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Saku Koivu was playing the role of chauffeur when he took a call in a California parking lot this week, waiting early afternoon outside his daughter’s school.

Ilona, 10, would be out shortly; his son, Aatos, 8, had been sprung from class 40 minutes earlier, and now he was in the park until he, too, would be gathered up.

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“I’m a stay-at-home dad, or mom, however you want to say it,” the freshly retired Koivu said, laughing. “It’s different, but these are things you miss on a regular basis when you’re playing hockey, travelling a lot, playing 82 games a year.

“There are a lot of afternoons that you can’t be part of this. It’s really felt good so far.”

Another delicious slice of Koivu’s retirement will be served up at the Bell Centre on Thursday, when the Canadiens celebrate his remarkable career with the Habs before their game against the Anaheim Ducks.

The quiet, lion-hearted Finn closed the book on his 18-season NHL career a little more than three months ago, announcing on Sept. 10 that his playing days were done after 13 years with the Canadiens and five more with Anaheim.