Free agency

Lots of complaints this year about how late the Stanley Cup playoffs went. Personally, I didn't mind watching hockey on June 19. But what I do mind is that the late date meant the annual free agent rush started less than two weeks after the Hurricanes hoisted the Cup.

At a time when there still ought to be a bit of an afterglow from an amazing playoff season, the mercenary and business aspects of the game are what get highlighted. Sure that's going to happen anyway. Sure, free agency is better than servitude to one team, no matter how well-paying. Sure, it's kind of fun to follow all the free agency activity and start plotting next year's hockey pool picks. And sure there will always be jerks like Chris Pronger, who asks for a trade, skips town, then announces he's relieved that he was "out of sight, out of mind" (you wish!) .

The point is, this year it all happened way too soon after the highlight of the season. It's like having a restaurant cleanup crew come in and start vacuuming just as you're swallowing your last bite of dessert.