I promised in my blog on Maximonline.com to continue putting my thoughts online and to give hockey fans an insight into a player's life... At least on a trial basis. I am still swishing this around a little bit and thinking it through. I am a laidback, quiet person in most situations and I like a certain amount of privacy... But I am also the kind of person who is intrigued by the online culture that is developing and I want to be a part of it. I think it is something that the fans will appreciate because it will be a different perspective than a media outlet and I suppose I will probably touch on more things in my own life than would ever come up otherwise... Not a lot though. Don't get your hopes up too high.

I have found blogs to be a great way to find new things whether it is a new band, a new gadget or a great vacation destination. I also like that blogs are a great indirect social experience, not as good as a conversation with an interesting person, but a lot of fun. For example, I don't know anyone who has the inside scoop on the newest albums coming out so why not go online and find someone that does. I think that is a lot of fun and since I end up on the couch during some cold months in Buffalo the internet provides a little bit of a lazy social experience. I can read people's thoughts and learn about things that interest me without leaving the house. Perfect.

I don't have a subject or style that is calling to me at the moment so I guess until I figure it out I will be keeping everyone up to date on my life (as normal as it is - we are not talking "Real World" type stuff here) and how it relates to my hockey.

Here is what I kind of expect: I will try to share my thoughts when I get the feeling or something interesting happens and we will see where it goes. On the Maxim site I was answering questions and I would like to do that on my site but I want to work up to that point because I really don't think I want to have all the intelligent questions overshadowed by people "hating" on me. (Yes, I made an attempt at using the word "hating" and I am pretty sure it was a failure, you get the point though.)

So here we go...

Signing a deal in Buffalo was a great moment for me. The deal is all about staying with a team and community that believes in me along with a group of guys that I really enjoy playing with. I have made some great friends in Buffalo up until this point in my career and hope to find many more in the area. It is strange when you are a young player and trying to make the team because everything tends to feel temporary. You spend most of the first years in hotels, unsure of whether you will stick around and that is how I handled a lot of the people I would meet. I didn't get too close. In the last few years I was better about following up after meeting someone interesting and I hope to be a lot better in the years to come. I enjoy my time in Buffalo and connecting with the people has helped greatly.

Right now I am back on the ice in Michigan and enjoying the time with family and friends. The itch to play hockey is coming back and is about time to be tying up the skates with a purpose in mind.