THE best day of the year....PERIOD...

Today is my favorite day of the year....

Today is NHL trade-deadline day.

This is a day I eagerly anticipate weeks in advance, much like I used to excitedly look froward to Christmas as a child. I'm even writing this at 1am on deadline day because I'm so excited I can't sleep!

Yes, it had to happen soon or later - I'd write a blog entry about hockey.

I owe my career as a broadcaster to hockey. In fact, I was once even lucky enough to be a reporter covering the Ottawa Senators. I'm sure my future as a broadcaster will involve hockey in some way (Don Cherry has to retire sometime!) In the meantime though, a guy can dream and write about hockey on his blog.

To me, NHL trade deadline day is the single most exciting day of the year. It's like Christmas, New Year's, my birthday, May 2-4 weekend, Canada Day and Labour Day all rolled into one. Yes...I'm THAT much of a loser to think that. It's also a sad scene that the NHL trade deadline is the most exciting time for fans like me. That's how bad the game has gotten....are you taking notes, Gary Bettman?

In a few hours I'll be glued to TSN and I won't be shutting off the TV until after the deadline has passed at 5pm. I'll be there every step of the way, listening to in-depth analysis of simple trades and waiting to be the first to find out about the blockbuster deals that can make or break a team. I'll also be wondering if I punch the TV hard enough will Pierre McGuire feel it? How bout that Monster Performance, Pierre?

Many questions get answered on deadline day. Which teams are buyers? Which teams are sellers? Who's best suited for a run at the cup? What golf course will the Leafs be playing at while the good teams are still playing in April? Yep....all key questions.

OK, I admit it...I'm a little TOO serious about this. I know my conversations during deadline day will be like this:
ME: "Hey Bill, did you hear (this team) just traded (this guy) to (that team) for all these draft picks?"
Bill Porter: "Dude, it's 3am...get a life"

In all seriousness the only thing I truly hope for is that my team, Ottawa, makes smart moves today that will put them in a position to be competitive yet again for the Stanley Cup but at the same time not completely damage their chance of being competitive in the future.

I'm also hopeful I'll receive a call later today from Bryan Murry, GM of the Senators asking me if I'd like to play left-wing on the 4th line....I somehow don't see that happening either.

I hope you've enjoyed this all-hockey blog. If you read this far, I'm sure you have. If not, then I'm sure you agree I need help and that James Duthie should really have the restraining order bumped up to 500 feet.