We had a big disappointment, heartbreaking really, on Monday, losing Game 6. You see guys put their whole life into something like that and get that close but come up short, and it feels terrible.
You never know when you're going to get an opportunity like that again. That's one of the hardest parts, to realize that. I think every guy in our locker room wants to do more to make sure we can get back to that point one day. Right now, it's kind of sad. It's never great when the season ends and you have to part ways with all your teammates. You're never sure you're going to see guys again or play with them again. So it was a tough night all around.
After the game, we left the rink, went back to the hotel to hang out. We were all up in coach Rick Bowness's room, sharing stories, hanging out and spending our last night together. It's kind of what you do. Everyone wants to get to spend a little more time with each other so we were there, having a few drinks and trying to enjoy that time.
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After 65 days in the bubble in Edmonton, it was a long time, but I think I'm going look back at it as a unique opportunity. When you're at home or even on the road in a normal year, guys are usually doing what they like. But in the bubble, everyone's doing the same thing and it was a great thing, spending that kind of time with guys, getting to know them well. I'm pretty sure I'm going to miss that part of it.
We boarded the plane from Edmonton about noon local time today and got back to Dallas late in the afternoon. I'm staying in Dallas tonight and then I'll be driving back home to Minnesota on Wednesday, about 13 hours on the road.
When I get home, I think I'll get back to the gym pretty quickly here, probably next week. I like working out and I feel good about that, but I'll take a good chunk of time off the ice to give my body a rest after a pretty long season. I've been going pretty hard for three months. I'd say maybe six weeks of down time off the ice, but it will of course depend on what the deal is going be for next year, what the timeline for next season is going to be.
These playoffs were just a great experience for me. They really energized me. I think I'm going to be into the mental preparation for next season right away. Just being that close to the Stanley Cup and being able to experience this playoff run, it makes you want to be on this team next year that much more. I think the ball is in my court. I want to put all the work in and do everything in my power to make sure I'm ready once camp rolls around next year and make sure I belong here and that I'm ready to play at this level.
That's my goal right now and I'm already thinking about how I can raise my game, and hopefully one day get back to the point we were at in this playoff run. I think I've had a glimpse of how great that feeling would be and that's what motivates everyone so much.
We all have a bad taste in our mouths at the end of this. You'd like to be the one holding that Cup at the end of the last game, and that's something that can energize everybody.
