There’s no point pretending that any of it will feel like Matthews vs. McDavid, or Crosby bearing down on Henrik Lundqvist with a gold medal on the line. But the N.H.L.’s decision to pack up its pucks and go home has left both a void and an opportunity. The players looking to fill it aren’t the best in the world or even all that close; many of them will make less over the course of their careers than Crosby or Kane take home in a month.

It won’t be the same, and we know that. But it might be two weeks of triumph and heartbreak and yes, maybe even a minor miracle or two.

That should be enough. I’ll be watching to find out.

-Sean McIndoe at the New York Times where you can read more on this topic.