Well, it finally happened. The day Minnesota Wild fans knew would come eventually, even if we didn’t want it to. After years of questioning how you managed to evade the ax that seemed to come for everyone else on the coaching staff, it finally came for you. Sort of the hockey version of “Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me.” Even though Emily Dickinson died nine years before ice hockey’s first league was formed and could never have imagined someone making a comparison this wacky with her poetry, I’m sure she would appreciate the thought.
Darby, you’re so easy to root for. That’s probably the reason that everyone would exhale a sigh of relief when the Wild would announce a coaching change and you were once again spared. Not only are you a born-and-bred Minnesota boy, but you’re also a great guy overall. In a way, you’re a little bit of a precursor to Brock Faber, playing for Minnesota all the way up, even if you also played a few other places. I’ve never met you personally, but from everything I’ve heard, you’re Minnesota nice to a fault.
On the other hand, this might be the perfect time for you to switch gears. You’ve got four children, and I know three of them play hockey. I know Beckett is committed to playing for your alma mater, the U of M, next season. Mason has been playing for Gustavus Adolphus College. Without a busy NHL schedule, there is more room to watch college hockey along with any other teams that your other children will be playing with. You’ll still be busy, but now you can pick where you’re going and what team you’re watching.
