End of Season Player Media Availability

End of Season Player Media Availability

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. Hey hey hey. [Music] [Music] Hey, hey, hey. All right, fire away. We know you didn’t get to play in the playoffs, but how would you sum up your season? Uh it was honestly it was a lot of fun watching the team grow. Um I mean it was neat. It was neat to uh like I got my kids in school here so both of them are in school. So it was neat to see the community I think rally around the team. Um it was fun. It was uh you know kids like every day wearing the Senza gear to school. You get pick up at school and people are chanting go sends go and uh so I I do think this year was just it was a lot of fun. It was it was a neat season. Um, I think the team took obviously a lot of steps and for myself I just quite frankly tried to do whatever was needed from me and whatever was asked and I kind of played a little bit of everything this year. I think a little bit different roles here and there and uh just tried to do that as best I could and have as much fun as I could with it because uh we are blessed to play this game and do what I do for a living. So just tried to show up with a smile on my face and let the chips fall where they may every day. You’re a UFA this summer. What’s next for you in in your hockey playing future? Uh what’s next for me is my daughter’s 7th birthday yesterday, so she’s got a party this afternoon. Um we got a gymnastics center rented out, so um yeah, I’m going to go throw the tightest clothing I have on and just go do some gymnastics. But uh no um you know all kid aside that uh I’m just excited right now I think to just you know when the season ends it’s it’s a long grind for the guys basically from middle of last summer to get through the uh the season and and and the playoffs and you know I do think that our kids and and I you know being a father and being a dad and being a husband is something I take seriously and so when when you do miss moments. Um, it’s hard. So, I think immediately um I I know where you’re getting at with your question, but uh I think in my life I try not to look too far ahead. I think I always have done that. And I think uh it’s probably a good lesson for me just to try and stay in the moment. So, I I think it is nice that I can just go home, be dad, and uh you know, there’s there’s a lot to unpack whenever you feel like you just went through a season. And so, uh, you know, to not be long-winded, but I I think that’s probably the best answer. I I love I love being a Sun. I love Ottawa. I think I’ve been very clear about that since the three and a half years that I’ve been here. I think the community is amazing. I think the group of guys uh some of the funnest times I have playing hockey, I think, has been here. Um, and I I think the neat thing about our community, whether it’s Ottawa or the Gatnau region, um, is a sense of family. Um my kids I mean my kids really really enjoy being here and being a part of our community here in Canada I think has been it’s just been a blessing for us honestly I’ve said that and uh it’s something I am fortunate to to have had the chance to uh um live in this community it’s uh it’s next to none. So we’re we’ll be here for a little bit still this season while the while the kids are in school. So guys there was a moment um after morning skate for game six you were the last player on the ice. You were sitting there the I think was making its way out and you were looking around. What was going through your mind in that moment? You caught that. Um Well, you know what? Um all season I I mean I I skated a lot this year. I I’m someone that just enjoyed like I don’t think I miss an optional pregame skate. Um I I think whenever you get a chance to get on an NHL ice surface is is neat. Um, you know, it’s it’s it’s kind of funny that my kids get on the ice here quite often and they don’t know and obviously can’t appreciate how cool that is for them just to go skate on an NHL ice surface. And so I I think with my kids now both playing hockey um and and when I get them on the ice with me, they don’t know and how would they know that how cool that is to do something like that. and takes me back to being a kid when you’re in the NHL building and you’re on the ice and you’re playing or you’re practicing or whatever and you’re like, “Wow, this is kind of cool.” Right? So, um, at the end of every pregame skate, quite frankly, I I always take a moment. I guess maybe there’s just more action on the ice when normal pregame skates throughout the season, uh, take a moment and just say say a prayer and just take a moment to be grateful for it. So, um, that’s honestly what what that was. I just happened to be the last guy off the ice. That was no different than another morning for you. No, I mean uh No, I was just I literally I try to take a look around because I do enjoy it. I do appreciate it and and uh one day whenever whenever that day comes uh you won’t be able to show up and take my kids skating on NHL rink and someone would call security if I did that, I guess. But uh um you just won’t be able to have those moments. So, you know, I whatever at my age and at this point in my career, you don’t know how many more you got. And uh so you try to appreciate the ones you have. Is that why you need some time for reflection too, Travis? Is because of your age, you paid 900 games, put your Yeah. Um well, I I do think at the end of the year, no matter what, you have to reflect. Um and also when when you don’t, it’s different when you have a contract or if you don’t have a contract. Um so there there’s a lot of there’s a lot of intangibles, family and professional circumstances. So there there’s a lot. So I do think whether honestly whatever the profession it is that you’re in, whatever you feel like you’ve just finished a marathon or whatever the case may be, I I think that you’d be ill advised not to take a moment to catch your breath and uh just kind of see where everything goes, I guess. Um I do I do appreciate you asking that question. You never know. I love being an NHL player. I really do. It’s it’s been one of the biggest blessings I’ve had in my life. Um that’s that’s not lost on me any day. Congratulations on games. Thank you. You got those in right at the end of the year. How important was that for you? Um I was probably more important for my kids. They were they were counted down to see when I’d get there. They had they wanted to make the signs and things like that, so they were excited. But um you know, it’s it’s it’s a nice round number, I guess. Um, I think it just maybe something I’ll appreciate when I’m a little bit older to know that, you know, I’ve played 15 years and 900 games. I mean, that is, I guess, a lot. Um, and I just try to be grateful for it all, but it it wasn’t necessarily something that I was like, I I need to get, you know. Um, it it’s kind of nice how it all kind of unfolded, I guess, so to speak. But uh like I said, maybe my kids had it circled, but uh um I just tried to approach it as another game, you know, same way I done the other 899, I guess. How was it for you throughout the season? I know you have familiarity with those guys on defense, but considering some of the injuries that would happen at different points. There were points where you were playing with Jake Sanderson or you would find yourself on a second pairing or back and forth playing with Tyler, what was it like for you throughout the season going up and down all three of those pairings? Um it was a little bit different. I mean, to be honest, it’s in in years past it it I don’t think I had that kind of movement. Um, and I mean, let’s be honest, like I I didn’t know what to expect at the start of the season. I just wanted to train and get myself ready um first and foremost and kind of control what I could control. And um I mean, things happen and all of a sudden you’re playing here, you’re playing there. So, but um I just tried to kind of take it day by day and and see where I was playing or if I was in or whatever the case may be, but have that try not to affect me and and uh I I am someone I think that is obviously pretty vocal and got great relationships with everyone on the back end. So, I do think that maybe that did help when I went in to have the familiarity with whoever I was playing with. You know, obviously we’ve talked before like when you’re speaking and you’re comfortable with each other and your friends off the ice, um that that can translate to communication on the ice and how important that is. So, um I I do think that probably helped you. You’ve been around the team for a few years now. What do you think explains the change we’ve seen this year that allow this team to take a step? Yeah. Well, uh I don’t know if it’s necessarily like one, you know, and give you the one magic answer, but uh I think it’s a cumulation of a lot of things. You know, the new coaching staff came in immediately and implemented some good changes for us as a group. Um it seemed like everyone took another step. All the younger players were all that much more mature, another year older. And and I think as well the group had been through some hard years and and I think you’d be it’d be a missed opportunity and a missed chance to not evaluate those years where it didn’t go your way and it wasn’t hard um to see what you can do to drive you know whether it’s motivation whether it’s reflection on the ice of what you can do to be better and why you missed or things like that. So, I think the group and especially the younger players really took that to heart the last couple years and it was kind of just a lot of factors I think that kind of all went in together with uh uh why why the team had success and and I think the fan base got behind the group. Um you you’ve seen it throughout the season how passionate they were and um the guys feel that energy. Like I talked at the start, you go picking my kids up from school, you can see how dialed in the young kids are in school and and how passionate you see the flags on people’s cars. Like that that doesn’t go unnoticed. Um, and I think that just drives everything. So I would say, yeah, it was kind of a a good mix of everything that really pushed things this year. There was a vocal minority, I would call them a vocal minority of fans who kind of were overly critical of your play throughout the season and would get online a lot. Like how aware were you of that criticism? and if he cared about it at all. Like, how did you like push through that? Um, I mean, I’m not online. Uh, I I know a lot of guys say that, but I I got enough going on at home with my kids and everything else, so I don’t necessarily have time to be online doing things. I mean, listen, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Um, and that’s fine. I I do think that, you know, what’s the best way to say this? Um, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and and it is what it is. And I and I do think that early on in my career, I was told that you’re never as good as they are or sorry, let me repeat that. You’re never as good as they say you are and you’re never as bad as they say you are. And you know, I was showing up every day and and and putting my head down and just going to work and doing whatever I could. You know, they’re whatever the people that didn’t like my player, don’t like me or whatever the case may be, they’re part of our fan base, too. And I went out there and put that jersey on for three and a half years and played my butt off for that fan base. Done. I would have done whatever I had to do, you know, and so I I I just looked at it the other way. I just chose not to acknowledge, you know, if there was bad being said to me, I just whatever, you know, it is what it is. They’re they’re allowed their opinion. But uh um I try to choose more positivity than than negativity. And I I don’t necessarily sense the the good reason to knock people down all the time. I I don’t get that. But it is what it is. You and Steve had any conversations? Yeah, we had a meeting this morning. Yeah. Contract brought up about your future. Uh no, I mean I No, I mean we we talked quite often like I I played with Steve. Um you know, so uh we we had a meeting this morning and uh um yeah, like I said, no nothing on that front right now. And you play may have played your last game as far as uh I’m not going to look that far ahead. Um, you know, I things change quickly in this business. I’m sure you guys are well aware of that. Um, yeah, I I haven’t got I haven’t gotten around to that. I I like I said, when I got traded here, I think it was three and a half years ago. It uh I think it changed the course of my career and and and my family’s life. I mean, my kids were two and three when we got here and they’ve grown up here. It’s kind of what they’ve known, right? So, I just choose to look at it as a blessing and and obviously there’s never going to be I’m never going to play till I’m 50. Um, at some point it will end. Um, but uh uh being here and being a senator I I think was uh like every moment of my career which the four teams I’ve played on has all had something a little bit different but uh I just think with with how much of a community base this is and how much my family’s enjoyed living here and being here that uh this this is a special place. Yeah. Whether it’s in Ottawa or elsewhere, do you still want to play after this this season? I think every guy when even when they’re retired 70 years old still want to play, right? So I I think the hunger inside of a player to play is is always there and uh so you always want to play. I mean that’s that’s the thing. But uh we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. The motivation still burns deeply. Um if anything from obviously I I didn’t play in the playoffs and uh when you see the guys going out there and and so charged up, it just makes you want to play. And uh um but yeah, we’ll we’ll cross all those bridges when I get there. Yeah. Do you see yourself playing anywhere else at this point? Yeah. I mean, these are all I I respect you guys asking these questions. I get it for a player my age and this and that, but uh I haven’t gotten to that point, you know. Um when I was with the Islanders, I didn’t necessarily see myself. played there for seven years and was drafted there and New York was this very special place to us, but uh I didn’t necessarily at the time see myself playing anywhere else either. Um and then since then I’ve been on three teams. So you never know what can happen and and and where things go and and that’s why I mentioned earlier that things change quickly in this life and in this business and whether it’s me or what you guys do for a living, things change and um it’s how you adapt and and how you move forward. So I I think it’s all just kind of out look at that. But I I do respect your question. I understand where you guys are asking those from, but uh I guess I don’t have any answers. If I did, I wouldn’t tell you. So, what would it be somewhere else? Uh yeah, I mean um you know, my son’s uh son and daughter, I should say, are are very passionate Senators fans, so they were upset when we lost the other day. They you know, they were really upset. Um, but you know, we we move as a cohesive family unit and the best thing as much as I consider and smile and talk about playing hockey and how blessed I am to play hockey and do what I do for a living, I it’s unfortunately it doesn’t hold a candle to what I do as as a father and in my family life, right? And that is the utmost importance to me. So, whatever we decide one way or another, wherever this and that is is always as a family at this point in my career. So, we’ll leave it at that. Speaking of a player who’s just getting started, Tyler Kleven just played his first full season. What have you seen in his growth this year and what have you tried to do to Yeah, I mean, he’s a heck of a player and I think you’ve seen that down the stretch. Um I I think the fan base, I said this a couple years ago about Jake, how how how good I thought Jake was going to be and and the impact that he was going to have on our group and and I think Cleb is another one of those players that’s going to have a huge impact. So, I don’t know what they’re doing at the University of North Dakota pumping o D man, but uh someone had a a phone line into that to that program with our team, but uh I think club’s a heck of a player. Um he’s only just you talk about a raw talent or scratching the surface. I think that’s kind of what you’re seeing with him. Uh I think he’s got a lot a lot of offensive upside as well. Um he’s got a cannon of a shot. He skates extremely well and you can see when he’s when he’s dialed in physically what what the impact I mean he can change a game with a big hit and I think uh learning how to time your hits um when to maybe step a little bit out of position and you can get away with it. Those are things that he’s obviously really good at right now but he’s only going to to learn how to develop those skills more and I think he’s going to be a someone that can impact the game in like four different manners. um and kind of a unique skill set for for what we have on our back end that no one really does that right. So I think the sky’s is the limit and off the ice. I think we really became good friends like he’s an easy guy to get to know and hang out with and and uh build that chemistry off the ice and it just a a true pleasure to be around. Like every guy in that room honestly we we don’t have any bad seeds in there. We got a good group. So how have you seen Brady’s leadership evolve in time? Yeah, I mean it’s it’s uh I mean he’s a heck of a leader. He’s obviously a heck of a hockey player. He’s extremely passionate. Um he he’s someone that is, you know, not necessarily dragging you in the fight, but dragging you in the fight, you know, like um he he’s he’s he’s he wears it on his sleeve every night. and whether it’s a big goal, whether it’s, you know, stepping up physically with the fight as you see him do. I mean, he’s he’s a unique player in the league in that sense. Like, I don’t really know if there’s too many like him. Um, all the while while having to RC in a Canadian market is never never the easiest thing in a in a city that obviously there was some hard years and he was a captain for it. And then when you’re making that transition, become a playoff team. Um, I I thought his his his off ice leadership skills in our dressing room and and how he goes about his day-to-day business is is next to none. It’s uh it’s actually pretty impressive. And I mean, it’s part of our family. You can tell. Um, you know, from his dad or his brother who I played with as well, it’s the same thing. But, uh, I mean, he’s a heck of a leader, heck of a person, heck of a hockey player. And, um, yeah, you can tell what it means like even just with the kids in the dressing room and things like that. like you can tell he’s growing up in an NHL dressing room and the impact that he can have on my kids or you know like to to to my kids he’s just Brady that’s it don’t realize you know how good of a player he is and things like that but uh he is a heck of a leader and he’s an important one for us not to go back to Tyler you mentioned how you got along with him off the ice what advice did you give him if if you did about having to adjust to being an everyday NHL player and living that NHL life Um, it’s I mean off the top of my head, these young guys are coming in and they’re they’re dialed right in. Like it’s it’s not like it was when I was coming into the league. It’s a little bit different. Um, I just tried to help off the ice. Uh, you know, scouting report before a game. What What is this guy going to do on the ice? This guy’s going to try and drive you wide. This guy’s going to use his shot, his physicality, his speed. He’s going to reverse hit you. So whether like on the ice, things like that. Um, these guys are so in in their intuition for the game and and where what they need to do and how they need to play, I think, is things that you can’t necessarily teach them, but uh just tried to help off the ice and and I think the most important thing is just develop a really good friendship and uh I I think we have that. So, it’s uh he’s a heck of a player. Yeah. Thanks, Lena. There you go. All right. Thank you so much. Enjoy the birthday party. Charlie You have a live chat going on as well, right? I saw it. How’s it been for you processing the last few days now that you have the playoffs? Still fresh, I would say. I think that after this weekend things will feel different. Uh in my mind at least we’re going to get together here a couple of the guys as well and this like everybody else does when you get uh don’t get go all the way or even if you go all the way. So get a time to get some closure on this get to enjoy the funny times with each other. Uh it’s been it’s been a lot of fun. Uh we have some more fun to up down the road as well. What was it like for you? You came here because you wanted to be the number one goalender. What was that experience like for the first time in your NHL career? It was a lot of fun. There’s a lot of hardships, a lot of things that happened throughout throughout the season that hopefully I don’t have to go through next season as well. That’s my plan at least, but you know, plans can change. But I’m really happy with how things kind of progress throughout this season. ever since our little uh I would say rough patch in November to then playing really solid hockey in December and then kind of fed off of that and you know throughout the season is long there’s going to be ups and downs but I felt that looking at the team from an inside but an outside perspective as well that there was less of the lows and more of the highs and the way that people not just the the players on his own there was a different type of feeling speaking to a lot of people around and it not just in here but on on the outside as well with fans having a little bit more cheerful, you know, tone in their voice and a little bit more excitement about the things that we’re doing here. And when once you see that and just for me you know in the beginning of the season towards you know January, February, March you like there’s a there’s a big change here and you get to feel like okay there’s an excitement there’s some you know hope and about the playoffs and then you get to see the playoff and get to feel how much louder it was here compared to Toronto for example. It was an awesome thing to to hear and see. What are you going to take from your experience too as being the number one goalie for all of the playoffs for the first time in your career? Well, basically the same things, you know, for me at least. You you’re going through these sort of things. You have your anxieties, you have your worries, you have your doubts, which every single person has in in this uh in this league. What I like about it is that it didn’t really affect me from my standpoint. You know, there’s always going to be people saying that if he played better, we would have won the series or whatever. Like, yeah, I’m the first one to tell you that. You know, I’m not happy with the results. I can look back at it and seeing that I’m happy about certain things. I’m happy with the strides that we’ve been taking as a team and the things that I’ve learned as well. You know, I got to I got a shout out in the playoffs as well together with the guys. And that’s a first time for me and know that I can do it. It’s a good confirmment that for next time I know there’s a possibility I can do it. I don’t have to think can I do it? You know, I I know that I can. and playing with with these guys as well and seeing how they how they kind of adapted from game one to game six or even other games was was a lot of fun and and I’m very proud and I’m very happy and motivated in a way seeing that okay you know they the guys got it you know it wasn’t that we got ran out of the building four straight you know like people might have thought when we lost the first one no We we took it to three overtimes. We won one of them and got one on the road. And uh I I said it throughout the playoffs as well. You got to rely a little bit on lady luck as well. But I also said you have to earn it. And uh things you you know how to earn it in a way. You know where to go and um you got to give Toronto credit in a way as well. They did a lot of good things. I thought that we did a lot of great things as well. And sometimes it’s, you know, it’s a onego game. It that’s how it is. But coming back to me myself, I’m happy and excited about what’s to come in a way. And looking back at this season, you know, like you said, being a number one goalender for the first real time uh for the Hillole season, it was a lot of fun. You know, I I had a lot of fun ever since I got here. That’s been a lot of fun. that November rough patch, was there like a heart-to-heart with everybody? Was there a meeting? What went on behind the scenes, as much as you can tell us, that kind of helped you guys turn around and get out of that and and go on that stretch of games in December? I’m only going to speak for myself because it was a time in my life as well that I focused too much on what we were doing, which is a deadly scene as a goalender because you can’t change what the guys are doing. You can’t have them doing different things out there. You can’t be in control of what they’re doing. You kind of just have to adapt to it. And a lot of times during that time, I was frustrated with the way they were doing things. But had some really good conversations, me and Pey, for example, that it’s not about them, it’s about us. And I’ve, you know, at first you’re like, what do you mean that, you know, I’m I’m trying my best here. But I was very frustrated in a way that I always let in at least one goal a game where I it was preventable. And once I started thinking, you know, more about what I I can do and focusing on the things that I need to do like my preparation for example was awful a lot of times during this stretch. Once they kind of got better, December happened and we know what happened there. you know, we went on a run and I’m I’m very happy in a way that we had the honesty together to, you know, have that conversation together and not just, you know, blame it on someone else or something else. And it was a a valuable lesson for me of okay, if I just take care of myself and doing what I need to be doing, I give the guys a better opportunity to win instead of having to focus on PK or power play or, you know, breakouts and this and that, you know, I I I started to see the situation for for what they were and started to get a better read on the things which allowed me to be a lot more prepared for any type of situation that would develop. And when that happened, a lot less goals went in because I was already prepared for things happening. And it’s the beauty of it like you never know what kind of a situation is going to be thrown at. And this is one of those things. Yeah, it sucked during the time, but it was a valuable lesson for me myself to go through because it really helped me get to a point where I felt very comfortable about what we were doing and you could see the light in a way, you know, it wasn’t just pitch black and everything sucks. You know, there were some some good things here and there and then there were some more things and all of a sudden the whole room started to light lighten up and we started to believe in a different way and guys realized what needed to be done in a daily basis because they already were professionals, you know, off the ice and doing all those sort of things, but it was more about what we were doing on the ice every single game, every single practice that kind of just clicked in a in a better way. Uh when and when you see that and when you’re part of it, you get that fire burning even harder and more intense. The way you prepared earlier in the season, was that the way you had in the past? Was it different like and like the way you changed it? You just said in November, is that something that you plan to do forward? This is a thing that as a goalender is one of those things when you get you have to learn the tendencies of your players in front of you. Knowing who likes to pinch, who likes to go on offensive rides, who likes to do soft passes across the middle, um who likes to do what, you know, who’s a big shot blocker, who can you rely on having a good stick? And it’s hard in the beginning because you don’t know. you’re trying to figure out what all these guys are good at and what what their tendencies are. And once you start doing that, it’s easier for you to be prepared for what’s to come. You might have like say for a demon that’s really really good in a twoon-one situation of taking away the passing option. Okay, great. This is my guy. And then you might have someone that’s really good at blocking shots. So when there’s a battle in front, you know, okay, he’s going to grab it. I just have to focus on like making sure that there’s no holes on the other side of him basically. And so these things takes time. I said it from day one. It will take time. Sometimes it goes faster, sometimes it doesn’t. For me at least, it was an exciting thing that things came together, you know, during December and then continuing on uh throughout the season where uh when I look around the room and I see old tendencies vanish as well that might have not been a productive way of playing. It was so fun, you know, seeing the development of young guys like, for example, Clevy, you know, coming in playing his first season. So, or it’s not easy, you know, it’s a long season. It takes a long time to get accustomed to it. or not. You can look around the league around, you see guys playing 10 years, still trying to figure things out and and seeing it up close, seeing the development of these guys, seeing how terrific of a skater Timmy is. uh seeing the I would say u we all knew it but how how good Sandy was at for nations and getting to show the na the whole nation and all the other guys that was watching hockey at that time that yeah this is how good we know he he is and get to feed off of it those moments is one of the best things you know in a in a in another playoff in a team environment uh for me at least that’s something that I get excited about question mentioned that you want to play the lineare games for the first time in your career. This week you play 44. Is that still going to be like a personal goal of yours going into next season? Yeah. I mean if you look at it I don’t know how many games I ended up missing. So during the time when I was here I did play limelight of the of the games. So, uh, my I think they I speak for everyone that you never want to get injured. You want to be a be available every single night. You want to have the opportunity to go out there and battle with the guys. And yeah, it hasn’t changed. I’m still going to go out there. I’m not going to come in next year and say that, you know what, 30 games is enough if that we can share 30 30 20 or something like that between three guys. No, that’s not going to be you’re never going to hear that from me. And secondly, um, your backup goal and for obviously you guys have one relationship for this summer. Um you can speak to that relationship and if it winds up being next year um what what would that dynamic bring? Yeah. No, it’s ever since I would say day one me and for knew each other from way back. You know, it’s we thought it was a pretty cool thing that at least I did at the time that you know what we started our professional careers back home in Moto and here we are 10 plus years later being a tandem in the world’s best hockey league being two guys literally 30 40 minutes apart from the northern part of Sweden. It was a pretty cool thing to think about that what we managed to accomplish in our own careers. And Dave, him together with his uh wife Jess and and uh Ben and Stella, their kids have been a tremendous support for us uh throughout the season. Uh we’ve grown very close uh closer than I could have imagined, I would say. So I have a lot of to thank for because it made the life off the ice a lot easier. Uh whenever there was any, you know, sort of questions from me or my wife or whatever it may be or if it was a play date here or there, you know, they they were in the same shoes as us, you know, being a goalending family, it’s a little bit different. So, I have a lot of gratitude towards them. Uh lots of love as well. So, they really helped us to kind of thrive in in Ottawa uh quicker than I ever could have imagined. Lenus, uh World Championships were in Sweden. Has Sweden reached out and do you have any interest? Oh, no. Yeah, I’ve I have the interest, but they’ve decided not to go with me. Uh that’s the what’s it called? That’s the decision that they made uh found out and so they it would have been a great opportunity to to play for team Sweden obviously back home in in Stockholm. So uh let down about that whole situation. You know, I I really wish that I had the opportunity to do that and put the natural team uh jersey on now, especially when we didn’t make it until the second second round because uh it’s it’s this, you know, you you don’t want to play world championship in a way because you want you don’t want to be available. That’s the thing. You always want to say like, “Sorry, I can’t come. I’m playing I’m playing second league or second round or third round.” So, but you know it it just spoke a little bit higherly this year of being home in Sweden having friends and family come watching you and so but that’s this decision that they’ve made. It’s nothing I can you know go about and change it. That’s just something they have to own up to. Is that just to add some contact context is that based on timing more than anything because you’re in the playoffs. Yeah. Yeah. could be you know I haven’t had the what’s it called? Uh it’s my agent who’s had the conversation together with the management of teen. So you would have to talk to them about what the actual reasonings for. He just brought the news to me yesterday that I’m not going or that I’m not having the option to to go. And so you know my summer is going to be a little bit longer. It seems like you mentioned it being Tyler Cleven’s first season and also that earlier in the year it was difficult to gauge what your team’s tendencies were in front of you. What have you learned about Cleven’s game and as the season has progressed? Buddy, I just wish he would hit as hard as he does all the time more times. What a it’s so it’s fun seeing it from beh like from where I’m standing seeing how the forwards line up for him to go out there and hit and so once you start utilizing his body that way just gets you so fired up and I can speak for the whole team that whenever you see that from him it’s it’s can change the game you know it really it can so for him to to do that but he he did a lot of good things throughout this last couple of games as well of managing the puck in the places and making good plays, not just throwing it away at first hand, but no, he he looked a lot more comfortable and he had a lot more poise out there, which I feed off of. And I think that’s something that I strive to be a part of as well of being a person that when if you look at me and you can see that, you know, he’s cool, calm, and collected. Oh, it’s fine. And so the difference is is I would say that he had a lot more confidence from my standpoint at least. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hey, it’s been a couple of days or two days maybe. just what are your reflections on making the playoffs and just the season in general? Yeah. Um it’s obviously so frustrating um because we really felt like we had a chance to win that series and I think it goes throughout the room. Uh I think we were disappointed. Um but on the other side, um I’m really looking forward to get things rolling again and um I’m proud of this team in a lot of ways. Uh I think we found a way out for being down three nothing. uh coming back, fighting back in the series and giving us a chance um throughout the year. Uh I think everybody bought in um which was really impressive to see. Uh all the guys came back in great shape uh after the summer uh worked really hard and um yeah, it just it showed me again how much we want to win here and um yeah, I’m proud of guys. I love all those guys and uh I think we can be proud in a way of how the season went, but I think there’s still more to come. Where do you think you took the biggest steps forward this season? Uh I think uh my two-way game um trying to be able to uh play defensive uh better. Um I mean, I think there’s still lots of improvements uh to be made and I think there’s still lots of errors I can get better at. Um, but I think the the most improvements were um in my defensive game and um yeah, decision- making. I know it’s been a couple of months, but we’re not that far off from when you guys had that slide in November where you lost all those games in a row. How did you guys dig yourselves out of that? Was it meetings? Was it heartto-he hearts with people? It seemed like you guys did something to get yourself out of that and it led to all those wins in December. Uh yeah, I think just trusting the process. Uh, I mean, I think training camp was really hard. Um, and every team goes through a little bit of a bad stretch throughout the year and we knew that. Uh, we’ve learned from maybe past seasons as well, uh, where it can’t affect us too much and, um, yeah, I think we’ve done a great job. Obviously, having those home games at the end helped us a lot, having the car on our back, but um, yeah, I mean, we were on the road for the whole November, December. So, uh, it’s not easy, uh, going on the road all the time and playing all those road games and, um, yeah, but we found a way to get points where we needed to get points and, um, like I said at the end, I think we really deserve to get in the playoffs, sir. How much did you lean on the newer voices, the older voices, experienced voices in the locker room at that time in November who might not be accustomed to the here we go again in November, you guys are losing all these games. And even Travis Green can be included in that too because it it was his first season coaching. How much did you lean on those guys who weren’t hurt by those previous seasons in that stretch? Yeah, I mean I think we we talked a lot about it that uh we can’t get affected what happened the last years. Uh we all knew what happened but uh we didn’t really try and think about it too much. Uh, I mean obviously you still kind of have in the back of your head um but you just try and not affect you and uh I think those guys coming in uh DP Oie uh they’ve been through a lot as well and um they know what it takes to win and um Jensen as well like uh he’s been a huge factor I think for the whole team even when he was uh playing hurt um he’s been a huge factor for our group and um yeah so I mean all those guys. Uh they know what it takes to win and um that’s what we needed. Uh that’s what we needed. Kazzy even won a cup, scored a couple big goals. So um yeah, that’s what it takes to win and um that’s what we had. So um like I said, I think there’s every guy on this team, I I still try and learn stuff from those guys. Uh even the young guys coming in, I think there’s always stuff we can pick up from them and everybody brings something to the table. So um I think we had a lot of this year. did you learn about your playoff experience that maybe you can take into next season? Yeah. Uh it was it was so much fun uh playing those games. Uh it was actually unbelievable and it’s probably the most fun I ever had playing hockey. Um and yeah, I mean with the crowd too, uh the atmosphere we had and um yeah, just once you get back way more and uh do it every year and uh yeah, that’s what I learned. Uh, I think that’s it’s gonna push me even harder. I know how hard it is and it’s going to push me even harder to get better every year and um try and accomplish that goal. Talking in the community, fans are overjoyed with how you stepped up your game in the playoffs, physicality, defense, like you touched on, goal scoring is not easy to come by either when that time comes. What was it about the postseason that really made you elevate that game? Yeah, I uh I think obviously um just the want to win uh that bad. Um obviously when you get like I always want to win but uh if you get to the postseason uh there’s just that inner motivation um that you do anything for the team at any time and I think we had that throughout the whole lineup and um that’s where we kind of came back um because everybody was willing to do anything for the team and uh it was myself included. Uh I think nobody cared who’s going to score, nobody cared who’s going to get a point. Um it was just everything for the team and um I think all the guys in our team, all the young guys took a huge step in that direction. Uh what it takes to win and um yeah, made me proud to to see that. Closer who doesn’t have a contract as June 30th or something. What has he meant to you in the past years? And would you like to see him stick around? Yeah, I mean obviously yeah uh obviously I wanted to stick around. Uh he’s one of my really good friends, one of my closer guys on the team and um I can speak for probably everyone. Um he’s he’s got a bond to every single guy on the team. Um I think he’s still really special player. Uh I think he makes our team better and um obviously uh it always kind of sucks to see when uh somebody’s contract is up and you don’t know what’s going to happen. But um yeah, I I know how hard of a worker he is. I know how competitive he is and I know he’s going to come back really strong to show everyone how hard he worked in the off season and um yeah, we’ll see what happens, but um I think I can speak for everyone on the team. Uh we are really lucky to have him and uh I’ve been really lucky to had him for all those years now. We played together and um we went through a lot of up and downs and I could always lean on him. Uh he was always there for me for Brady too uh through hard times and that’s what it’s all about. So um yeah, I love him and um hopefully uh we can have him back. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from being around Clo? um just uh of how competitive he is. Uh I think both of us uh you probably say the same thing. Uh both of us can’t really lose. So uh every every time we do something together, if it’s mini golf, if it’s pickle ball, if it’s uh playing soccer, uh none of us can lose. So uh there’s always a couple arguments, even playing cards. Um but that’s just the kind of person he is. Uh that’s the kind of person I am. I think that’s what makes us better, too. We always um yeah, I have just so much respect for him. So, um anything we do, we push push each other. Um and I look up and I look up to him in a way and um just at his age, um how competitive he still is and how bad he wants to win. So, um yeah. your view as a new center. Is that you talked to CL? Is that one area that you like to continue to grow? Yeah, I think so. Um I think um previous seasons when I had issues with my wrists, I couldn’t really take a lot of faceoffs and then um I wasn’t really I wasn’t really playing a lot uh center uh in the Dzone either. So uh I think I worked a lot with um the coaching staff to try and get better in those aspects. Um, I worked [Music] um, sorry. Um, I um um, this guy um, yeah, I mean uh, I think every every single part of my game I still want to improve. Um, but I think face off was a big point. I don’t even know what my percentage was years before, but uh couldn’t be too high. And obviously the coaching staff didn’t trust me uh of taking those responsible faceoffs and uh I want to be a guy who is able to take those face offs, be on the ice and those moments and um they show me what I got to do to do that and that’s winning more face off as well. Um, I mean obviously you can’t trust a guy whose face of percentage is 35%. And you have another guy whose face of percentage is 57. You obviously taking the guy with 57. So um, and we have a lot of good facial guys on the team. Um, so that kind of motivated me to get better in that aspect too. Toronto obviously Matthew PK saw a little bit of ear. Is that something that you like incorporating your game? Yeah. Uh, I think so. But, uh, I think the PK um, has done a pretty good job all year. Um, I know they got a lot of heat for some some things they were doing, but they always suck to the process. And, uh, if you have guys coming in, um, new coaches coming in, uh, new systems coming in, it’s not easy, um, doing it right from the start. And um there was some breakdowns maybe here and there, but uh we always talked about trust and process the whole time. So um I think they’ve done a really good job of that and they’re going to continue to get better, too. And um obviously if I can be a part of that or help out in that um I would love to, but uh in the end I think the the guys who played PK uh have done a really good job. So um there was no real reason to switch anything and um they’re just going to continue to get better. Um, Pins and Ritz have done amazing job, I think, all year killing pennies, shutting down guys. So, yeah, they deserve uh playing on on the pan kill. You feel like this team needs to take next season to maybe take that next level and go deeper in the playoffs. Yeah, I think um like I said, I think everybody’s going to get even stronger throughout the summer. Uh, everybody going to going to work harder uh probably even than last year and um going to give everything they have because uh now we know what it feels like to be in the playoffs and uh what it means to this city, what it means to this uh fan base and um yeah, it’s just it’s just a special place to play and uh I think for us it’s um just the motivation we have in in us that uh we’re going to continue to get better. um we are still really young and um now we know what it takes to get in, but um we’re going to try and uh figure out a way to to win those games. I think the series could have went either way. Um so that takes experience experience as well and um yeah, I’m just uh I’m just really excited to what the future is holding for us and um I can’t wait to get playing again. Is there anything in your off season that you want to improve upon heading into next season? Uh yeah, I think everything uh I think there’s still a lot of room. I think I can get stronger uh stronger on pucks. Um I think in playoffs I play pretty physical so I think that’s something I can uh still bring to my game more uh throughout the regular season. Um and yeah, just being able to yeah be good enough conditioned to play 60 minutes or overtime and um do whatever it takes uh for the team to win. and um face outs is another aspect I want to get better at. Um but also I think um in the offensive zone uh knowing when to shoot, when to pass. Um I think I’ve struggled a little bit with that this year. Um I had a lot of scoring chances uh throughout games uh where I couldn’t really capitalize and uh sometimes it’s bounces, sometimes it’s just picking a better spot and um I’m going to try and get better at that as well. um just know when to shoot and um yeah and picking my spots. I think that’s uh really important and it’s going to help me continue to get better. How would you describe like obviously people will say like, “Hey, you should probably shoot more.” How would you describe like just ingraining that more in your head or just dealing with that whenever you need to? Yeah, I think um I was always a pass first guy. um my my whole career. Uh I love other guys score more than me. Um so uh yeah, I mean I have some really good players on my wings and um I’m just trying to give them the puck and uh give them scoring opportunities and um but I think a lot of it confidence too. Um when I’m playing really confident, I think um I shoot the puck more often and um I’m picking my spots where better. And I think when you always have a shoot first mentality, um when you’re a skilled player and you’re talented player, you’re going to make the play either way, uh what way it goes. And I think I just got to get better at that. Uh get better at that and uh picking my spots, when to pass, when to shoot, and uh sometimes be a little more selfish, but um yeah, it’s still a team sport. So uh I I can’t do can’t shoot by myself all the time. I got to find my teammates and um that’s what I like doing. How would how do you think Fabian Zeterlin acclimated himself to his new surroundings coming to Ottawa after the trade living with you playing on his line? What did you think of how he handled being in a new city and all of that in the last few months? Yeah, I think he handled it really well. Um I loved having him at my place. Um I think he loved it too. Um especially doing playoffs. I think it it helps a lot when you guys are go all going through the same thing. Um it was his first playoffs too uh in the NHL. So uh yeah, we were really dialed and actually didn’t really do a whole lot uh than just focused on the hockey and trying to play our best. And I was really impressed by him as well. Um coming in um he played on the fourth line at the start and he was always a guy who played up up the line up the lineup like first second line. um I think had like 18 goals before coming here in San Jose and I was really impressed how calm he was and um how much he was just happy to be here and be a part of this team and then focusing on what he’s all about that he wants to play there and there and he knew we were winning. So, I respected that a lot and I don’t think uh you can take that for granted. Uh that he’s just a guy who’s willing to do anything for the team uh no matter where he plays in the lineup and um he knew his chances are going to come. Um he knew um he’s going to he’s going to play up and down the lineup because just just the player he is. Um but um yeah, I was really impressed with that and also his mindset of just trying to win everything. I think he blocked a lot of shots in really important games for us. Um, and I think he was a little snake bitten um, throughout the year when he was with us, but uh, you can just see he’s a really good player and um, he’s still really young too, so he’s going to continue to get better and u, yeah, we’re excited and we got to the trade deadline. So, are you going to World Germany? Um, I I would love to. Uh, really would. Um, I got to see um, obviously right now it’s 2 days after we lost. I haven’t really thought about anything then just being a little frustrated that we lost. But um yeah, I got to I want to give my body like a couple days maybe to reset and uh go from there. But um yeah, we’ll see. I got to talk to the management too. Uh talk to the coaches again and um see what they think and um then go from there. Yep. Thanks, guys. Thank you guys. How’s it been for you? Not just with the playoffs and all that, but you get traded after years in Buffalo. You join them at the de trade deadline, teams winning, you go through your first playoff experience. How’s it been for you processing these last what, two months? Yeah, it’s been great. Um, you know, it’s, uh, the most fun I’ve had playing hockey in a long time. Um, just, you know, chasing the playoffs there, how big all those games were leading to the playoffs and then playing in the playoffs. Um, you know, it’s, uh, it was, it was unreal. It was a great experience. Um, you know, it was awesome joining this group and meeting all the guys here and, uh, yeah, the last two months have been great for me. talk about the playoffs a little bit, Spazilla. You know, this is your first real taste as well, too, along with a lot of the players on the team. What went into that? You know, getting guidance from older players on the team and just experiencing that for the first time. Yeah. Um, you know, obviously we had some guys with some some good experience in playoffs, so they helped us a lot. even when uh even when we went down uh three nothing, they you know still still were you know positive in the room just one game at a time and and talking lots and keeping the belief there for us. So um just having those guys around um you know has a huge impact on the dressing room. Do you always go back to White Horse to train in the summer and what’s that going to look like? Yeah, I I always go back for uh a third or half the summer. Um, you know, usually I go right after this right after the season ends and, you know, take some time off there and, uh, but, um, you know, I’m not too sure exactly what my summer’s going to look like. Um, you know, I’m sure I’ll be in Mskoka for a bit, too. That’s where I’ve been skating, um, the last little bit. So, um, yeah, I’ll probably go back to the Yukon for a bit and then, uh, you know, head up to Mskoka again. Have there been any chats about going to Worlds with Canada? Uh, not yet. No. No. Would you want to if that option was presented? Uh yeah, I think anytime you get to to represent your your country, it’s an honor. Um and uh and a privilege. So uh yeah, we’ll see what happens these next few days. Now that you’ve been around these sense guys for the last two months, and I know you still have a lot of love for Buffalo and their teammates there, what would you say is the most noticeable difference in the atmosphere here versus what you were experiencing in Buffalo? Yeah, I mean it’s uh you know we had some tough years in Buffalo, so I think the atmosphere and the environment here it’s definitely more positive. Um you know and um you know it’s tough to say. I don’t know exactly what the answer is to that, but I think um you know just coming here into a positive environment um you know it uh does a lot for for you mentally and and on the ice as well. Um, you know, just being excited to come to the rink every day and uh, you know, just be be with your teammates every day. It was, uh, you know, great these last two months. We can just dive into that a little bit more. Talk about the city itself. You’ve been here for almost two months now. You’re going to be here for a little bit longer after that as well. How’s the adjustment been to the city of Ottawa? Yeah, it’s been great. Um, you know, I love it here. Um, you know, I’ve always wanted to play in Canada, so uh, to be here now, it’s it’s awesome. And uh you know just seeing the the support and how everyone in the city rallied behind the team there uh was was incredible. Um the atmosphere in that rink during those playoff games was was nothing like I’ve ever seen before. So um yeah, it was it was great. I’m just excited to to get to see the city more. Um I haven’t been out a whole lot and uh you know just just explore a bit more. How would you describe the impact of having uh David Pon not just as a lineman but as a locker room presence? Yeah, he’s uh he’s he’s great in the room. Um you know, on the bench, in the games, everything. He’s always talking, you know, bringing the energy. Um just firing guys up, you know, he he’s you know, he’s obviously won the cup, too, so he he knows what it takes. And um he was he was great to play with and get to know and uh you know, I’m just looking forward to to more of that from him. He’s he’s a huge voice in the room and, you know, great guy to have around. Dylan, in your short time here, what did you learn about Brady Kachchuck as a leader? Yeah, he is uh you know, he’s an unbelievable leader. You know, he leads by example. Um you know, whether it’s throwing a big hit or or fighting someone or scoring a goal, you know, he does it all. And um you know, to to have that guy leading your team, you know, it’s exactly what you want. And you know, to to follow him into battle every night is um you know, it’s it’s awesome. You know, he’s a guy that playing against him um you know, you never liked playing against him, but I always had a lot of respect for him and his game. So now that I get to play alongside him, it’s uh you know, it’s awesome. What are the areas of your game that you want to improve this off season or specifically going into next season? Yeah, you know, there’s a lot um you know, overall for my season, I I wasn’t very happy with it personally. Um you know, I got a lot more to I know I got a lot more to give. Um you know, I think I just want to improve, you know, having the confidence with the puck and and holding on to it and maybe not forcing a play and just waiting for the play to develop. Um, you know, I think there’s a there’s a lot of things to my game I I can improve and I’m going to work on and, you know, I’m going to take this next little bit to to really think about exactly what what those are. Um, I think a big thing for me is just getting to my top speed quicker. Um, you know, I think my skating is a weapon that I I don’t use enough and uh it’s just working on that acceleration, being quicker so I can use my skating more. What did you learn from just playing in the playoffs? Like about the intensity that maybe you can kind of take forward next Yeah, I learned a lot. You know, we learned how much every shift matters. Um, you know, every every mistake matters, every every play matters. Um, whether it’s just getting it in behind him instead of trying to force a play, like it matters and it has an impact on the game. So, I think our group learn learned a lot as well. Even, you know, after that first game, we we learned we learned a lot and we made adjustments and, you know, we came out better. So, um, you know, I think it was a really big really big experience for us that’s, uh, going to help us a lot next year. Tim mentioned to us earlier that Cloer is the type of guy who has bonds with just about everyone in the locker room. In your short time with him, how would you describe your relationship with him? Yeah, I think um you know, we we had a pretty good relationship by the end of uh of the season there. You know, he’s he’s always chirping and giving it to me and uh you know, I’ll give it back. But um you know he’s he’s a great guy and uh you know it’s awesome to get to play with with him and um you know get to learn from him every day and just uh take little bits and pieces of his game and try and implement them into into my own. But um you know it was great getting to know him. He’s a great guy and great guy to have in the room. What would you say is the biggest thing you’ve learned from him in terms of what you can add to your own play? Yeah. Uh for me personally I think was faceoffs. you know, he’s obviously an unbelievable faceoff guy and um I’m a righty as well. So, you know, I was always asking him during games if I was struggling against a guy um you know, tips and and tricks to help me out and um you know, just little things like that and you know, he’d he’d always give me something and it would help. So, yeah. Thanks, Dylan. Thank you, Dylan. Have a good summer. Yeah, you guys as well. with the Ottawa Center. Uh, I thought it was good. Um there’s a lot of different you know development things that I wanted to work on throughout the season and um you know I think that we hit those points uh you know here and there and um you know I felt like by the end of the year I was kind of playing my kind of hockey and um trying to contribute to the team. Um just um yeah I think that that’s kind of how my season went. How’s it been processing uh the last few days? I know it’s still probably still fresh in your mind being out of the playoffs, but what’s it been like for you processing those emotions? Oh, yeah. Um, just being able to see the Canadian Tire Center like that. Um, it was an unbelievable experience. Uh, I think that, uh, getting all the guys into the playoffs and experiencing that and, um, you know, I think I took so much away from, you know, that kind of hockey and, um, just, uh, you know, I want to be back in it as soon as possible. Kyle, you quickly became a fan favorite, especially during the playoffs, even less a little more gushing about your physicality. Talk about that and then turning up the intensity uh come playoff time. Yeah, I I don’t think I really changed my style at all. Um I just, you know, in the playoffs it’s more physical. Um you know, the plays get stled down a little bit more and uh it’s just, you know, it’s uh I don’t know. I think it just fit my style of hockey kind of. um just I I play a certain way and um you know I’m not going to go out there and skate around and you know make crazy plays all the time but um and you know you don’t see that a lot in the playoffs. So um you know I just I’ve stuck to the same um you know standard all year and uh I thought in the playoffs I you know I could just play my style a little bit more. You’re a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Have you talked to Stoos at all or your representatives? And how open are you to, you know, a long-term fit in? Yeah, I haven’t uh discussed anything yet. Um, you know, I I love the city of Ottawa. They’ve been so good to me for last couple years and um you know, I I’ll have to talk to my agency on all that kind of stuff, but um yeah, I mean, I love the city and and uh all it brings. going into the off season, are there any specific areas that you think you need to work on just to maybe take your game to that next level? Yeah, I think so. I’ll I’ll talk to the staff and all that kind of stuff and we’ll uh we’ll create a plan to you know, try to work on my weak areas and um you know, I want to come into camp next year and um you know, kind of pick up where I left off at the end of the year and you know, try to have a good start to the season. So, um I’ll go back to North Dakota this summer and um yeah, train there. How much do you feel playoff experience just added some confidence to yourself and for your game to go into next season? Yeah. Uh you know, the playoffs is, you know, it’s man’s game out there for sure. Just every every battle is that much more important. And uh you know, I I I loved it. It was so much fun to be out there and um you know I could play my physical style. Um just yeah I thought that you know it was just you know it was fun hockey and I thought that it fit my style of of play. So yeah. Is there any kind of validation that comes with that that your strengths seem to be enhanced in the games that were the the hardest and most physical this time of year? Um I mean I I don’t know. I just just try to go out there and play my style and just try to, you know, help the team. And um I think that like I said, playing in the playoffs, it’s almost easier cuz it’s just so simple like everyone’s just doing their job and um you know, pucks just get moved north faster. And um I I can play more physical as well. Like in the regular season there’s 82 games. You got to maintain your body a little bit. You can’t, you know, go all out every single game. But um in the playoffs it’s it’s a little bit shorter and you can uh you know express yourself on the ice a little bit more at times. So yeah. Your game seemed to evolve once you were paired with Nick Balo. Can you talk about that that chemistry with him and your relationship with him? Yeah, he’s a you know he’s an awesome guy off the ice and you know we worked uh pretty well last year in Belleville together and uh we had that experience and you know he plays uh you know simple hard hockey and you know that’s kind of what I like to think that I am and um you know he’s physical and uh we just broke pucks out well in the playoffs I thought and just tried to help our team out and give them good minutes and um yeah I mean yeah he was a great partner to have in the playoffs. You get noticed for your physicality a lot, but talking to some of your NAK teammates that have known you a while, they thought that you didn’t get appreciated enough for your ability with the puck and to make plays and have poise. Just the thought from you on on where your game’s grown in that area. Yeah, I think, you know, over the course of the season, just uh you know, getting that many more puck touches and and that kind of stuff, uh you kind of understand the game a little bit more, too. It slows down at times. Uh, I think that, you know, that’s where confidence comes into play. Like, uh, you know, at the start of the season, like, um, you know, it’s probably, you know, I didn’t have many puck touches. I only played like 17 games. Like, confidence probably wasn’t all there. And then, you know, by the end of the year, I, you know, almost 100 games now. And, you know, I can see how some players play and I can understand my teammates a little bit more. So, um, yeah, I think that, you know, confidence grew over the course of the season. and you could see my um you know different styles come out. Travis Hamick said one of the things he tried to do is get like scouting reports of opposing teams uh before games. What have you learned from from Travis throughout the season? Yeah, he was great. Like we uh Hammer always worked on little things with me too. Like uh like at the start of the year, we’d always be out the end of practice working on little details like picking up pucks off of rims or um you know, breakouts and you know, being able to communicate on the ice. Just like stuff like that that um you know, not many people can really teach it cuz you know, they haven’t played 900 games in the NHL. He’s a guy that uh has been around forever and um yeah, even in the playoffs just, you know, you know, telling me little things to, you know, help out my game. Uh I thought that it was awesome to have him around and uh yeah, he was a great teammate. Tyler, I don’t know if there’s been any interest, but with your status as a restricted free agent keep you from going to the World Championships? Yeah, I don’t plan on going there this year. Thank you, Perfect. Thank you. Black jack. How would you sum up your first playoff experience. Sum it up. Um, yeah, obviously it it was a cool cool couple weeks for us. Me personally, it’s just so fun. I think uh for a while there, every time the spring uh time came around, we weren’t playing meaningful hockey and then just to have that to experience the fans here, just everything is is probably the most fun I’ve had playing hockey in my life. and you know the best is yet to come for us and I’m just excited for the future. So it was it was definitely a cool experience though. How different did this year feel given last year you played half a season, you had a surgery, you know, all that stuff. Just how how fulfilling was this season for you? Yeah, it was awesome. I think I I had a few injuries too this year, so there’s a couple bumps in the road, but um yeah, obviously with last year and everything I’ve kind of been through, it’s it’s tight to get get through pretty much a full season and to make playoffs. Um there’s a lot to build off of. Um yeah, just exciting for me and uh just definitely happy with how it went down. Faceoffs, too, in this playoff series. you being one of those guys, what are your takeaways from that aspect of the game in the playoffs? Yeah, I think that’s one of the main things I kind of took away from it is how important they are. Um, you know, obviously in the regular season it’s important, but I think it’s just so much more elevated puck possession in the playoffs to start cuz um, obviously obviously Dzone faceoffs are super important and it’s all about inches in the playoffs and you know, one faceoff could obviously determine the outcome of a game and um, so yeah, obviously learn a lot um, taking those diesel drills. Obviously G’s done a great job of trying to guide me in that aspect because he’s so successful at it. So, I think I I learned a lot from it and I’ll carry into next year and hopefully uh have a great year in the dock. How much of that guidance is chirping? Chirping a lot of it. Um but it’s it’s it’s all out of a place of love with G. I think um you know I think we have that good relationship where he’s kind of kind of like my big brother and um he just wants the best for me and the chirping is just all part of it. Why does Klo Jaru have such a positive impact in your locker room? just with you, but with so many guys in your room. I mean, obviously it comes down to two. I mean, what kind of player he is, how successful he’s been in this league. He’s been a captain of a franchise for more than 10 years. I I think eight years maybe. I don’t know what it is, but um yeah, just the guy he is. He’s a silent leader, but um he leads by example. And I mean, when you’ve played a thousand games in this league and been as successful as he’s been, you’re going to listen cuz you realize how hard that is to do and what it takes, he has. And um I think that’s why his message is so impactful in the room. Wasn’t just your first opportunity in playoffs, but your line had a major role in in shutting down some dangerous players. What was it like like every game facing that task? Yeah, it’s fun. I think um going into the games you try not to think about it too much obviously. You know that’s your job for the night. Um but I think me, Mikey, and Reds love it. I think we we try to embrace it. Um and I know I think Greener kind of gave us that role in the middle of the year. I think it kind of started and um ever since then I think we’ve done a good job of embracing it and yeah, I I love it. It’s fun. And uh hopefully in the future I try to continue to do that. You mentioned faceoffs. What are some other areas of your game that you want to improve on? Yeah, I think every year you try to look at your game and try to evaluate. Um I think a little bit more offensive play driving I think I can do a little bit better job of. Obviously as a center I think that’s important. Um especially in the playoffs. I know there’s not a lot of space out there but um you got to try to drive the play the best you can. a lot of five on five hockey. So, um that’s a part of the my game I want to improve and yeah, obviously I think I do a better job in faceoffs. I think I was around 50 this year, but I want to take a step in that area. Um yeah, hopefully maybe score some more goals in the future, but that’s about it. Guess that shut down role. How different is it in the playoffs when you’re facing the same guys every night? You know, they’re trying to figure holes and what you’re doing and you’re trying to Yeah. figure out their tendencies to to stop them. So, yeah, it’s a bit of a it’s a bit of a chess match, I think, in all areas of the game. Um, especially in that sense, especially faceoffs, too. I think throughout game to game, we’re looking at video, they’re looking at video of how we could beat each other. And I think that’s kind of the main thing when you’re facing the same guy every time in the dot. Um, tendencies wise, I think hockey is such an unpredictable game where it’s it’s hard. I mean, you know, guys have tendencies, but the game’s so unpredictable. There’s going to be different things every night, so you just have to trust your instincts and but yeah, a lot of it’s more faceoffs and facing that same guy every night. What did you think of how Adam Goddette was in that 4C role and played on the PK and as a teammate? Unreal, man. I think, you know, coming in, no one like coming into training camp, I don’t think he really I don’t know. I don’t know if he was supposed to make the team, but I mean he he he had a great year for us. I think he stepped up super big in the playoffs. So, I think if you want to win in the playoffs, some guys are going to have to step up and he did a great job for us um all year. Almost scored 20 goals in that type of a role. That’s not easy to do and just super happy for him. Just a down to earth guy and works hard every day. Doesn’t say much, but um he’s just a true pro and I’m just happy for him. You talked about wanting to score more goals towards the end of the season. You got the second half. Yeah. Was that tough to take and is that the role that you want to get back to next year? Yeah, I think I mean I’m a competitive guy. I don’t think you get here without being competitive. So, obviously I want to be on the power play, but um yeah, that’s out of my control. I think that’s a thing I learned. Sometimes you can’t control some of the things that happen to you. And I thought at first I was a little bit bummed, but I had to play a different role for for our team to win. And I try to embrace that. And um hopefully in the future they see me as a little bit more of an offensive guy. But like I said, I got put into a role this year where I try to do my best to embrace it and like I said, it’s going to be a new year next year and we’ll kind of see where it goes. Your extension eligible this summer. Yeah. How open would you be to, you know, extending with the long term? Yeah, I mean, if they if they want me around here for a long time, I’d obviously be open to it. Um, like I said, everything’s so fresh. Um, just ended. So, I think as the weeks go on, you think about more and more things and um but yeah, obviously I love being here. Love the boys. We’re building something special and yeah, I’d be obviously I wouldn’t be opposed to staying here for a long time. You talked about guys stepping up in the playoffs. What about former Nodak teammate Tyler Cleven? not only physically but is poised to make plays as well. Yeah, I mean I played with him obviously my sophomore year, so I kind of saw what kind of player he could be and um when you come into the NHL, it’s not easy to kind of you’re trying to just get your get your feet wet and trying to get your ground under you and um it takes sometimes it takes a bit and I think in the first half of the year he came in played well and then you know always when you’re a rookie it’s not easy to play 82 games. I went through it where I was terrible for like 30 games. And it’s just finding that consistency and then for him to bring it in his first Stanley Cup playoff series and to play the role that he did. I I was so impressed. I think he was one of our best players honestly. Um with the puck, he broke out pretty much every puck whenever he got the chance to. He played a role in the PK2 towards the end of it. Made some great plays. So, um and he was starting to be way more physical. So I I mean he’s only 23 I think 22 years old big man and he’s just going to continue to grow and grow. So this I think this playoff series though is going to be a big stepping stone for his confidence too coming into next year and um I’m excited to see what he’s going to do next year because it’s going to be pretty cool. Awesome. All right guys, have a good Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. How’s it been for you processing the last few days since the playoffs ended for you guys? Uh, it’s tough. Um, I felt like felt like we could have done it. Um, had a great team. We’re playing pretty good. And, uh, I think it just shows situations like that, it can it can go both ways. Um, obviously going into overtime, it’s kind of a coin flip. So, I think if we get uh, you know, a little bit lucky on some of those bounces, I think uh, the series goes the other way, but it didn’t. So, you know, just look forward to next year and see what happens. You’re not that far off from a couple months back when this team hit a low point in November and they lost five games in a row. How did you guys dig yourselves out of that poll? Was it obviously you look within yourselves, but was there a meeting? Was there hearttohe heart, big speech? What happened? Uh, I mean, looking back, I mean, you have meetings every single day. Um, I think some some longer than others, but uh I think when you go through losing streaks like that, you just got to get one win. Um, got to find a way and just go from there. season like for you like you ended it early in the year you struggled then you kind of graced your game in the playoffs you played well like what did you learn from this season just as maybe like a main takeaway yeah um it’s a long season um you’re going to struggle at times and I think uh you don’t want to get too consumed in your routines um I think uh comfort kind of kills kills growth so I think You don’t want to get comfortable in the day-to-day routines. You want to, you know, seek out challenges every single day in practice. And I think uh I think as the season was going on, I was I was finding myself getting caught in those routines and just uh you know, not going through the motions. But I think like I said before, not really seeking out challenges. So, um obviously I think uh you know a flip switched in my mind as the season went on and I think uh just that helped me a little bit. What are those things that you try to kind of push yourself challenge yourself to not be in that routine of comfortability. Yeah, I think just little things in practice. Um I don’t know, like silly things like passing on your backhand when it’s an easy forehand play. Um obviously just making yourself a better player, but uh in the gym too, I think every every aspect in hockey. Yeah. A lot of people took notice of you during for nations. People said that your series against Toronto was a bit of a coming out party for yourself. How do you feel about the fact that your profile and your stock essentially through what you’ve done this year is up and and more and more people will start paying more attention to your game? Yeah. Um I I think like I don’t know. I think as the season went on um I think at the start of the season I was a little wrapped up in you know trying to just do too much, trying to be something I wasn’t. And I think as the season went on, kind of settled into my play a little bit more and uh got got found out the player I want to be. Um yeah, but I think like it’s just one season, you know, like you had good parts of the season and that’s uh that doesn’t really make a career, so I just want to keep building. The next maybe challenge for you like in the offse like what are the areas that you want to improve upon next season? Yeah, I think everything. um just get stronger faster. Um I think playoffs too kind of, you know, makes you realize, you know, the type of the type of game you need to play to win. Um and it’s long, too. We only played six games and it’s uh it’s physical, it’s intense. So, um yeah, lots of lots of experiences I learned from this year and uh take going into the summer. Jake, some of the players um I think about Brady, I think even students, let’s say, they look up to you and some of your preparation. What are those things you’re doing behind the scenes that you’re just taking extra care and doing? Uh, I don’t know. I think like guys say that, but I think everyone kind of does it nowadays. Um, maybe I’m a little bit more nerdy about it than other guys, but uh, no, I love that part of the game. Um, I I mentioned before playing with Jacob Chicken last year. Um, role model for me and I think uh, just the health stuff in general that I like. So, um, yeah, I think hockeyy’s kind of like a it’s my life. It’s 24 hours non-stop. So, um, you know, whatever whatever I can do to help myself play better and help the team win, you know, I’m obviously going to do it. So, like extra ice tubs or the way you’re eating or like sleep patterns or what is it? Yeah, I mean, I try try different stuff every single year. Um, obviously, I think the main things are are huge. Your your diet, make sure you’re eating enough. Um, yeah, sleep. Sleep’s obviously a big thing, but uh like I said before, I feel like everyone’s doing it. It’s just uh I don’t know, maybe maybe they just noticed me doing it a little bit more. Have you been approached by Team USA to join them for Worlds this spring? Yeah, I have. Um I I declined this year. I just think it was it was a long season. Um but uh you know, obviously I love representing my country and hopefully have, you know, more opportunities in the future. Is there anything specific you took away from the Four Nations playing with those guys? that helped you down the stretch? Yeah, I think just being around everyone. Um, feel like for the most part, everybody has the has the same physical capabilities on the ice. Um, skating, hockey IQ, and whatnot. But, uh, I found just being there, um, the guys that separated themselves from from the rest of the team in the league, I think it’s it’s mental. Um, it’s it’s their confidence, um, day in and day out and and their belief in in what they do. And I think uh that that too what uh Claire mentioned earlier just the preparation stuff all those guys are you know at the top of their game with their their nutrition and their mental game. So I think uh yeah kind of just all aspects rubbed off of me in that tournament. What do you think um Travis’s approach his vision for how you wanted the team to play? Why do you think that resonated with this group so effectively? Yeah, it’s been it’s been unreal. Um, you know, since since Travis has been our head coach this year, I think uh you know, every player loves him. We love playing for him. Um, you know, he has a great relationship with everybody on our team. So, I think when you have that in a coach, it it just brings out, you know, the best in everybody and, you know, you’re excited to come to practice and work with everybody. So, um, yeah, I think this year was just the first step of, you know, many for us in the future. Thanks, Awesome. Thanks, guys. Hey, hey, hey. Hey. How’s it been processing these last two months for you where you get traded from San Jose, you join the winning in in Ottawa when you go to the playoffs and everything going on around that. Uh I would say it’s been great. Uh felt like I stepped into to a a big big family and uh um yeah, it’s been great. Uh I mean it’s uh the group is so tight uh and uh so close with each other. So it was easy for me. Uh even hockey wise didn’t go that well at the beginning, but I felt felt comfortable when I learned the system more and more. And yeah, how did the guys go about uh kind of embedding you into their family? Uh they just like right away when I got traded uh so many guys texted me from the team. Uh so it was I felt already there. I they’re really tight and um u like I said, yeah, just felt like a family and and that was that was true. What was it like living with Tim Stutel for you know the rest of the season? What was that kind of brotherhood relationship like for you? Yeah, he reached out right away too uh and uh told me I could live with him and uh yeah, it was easy easy choice and uh um we we had a lot of fun together. Uh it’s it’s just made my my um when I came here so much easier. Uh he showed me around everything. Uh so yeah, it’s it’s just great to to have a guy like that. How was it for you learning how to play with it? Uh, oh, it’s it’s great. Uh, I only played against him and uh wasn’t fun all the time, but uh yeah, it’s um it’s a great player. Uh and uh and great teammate to have around. We know you’re a restricted free agent this summer. Have there been any discussions with Steve about a new contract so far? You can talk to Steve. Would you like to be an Ottawa senator. I would love to be Ottawa Senators. Yeah. Maybe is it frustrating when you’re having success with coming here, those expectations that you were brought in to produce and just not getting those results right away or you just are you just more focused on the processing? Um just I feel good about myself, you know? Uh I said it a long time. If I work hard every shift, it’s gonna come. And uh it did finally come and I mean it’s I didn’t put up the points I wanted to but I I felt like I worked worked really hard for the team overall and um yeah I’m just going to prepare for the next year and um I will be back hopefully. What will you remember about your first playoff experience? Uh wow that was that was great. Um happens fast out there. everything, you know, uh first five minutes was hard, but uh then you just it’s just hockey and uh uh especially when we came home here, uh the fans were were amazing, you know, and the crowd was was crazy and it was so so much Yeah. goosebumps and stuff, but I mean it’s Yeah. to see what we did with the whole city is just amazing. Anything else? Thank you. Hey, hey, hey.

Hear from #Sens players as they address the media at their end of season media availability.