The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Playing in the Stanley Cup Finals... in game seven no less... was the biggest thrill of my hockey career.  It was bigger then being on a line with Wayne Gretzky, bigger than my first goal, bigger than my second contract... as big as I could have imagined.  I just wish that Walt Disney were still alive so he could have written a happier ending for the Mighty Ducks.  But it wasn't to be.

I thought you might like to hear my analysis of the series.  We dropped the first two in New Jersey because we stunk up the building.  We were flat, we were sloppy, we stood around, we didn't play our game, we didn't get the puck behind their D-men, and we played too much in our end.  But we felt good coming back to Anaheim.  If we had played our best hockey and gotten beat, we would have been apprehensive.  But we though if we could get our game going, get the first goal, and then play good D, we had a chance to even the series at home.  And that's what happened.

At that point, we were feeling pretty good.  Our top two lines hadn't gotten in gear yet and we felt if they got going, and played tight D, we were in the hunt.

It was so very disappointing to lose, but what a privilege and thrill it was to play the series and especially Game 7... what all you players and I dream about from the time we first strap them on - playing for the Stanley Cup.  All the while, no one, not even the most astute sports analyst gave the Duckies a chance to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season.  And then to go on and make the play offs, knock off Detroit in four games, beat the Stars in six, and defeat the Wild in four was an unbelievable accomplishment.  And then we battled the Devils to seven games.  It is the stuff of dreams and story-book fiction.  So most of you (there are some of you to whom this is sent who have lifted the Cup) and I will go back to dreaming and planning and working hard to have the chance to try for it again... and drinking out of it someday, and then write a different story - drama, not fiction.

***

I received over 750 E-mails of congratulations and well wishes.  I've answered as many of them as I've found the time.  If I didn't answer yours, I may get to it yet but I thank all of you for your care, concern, and support.  You've offered your homes to my family in New Jersey, made signs, high school friends and neighbors traveled great distances to attend games in their areas, and my family crisscrossed the country to be supportive.  My teammates tease me when a "Dan Bylsma Rocks" sign appears in the stands in New Jersey or St. Louis.  I tell, them, "You get the goals, I get the love."  And it's not fair for them.

To all of you, from the bottom of my heart, "Thank you."