Good morning, Dallas

Good morning, Dallas, and good morning, Insiders.

Regrettably, I am projecting no Munters views this season. Perhaps I could sneak into a room on the opposite side of the hotel and share the pictures of the league’s finest industrial cooling system, but I’d prefer to continue blogging on this trip through Colorado rather than introduce myself to the Dallas County Bailiff.

Dallas is a great city to visit on a road trip, and because we spent several days here last June for the NHL Draft, this is our third stay over the last seven months. We have no issue with that! I am always astounded at the size, scope, space and scale of such a massive metropolitan area. Even coming from Los Angeles, it’s always pretty incredible to absorb how spread out this city is. Fortunately, we won’t have to travel too far; though we’ll head to a nearby suburb for today’s practice, our placement in the Midtown neighborhood places us at the foot of a number of upscale restaurants, bars and nightclubs, even if I’m 37 and can’t remember the last time I’ve been in a “nightclub.”

Any introduction to Dallas must be accompanied by this 2012 piece by the wonderful college football satire site Every Day Should Be Saturday: A MICHIGAN MAN REGARDS THE BARBARIAN WASTES OF DALLAS.

I feel I’ve shared that link before, but it’s a fun read any time we visit North Texas. Anyway, the alarm came a touch early this morning after our late night arrival at the hotel, so this story is wrapping up on the bus en route to the practice rink in nearby Farmer’s Branch. Lots more to come on a practice day in Texas, Insiders. Let’s talk soon.