With this waiting and wondering whether Nicklas Lidstrom will return next season there was the sudden bombshell Brian Rafalski will retire.
Reportedly, he has a bad knee.
There will be fans who think it's good, that the Red Wings' defense was old and small and Rafalski was a reason why - and that the Red Wings can use his $6 million salary more wisely.
That's naive. Rafalski didn't play up to his usual standards last season because he wasn't himself. Obviously, he was hurt.
But when healthy, Rafalski was an integral part of the Red Wings' success. He moved the puck as well as any defenseman in the game. He was an effective right-handed shot on the point of the power play - a rarity. And he was effective many times last season, even with a bad wheel.
Rafalski has displayed tremendous competitive character in his career and played underrated defense despite a lack of size.
It's not an accident Rafalski, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Wisconsin who grew up in Allen Park, played on three Stanley Cup championship teams with the Devils and the Red Wings. Nor that he starred for the U..S. Olympic team in 2010 when it nearly shocked the hockey world by taking heavily-favored Canada to the brink.
What a career. His presence on the ice will be sorely missed by those of us who truly enjoyed watching him play.