There’s quite a bit of opportunity for players to compete for spots and roles on the team.
“I think that's one of the really key parts when I looked at the trade with me coming here. I think in Dallas I was playing a little bit behind some really good players. Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Nichushkin, a lot of the guys are good players. I think for me to come here, it’s really a good opportunity to take my game to the next level. I’ve had a really good summer of training. I was just in Toronto these past couple of days here, working... on my skating. I’m really looking forward to September. Just being in a Canadian market where hockey means so much and being close to home for my family... to come and watch. Should be just overall a really good experience and hopefully I can play here for a long time.”
Why the great start last year and how difficult was it when you got sick?
“I think the great start, just knowing I was healthy. A lot of the game, you realize quickly is mental. When you start thinking too much... I was missing blank opportunities that I don’t usually miss and a lot of the things weren’t going my way. But at the same time, like you said, first year you realize this is a game and every night opponents come and they show up. Everyone wants to do well here and you compete for playoffs and that was a big thing in Dallas. The team hasn’t been there in playoffs for awhile and I learned what it is, playoff hockey. That’s huge. When you’re young, you watch and it’s the best part of the season. Hopefully, I know Ottawa’s been – not last year, but a few years before and I want to live that again here. It’s really a great part and I think there’s a lot of learning experiences I learned last year. The traveling and the eating, and how to treat your body. Those rest days, to really take good care of yourself as a young guy. Sometimes you need treatment and you need to take care of yourself more than you need to go watch a movie at the theatre. So I think these are all the little things you learn. I was surrounded by really good people there in Dallas. Stephane Robidas, who’s now part of the Leafs, really took care of me and taught me a lot about the game. The right parts. Really respect the game. I think that’s the type of player I want to become in the next few years. Like I said, I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this organization. Like you said, a young group of guys coming in the next couple of years and I’m really looking forward to that.”
