Ah, June. The time when the heat cranks up beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit, melting the faces off every Vegas Golden Knights fan. It's also the time when the Stanley Cup Final goes down, pitting the two best NHL teams against each other. This year is a rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.
Hockey fans will remember the near-embarrassing event that was a reverse sweep. The Panthers nearly blew a 3-0 lead in the series before taking Game 7, 2-1. The result? Their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Now? Connor McDavid is eyeing the Stanley Cup like he's eyeing the last piece of black licorice. This time, he's not alone. He has plenty of depth to his team's name, with players like Mattias Janmark (three goals and one assist this postseason) emerging.
The Canadian media is eating it up, too. Outlets like SportsNet and TSN are going crazy for the possibility of seeing the Stanley Cup back in their home country for the first time since 1993.
Golden Knights fans? Not so much. In fact, they're joined by Flames fans and other Americans in wanting Florida to win. Heck, ESPN is picking Florida to win the Cup (again).
But let's take a step back for a second and view things from a neutral perspective. What's the lesson for enjoying the championship round?
How Vegas Golden Knights fans can enjoy the Stanley Cup Final
First, you're entitled to root for the Florida Panthers if you wish. That's perfectly fine. You're also allowed to root for the Oilers. That's fine, too.
But if the Oilers win, that means the Golden Knights have a new mission: take the Stanley Cup back. You're locked in the middle of a Stanley Cup contention window and you can't rebuild.
You need to go bold in the next two seasons to have another celebration in Toshiba Plaza. Could Mitch Marner be the answer? Might it be Sam Bennett? Who knows?
The Golden Knights know what they must do. Bruce Cassidy is exploring all options, after all. But don't think too much of that right now. Instead, enjoy the hockey.
After all, this season only comes once every year. You only have a couple of weeks, minimum, to enjoy it. Watch and be amazed by the fast play and hard hits. Once next season rolls around, it's time to do it all over again.