That is the reason Rob DiMaio said in Monday's paper he does not want to retire, and though he will sit out next season wants to play in 2008-09. Hockey has been his life. He still feels like he has some years left in him and does not want to go out because of an injury. But what an injury: a concussion last September from a cheap shot from Montreal's Guillaume Latendresse that bounced DiMaio's head off the side boards.

As a side note, Doug Janik earned some points that night for going after Latendresse, though Mike Komisarek stepped in to fight Janik, who held his own against a tough guy.   

DiMaio, 39, has played 18 seasons. He's gritty and tough and I like him personally. But after listening to him describe his testing last week at the University of Pittsburgh and how his long- and short-term memory is worse than it was the last time he was tested, it could only be described as scary.

DiMaio, who sat out all last season and is an unrestricted free agent, will always have a place in Tampa's heart because of his history with the team. He has a great wife and twin 8-year-old daughters. He said his quality of life with them has been affected. And yet he still wants to play. Let's hope he takes one of the offers he said he has to work in hockey operations for an NHL team. The quality time with his family, at this point in his career, is way more important.

By the way, nice to be back after some time off.