Gonna Make You" Sweatt, who recently finished his hockey matriculation at Colorado College.

More activity is sure to come, although not necessarily until noon tomorrow when Canadians, and even scores of dedicated American hockey fans everywhere become transfixed to their television sets, computer monitors and twitter machines as they wade languorously in the swirling free-agent pool of dreams and heart-break. There will be many surprises, several gross over-payments by over-eager GM's and probably a few tantalizing trades of player personnel who are no longer welcome as a result of the free-agent free-for-all.

Will the stoic and pensive Rick Dudley have something special up his sleeve with which to shock the near hundreds of faithful Thrashers' fans, who will track and even chart every transaction as it hits the wire tomorrow? Only time will tell, but you can bet your ass I'll be holed up in my cubicle as the crazy spectacle unfolds. I am certain of one thing: my co-workers' alarmed bewilderment in reaction to my sudden Tourette's-like shouts of Thanksgiving, or more likely, sighs of hopeless despair, which shall release forth from my desk as I die a slow, painful death with each and every free-agency signing until that one majestic and misguided soul records his name on a contract offer sheet from the Atlanta Thrashers. Praise Jesus in advance!