[sureLoss]

Lots of Flames stuff:
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/dou...-younger-self/

Then you’re going to get traded to Calgary in ’88.

Al MacInnis. Lanny McDonald. Joe Mullen. The locker room will be stacked with incredible guys.

I don’t want to spoil too much of that ride for you. Until you experience it, you’ll never understand anyway.

But two things:

First. I know you love baseball. Well, keep practicing your swing. It’s going to come in handy. Because in the ’89 Stanley Cup finals (yes, seriously), you’re going to be playing a damn good goalie named Patrick Roy. He’s going to stop everything on the first shot. In a close Game 6, you’re going to get a backhand chance on him.

He’ll stop it, of course, but the rebound will pop up into the air.

Bat that sucker in.

It’ll end up being the series-winning goal.

When all your teammates line up to lift the Stanley Cup, look at their faces, especially Lanny’s. Look at the crowd at the Montreal Forum, sticking around to give your team a standing ovation. Appreciate this moment. Stand in the back of the line. You’re the new guy, after all. But be sure to actually lift the Cup while you’re on the ice, you idiot. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

Second. Tell the equipment manager to buy more beer. Way, way more beer. By the time you finish celebrating in the locker room and you get on the team plane back to Calgary, the beer will have completely run out before takeoff. You’ll turn to anything you can find.

In the span of four years, you’re going to go from ecstasy to misery in Calgary. You’ll find out what it’s like to live out your childhood dream, and you’ll also find out that the NHL can be a brutal business.

At the beginning of the ’91 season, you’re going to wake up in the morning at a hotel in San Jose and go to the bathroom. You’ll hear someone talking on the phone in the adjoining room. Then you’ll hear your name.

It’s your new general manager, Doug Risebrough. He’s talking about you.

Kid, flush the toilet and go back to bed. Don’t listen to what’s being said. Ignorance is bliss.

Don’t lay down on the floor with your ear to the door and listen in.

You’ve just been through an arbitration hearing with the team. You’ve been in a room with the lawyers. You know they don’t want to pay you. You know there’s animosity.

You know you and Risebrough didn’t get along when you played against one another.

What do you think he’s saying? Just go back to bed.

If you lay on the floor and listen, you’re going to hear some words that are going to really piss you off, and you’re going to do something you’ll regret.

“I want to trade Gilmour.”

You’re not going to be able to unhear those words. You’re not going to be mature enough to let it go. The next few months will be the most miserable time of your career. You’ll be waiting for the shoe to drop. At the team New Year’s party, you’ll tell your teammates what happened. You’ll tell them that you’re done.

You’ll walk out on the team. You’ll regret how this all goes down. You had a good thing going in Calgary, and it’ll all come apart. Over business.

Twenty-four hours later, you’ll get a call.

“You’re going to Toronto in a 10-player deal.”

Also love the story that he met Pat Burns at a strip club to discuss the upcoming season.