Happy Labor Day. This holiday, beyond meaning that I got to sleep in luxuriously late and that many of us don't have to go to work today, means that hockey is so very, very close to it's triumphant return. The official start of the season is little more than a month away, but that month should be jam packed with news and conversation including but not limited to...

• News on James Neal and his contract
• Matt Niskanen and his contract
• Jere Lehtinen's decision
• Most importantly, possible news on the sale of the team. (It has been said that this process might pickup after the holiday.)
  

The month shapes up likes this...

• Saturday, September 11th: Ice Breaker event at Galleria in Dallas. Come get your stuff signed. Ogle the players. (You know who you are.)
  
• September 11th: Traverse City Prospect Tournament Starts in Michigan.
• September 12th-15th: Prospect Tournament continues. Come by for daily updates and a bemoaning of lack of tv coverage.
• September 17: Dallas Stars Training Camp begins in PEI
• September 19th: Stars hold a scrimmage in PEI.
• September 21st: First pre-season game against Lightning. The AAC re-opens for business. Finally.
• September 22nd: Players (presumably) resume practice on Frisco ice. Go to work late on Wednesday and swing by first to watch practice.
• Pre-season continues through October 2nd.
  
• Season Ticket Hold Event? I'm still waiting for word on this one.

And then of course, the season opener on October 8th at the New Jersey Kovalchuks.

In the mean time, we're going to enjoy our holiday before we get back to work. Enjoy this video of Toby Petersen and his son painting the ice at the AAC. This was posted a month ago at the DMN web site but I totally missed it...