There’s a game tonight against the Nashville Predators, but as exciting as it might be to see Rinne and Weber and Suter, there are far more important things to think about. It is Michael Rudolph Knuble’s 1000th game tonight and we need to be properly reverent.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m a humangous big fan of Ol’ Knubs. In fact, his hockey card was the only one sitting on my desk when I got home. Admittedly, I’m using it as a coaster right now, but I don’t even know where any of my Ovechkins are to use them as coasters.

There’s quite a few articles out there about Knuble’s milestone, including about 50 by the Times’ SWhyno, as well as a video interview with him (in which he compares his 1000th game to a disappointing birthday present…). Then there’s this article by Katie Carrera that does a nice little recap of Knuble’s career, including a nice little quote from Dale Hunter saying that Knuble “figured out how to play in the National Hockey League.” I’m assuming he finished it with “though not as well as I did,” but Carrera was classy enough to edit that out.

NHL.com also has an article with some praise from Brooks Laich, aka the man who will become Mike Knuble when Mike Knuble retires. The captaincy debate after trading Clarkie was basically divided into camps Laich and Ovechkin, with a minority — including myself — thinking that Mike Knuble was in fact the best man for the job. The idea was that Ovechkin would lead by example, but why not someone just lead by, uh, leading? I watched him run all the optional preseason scrimmages and he led with an iron fist. And we all remember his angry rant where he says this game won’t turn into one of those 5-0 laughers. Actually now that I think about it, I can’t wait for his triumphant rise through the coaching ranks.

He has a wonky nose thanks to breaking his face after a collision with Brendan Shanahan which still doesn’t stop him from being a consistent league leader in handsomeness. He’s a man who really appreciates a Big Mac (video also features a Semyon Varlamov pompadour and Erskine declaring he loves that special sauce) as well as a man who can make a field goal with a hockey stick while rocking some sweet pleated khakis (go to 1:40).

Though he was born in Toronto, he played for the USA Olympic team in 2006 and he got a Stanley Cup ring with the Red Wings in 1998. He also has an 8-season streak of at least 20 goals, although he stands at 3 so far. Maybe if we stick him back on that line with Nick Backstrom?

He may retire at the end of this season, but regardless of what happens, I hope we see this many more times — at least 17, in fact: