LA Kings Players | 2024-25 End of Season Exit Interviews in El Segundo

LA Kings Players | 2024-25 End of Season Exit Interviews in El Segundo

co last year at this time you talked about rebuilding the culture here. Do you feel like you guys made progress in that sense this season and how do you reconcile that progress with not advancing in into the broader goal I guess? Yeah, I think we definitely made progress. I think I guess the record itself showed showed itself regular season. Um but in the end of the day that’s not what you’re playing for. you you’re playing obviously to to win a championship and and we failed to do so. So, it’s it’s disappointing and uh you know, we felt like this year would would be different and uh got off to a good start, but we we couldn’t close and and that’s on on us to to figure out how how to do it. Andre, for you personally, you have one year left on your contract. When you signed that two-year deal, you said you were going to have a long thought about what comes after that. I know it’s obviously early. wasted a lot of time. Have you thought about what comes after that next contract? Have you thought about retirement after that or anything? I haven’t. No, not not yet. But uh I’m sure there will be, you know, time in the near future where I uh see what I want to do and uh you know, I’ll be here next year for sure and then we’ll see what happens after that. Drew, four years in a row to Edmonton. Does it matter it was Edmonton all four years or just losing four years in a row is just is painful? I mean, yeah, losing in general is just painful. But I mean, obviously it sucks that it was Edmonton all four times, too. But no matter who we’re playing, like Kobe said, we our ultimate goal is, you know, to win a championship and we had a great opportunity this year to to get the job done and we didn’t. And yeah, no matter what, it’s frustrating. We we play every year to win and that’s the bottom line. How healthy were you? Uh I mean I was obviously not 100%. Uh but uh you know I I felt like I could still play play well and thought I did at times. I thought I could have played better but uh you know this summer will be very important especially early in the summer to get back my range and all these things with my ankle and uh then have a good offseason in training. Anything you can share on what the summer entails for you just to kind of get back to it 100%. Yeah. Well, it’s got to start with just getting that ankle back to 100%. Um, and that’s going to take a lot of work with physio and stuff like that. And then hopefully, you know, that can get done in a month or so and then get right into strength training. Drew, was was this group tighter than others? It seemed like that way. It felt that way. And does that make it this moment that much harder? Yeah, this one hurt like big time because we were in the past years. I not going to say that we didn’t think we could maybe win, but this year like truly I felt like we were going to win this series. Um, yes, we’re very tight off the ice, on the ice. Uh, everyone bought into what we were supposed to do and I think this is the best team we’ve had here in a long, long time. And, uh, unfortunately it didn’t get done. Um, but yeah, we we’re we have a great group. We really do. A very tight group and we all want to win and we all play for each other. So, I mean, that’s what you got to ask for. Drew, when you were kind of on the men, the gym had talked about easing you back into the lineup, playing 12 to 15 minutes, and that that obviously never happened. Can you talk about kind of the ramp up coming back and the that that process kind of jumping back in with both feet, I guess. Yeah, I mean, the start was tough. Uh the when you take that long off, uh no matter what, you’re not going to be at your the level play you want to be at. Um, I struggled in the beginning when I first came back and especially mentally not knowing that I was where I wanted to be. Um, but I think in a way it was good they kind of threw me into the fire like that because I got back to where I wanted to be a little quicker than I think I would have if I had eased in and only played 15 minutes. But, uh, yeah. No, I I never want to play 15 minutes. So, I was completely fine with it. Yeah. for either one of you. Can you address the announcement of Rob uh parting ways with the organization? Uh yeah, it’s it’s a hard day. I mean, I’ve known Blakey for 20 years now. So, uh you know, he’s uh he was my teammate before. He was, you know, our our GM and more importantly, he’s uh I think he’s my friend or our friend. and uh you know I think he did a good job building this team. I think we showed it this year and it sucks to see that you know we didn’t deliver and you know didn’t obviously didn’t move on and he he paid the price for it really. Um he’s uh you know a very very exceptional human and uh you know looking back now he he’s done a lot for me as a player as a GM as a as a mentor and uh you know it’s it sucks to see to see him leave for sure. Um and it’s going to be at least for a little bit next year it’s going to be weird not not having him around. For both you guys this organization’s now gone over 10 years without winning a playoff round. You are the two players who’ve been there for everything. The process of winning two cups in three years to this big lol. Is there anything you guys feel like is maybe missing in the organization right now, maybe culturally or mentally, that you think you can rediscover to get back to those winning years? I think the culture took a step forward this year. I think uh the group is tighter than it was last year or previous years. I think we’re playing a better style of hockey now too to where, you know, we’re, you know, there wasn’t very many games this year where we really, you know, pissed it away, so to speak, really. Um, and the guys showed, the guy showed up every night or, you know, majority of the nights. Uh, the guys care. Uh, like Drew said, the group is tight. So, I think it was a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t, you know, like I said before, it doesn’t change the fact we we didn’t get the job done. And the next step is obviously to to figure that out and and, you know, obviously go deeper. How did that happen? How did the group become tighter? What changed inside the room from a year ago or two years ago? Uh, I think just more experience getting bounced for the third time in in a in the first round. I think, you know, every single one of us every single one of us reflected on it and, you know, made sure that, you know, it’s it’s it’s more of a connected group and more of a of a team effort. And uh you know I think if you look at our our team this year, Juice had 70 something points. You know I don’t think uh you know guys are playing for for points anymore. Of course, everybody wants to score points, score goals, and and rack up the assists and everything, but I think this year, more than any other years, I think we’ve uh, you know, played the the team game and, you know, racking up wins was was obviously the the a big thing. Sure. Two more questions. You were smiling. I’m just curious if you could add to that. Um, what was the the question in there about what changed in the room? How did the guys become tighter where they were? Uh bringing in some of those uh offseason additions who had experience. Um some guys had cups. Uh that helped us a lot. And but the biggest thing was you could like feel that everyone bought in to what we were trying to do. Guys, um yeah, they just bought in. They weren’t thinking about their points. We didn’t have we had we didn’t have egos. It was a team effort. Like I can’t explain how true that statement is. We we were together on it. Uh everyone supported each other. Everyone believed in each other. And uh yeah, we didn’t have egos. Like honest to God, Drew, he the coach took a lot of heat for games three and four, the way the games ended. Like did you guys back off too much? Should you have been more aggressive in those games to win those games? I I’ve said this um the coaches weren’t telling us to just like back off and and sit back that there was no talk about doing that. Um that it’s just human nature to sit back, you know, to me and Kobe even, we’re we’re telling the group, you know, like don’t sit back. Let’s keep going. Let’s be on our toes. Let’s keep working for offense. And like I don’t know why it doesn’t happen. It just doesn’t sometimes. I mean, you watch games last night, the same type of thing happened, you know? Um, so that was never something that we talked about. Just sitting back, it just kind of naturally happened. And even though we did sit back, we still got the job done. That that’s I mean, six on five’s got to be better. Um, and really that’s it. We We had to get that job done. And that’s on the players. I wouldn’t blame the coaches for that. Do you feel like you guys recovered emotionally and psychologically from those two games for games five and six? Yeah, I mean, yeah, we did. Of course, you got to put it behind it. That’s what uh playoff series is all about. We talked about it having the highs and the lows and you know, obviously after first two games, we you know, we were up, but we kept it even kill too. You know, it it wasn’t, you know, and when you lose a couple games in a row, you you got to keep it even kill. So, does it affect you? Of course it does affect you to wear to where you know human and everybody everybody gets affected by it but I thought for the most part it was uh pretty even keel and just going about the business. K the last 20 games Jim said that he was really proud of the way you played um and it was contentious this year you scratched it for a game or a lot of conversations said you have what happened in the last month or two that changed for you? um you know um I’m 28 years old so not very young anymore you know and you know I enough is enough kind of in in a few ways and I you know I have so much uh um expectations for me and u you know it was uh as a it has to be as a whole package you know so uh I think it changed a lot in the last 20 games or so you like you said, not only on the ice, but off the ice as well, you know, just uh being more professional, being more as a leader and and um on the ice, you know, played a 200 foot game, you know, it’s uh it’s tough to play it, but uh you know, um looking back, I mean, very proud that I did it, you know, also made me a better player. uh not yeah the most important thing for the team you know I helped the team more more out like that to to win games and you know I made that switch and uh I’m going to continue to stay like I was the last 20 games you know Kevin Drew was just saying that games three and four that the setting back was just kind of human nature it was more maybe execution than tactics or strategy what was your take on those situations first absorbing so much of the Well, I mean, it’s so easy to say um to to watch and say whatever, you know. I mean, we tried our best. Uh we we had them. I you know, we especially those two games, you know, one of those games we should have won, you know, but you can see yesterday St. Louis, they um lost even even worse way than we did, I think. You know, it’s not easy. Every everybody is sitting back when they’re leading because you don’t need to chase, you don’t need to another goal, whatever. But you know bottom line is we had to make it done you know get the job done and we didn’t. I mean uh we were leading we were not just leading we were in my opinion we were like playing way better better than them. They didn’t have any life you know so we have to have key moments to to just close it out you know and we didn’t. Phil you’ve been here for all four of these series now. When you look at the caliber of team that you guys had this year, is this the hardest one of the four to take knowing how much belief was in the room this year? Uh yeah, this one was definitely the the one I felt the most comfortable and the one we could uh go with the furthest that’s for sure. Um very unfortunate what happened, but uh yeah, definitely the group I was believing in for sure the most. Your season, first 50 games were a little bit the last 20 games you really emerged, started scoring goals again. You were great in the in the postseason. What happened there? Was it health? Was it clicking with your linemates? What Why were you so strong down the stretch, you think? Um, as playoff comes, I always get better. That’s for sure. My personal personal game. Um, yeah, I think my line change. Uh me and Kevin were together for a while and we were kind of dog house for a little bit and we just you know we we fought our way back and we work on our mental part and off the ice on the ice and we’re hungry, we’re dedicated and we care so and we’re team first. that’s which is the most important and you know we just accept our our role and we just start playing better and um yeah I mean we’re we tried everything to make a difference you know in playoff and get our games going for the the boys and the team and um yeah unfortunately like I said but yeah last 20 game I would say my my linemates and myself and um I had like a a better role like I knew what I was doing more had some talk with the coach as well So yeah, but um it went uh it was a hard year to start but didn’t finish uh strong personally. So you mentioned this is the most confident and comfortable you felt this team was in getting past Edmonton and that seems like the general consensus amongst the players but it doesn’t happen. So as a leader in this group like mentally how do you now recover and go back after and still keep going after you feel like you kind of fell short so bad this year? Yeah, that one sting a little more than the other one. Like you said, like we all believed we had a better team and we played like it too. like we played like we had a better team and Darus was kicking and um that game three and four four I would say more like you know a little mistake that you know those teams they capitalize and they’re very opportunist and um they I guess they took the series over from there came back home we were gass you know from the overtime um so yeah I just it’s just like little key moment that cost us big time talk about the OT fatigue. Um maybe for either of you guys, do you feel like fatigue did become maybe a little bit of a factor game five or at the end of the series with how well game or how game four went? I would say just game five only. Otherwise, uh you know, with game six, we played well. So, um just game five, you know, you play every two days. So, some guys react differently and you think in different ways. Um not as sharp sometimes. So, yeah. Kevin, you kind of had a front row seat to Quinton’s second half of the season in the playoffs, which felt like a real coming out party for him with how well he played. Just how exciting for the group is it to see him maybe take that next step and for you personally to have a player to play off of like him? Yeah, obviously it’s very exciting to see him uh you know uh moving to center first of all you know uh not easy thing to do even for centermans like him you know uh you know and then like just you know a second half especially I think he took over you know got more comfortable um so very excited to see him take another step and getting better and better and obviously so big and strong and fast you know it’s very hard to stop him um in playoffs as well you know um did did a great job, I think, you know, so yeah, I can’t wait to for next season. Last question here. And for you personally, you’ve talked a lot in the past about the importance of having a consistent line, consistent line mates. Things change, you don’t really have control of that, but how much do you want Quinton to just be your consistent center moving forward? Well, you always want to have a consistent line, you know? You don’t want to always switch back and forth, you know? I mean, in games, it doesn’t really matter. You just uh do whatever it takes to win the game, you know what I mean? Um but uh eventually you kind of want to find your line, you know, like Phil said before and uh so yeah, I think um we’ll be excited if uh yeah to stay with him, you know. Are you both healthy going into the offse? Both healthy. Trev, is this it for you? No, I don’t think so. Uh see what happens this summer, but um still feel good. So we’ll see what’s out there. So you want to keep playing? I’ I’d love to keep playing out. This season I feel like you kind of got back to your career standards, maybe even hit a little bit above them with the VZNA nomination. What’s the key for you to kind of carry that into next season and make sure you stay at that kind of that bar for yourself? Uh yeah, I think just uh having another good summer of training and uh making sure my my body feels good. Um I think uh you know it’s not like I was doing anything crazy this season. Like I think it’s all very repeatable. So looking forward to another uh good year next year. Trevor, you’ve played for a few coaches obviously. How do you feel Jim Jimmy handled the group, managed the group? How did you feel the group man responded to him over over the course of the year? And obviously these last couple of weeks were tough, but I would just say that’s what what Jimmy’s done for you guys. Yeah, I mean I’m good. I think, you know, look at the the record we had. I think the home record was um we set a record for most home wins and um 105 points or whatever we had. So um thought he did a good job and um you know I thought from right day one everyone kind of bought into what the plan was and um you know had a good year. Obviously we wish the finish was different but um thought it was a good year. Obviously, Drew pointed to yourself and the other guys who came in as helping to maybe change the culture within the room. Is there anything that you tried to do or that you saw Fog or Eddie try to do to help change the culture of the group overall? I I mean, I don’t think we tried to do anything. I think we just uh came in and the guys did a a great job of making us feel welcome so we could just be ourselves right away. And um um I just kind of bring to the table what we who we are and who we are as players. And um I think we all felt really uh comfortable with this group and felt like we were a good fit in the locker room. We just talked to Andre and Drew about this team has now gone over a decade without winning a playoff round. You obviously left for a few years, but you were here for that process of becoming a team that wins two and three years to now this l. Is there anything you can maybe point to that is missing culturally or mentally for this team compared to what those cup champion teams have that you can maybe try and get back? I mean, I don’t think I think it’s a pretty good culture here and um you know, I think we have a lot of leadership and you know, guys that have won. So, I I don’t think it has anything to do with that. I think, you know, it’s it’s tough. I mean, um you know, getting over that hump, it’s it’s it’s not easy. So, um you know, I think I I don’t think it’s anything with to do with that. I think more of just um you know, you gota you got to stay with it and um mentally you just got to be prepared for um you know, the grind it is. When you compare last season to this season, your your numbers significant jump. One or two reasons or factors why you think you just ascended to that level? Uh I think um you know I owe a lot of that to to Bucks. Uh Mike Buckley just um he had a clear message right right from the moment I traded here of uh you know some things in my game he thought I’d maybe gotten away from and uh things that had made me uh successful throughout most of my career that we got back to and um when we started working on those things and I I started feeling really comfortable with my game and um obviously had a a great group of guys in front of me too which helped uh the whole way through. Darcy that you guys were so good um at holding leads, protecting leads, managing leads even third period. Uh when it comes down to it, is holding the or protecting the lead against that team against those two players a different animal than most other teams? And yeah, I mean, yeah, they’re they’re great players and and um you know, they’re they’re uh they’re tough to contain, but I I mean, um obviously it sucks looking back at, you know, some of the the leads we had in the series that uh disappeared. And um I’m sure there’s a you know a lot of things that we did throughout the regular season that made us so well that you know for whatever reason um you know whether it’s playing against guys like that or whatever but you get away from it a little bit and and uh you know some of it’s just uh you know you don’t get a break here or there and a small sample size and um you know things uh things change quickly in the playoffs and um yeah it’s um you know it’s still things. Uh, you know, looking back at that series, Darc, you mentioned Mike Buckley there. It seems like every goalie that has a good season puts a lot of credit on whoever their goalie coach is. Maybe some fans don’t really realize the importance of that goalie coach. What is it that makes that relationship such a big factor in success, especially like the right fit for a goalie coach and a goalie? Yeah, I think um, you know, obviously there there’s only two goalies on a team, so and one coach, so it’s uh it’s a pretty close connection. So, if uh if there’s a a good um good chemistry there, then um you know, I I feel like you see uh the benefits from that instantly cuz it’s such a a a close working relationship. And uh you know, when uh when they understand your game and and understand you as a person, uh I feel like uh they do a good job of uh getting the best out of you. Trev, you’ve been here for all four of these, you know, playoff runs for you guys. when you look at the group that you had in the room this year and the belief guys have talked about is this the hardest one for you to kind of take I guess for sure um felt like we had our best group this year felt like we had um you know we controlled the pace of play I thought for first four games um but you know it just sucks like we just didn’t get it done and that’s uh that’s that for another season in a row you’ve managed to elevate your game you added back to being a 30 goal scorer to more of a playmaker, the 200 foot game. You have consistently done that, but do you think you are now at your peak or is there more that you can add? And what would that be if you think you can add more to your game and get even better again? Um, yeah. I mean, it’s hard to say. I feel like I’m still like bodywise and mental wise, I think there’s still couple more percent I think I can add to my game. um you know age wise I think yeah this is probably going to be you know the next I want to say maybe two three years maybe where you know you can really get that peak performance out of uh out of yourself but um yeah I mean what can I add more I think you know there’s still I think obviously trying to be as consistent as possible during the regular season still something that I try to um yeah work on and then you know small details you work on in the summer, you you know going back reflected the season and reflect that you know you know yeah I mean goal scoring whatever it is you know where can you score more goals like where I haven’t really done that yet so we’ll see what I have to work on in the summer but you know skill-wise I think you know there’s always things you can work on but u yeah I think yeah if everybody can you know add a couple more% I think it’s going to help Adrian after game six you talked about games three and four really swinging the series did Do you feel like you guys recovered whether it was physically from the minutes or or psychologically from the disappointment in games five and six? Um, personally, I don’t feel that way. Um, you know, I’ve been, you know, over the years, uh, you started to play more minutes. Uh, look at looking back at the minutes that I played and game five, game six didn’t feel like it was any different from the games before. But maybe I mean I can only obviously speak for myself in that case but I think uh yeah I mean playing three lines through uh you know almost the full series I think uh it could be tough you know it’s could be tough if you go further in the playoffs. I think they maybe need yeah to maybe play some more lines and some more guys to you know not uh have yeah top guys get too tired. Uh, and yeah, I mean, you look at Edmonton, you know, they in the previous years when they played us, how much they played Leon and and Connor, and then, you know, you move on to the next rounds, and you feel like, yeah, maybe they’re getting tired, too. So, I mean, uh, yeah, it’s it’s tough to say, but like I said, personally, I don’t think uh I was getting tired in game five or six. I still felt pretty fresh. Both for both of you guys, it was Jim’s first full year as an NHL head coach. What do you feel like are things he did well and what are some things he can still learn and improve on? I mean, you know, I think he especially in the early season got the most out of us out of the group. Um, he pushed us a lot. I think you saw that with um with with a lot of guys playing really hard defensively. I think that he was really good about, you know, getting the most out of guys in that way. Um, I don’t know. as far as what he can what he can improve. Um, you know, I think just experience, you know, there’s nothing I can really point to. I think just experience being a head coach would uh, you know, be good. Trip, down the stretcher, your line got played very, very well last 20 games and in the playoffs. You personally, was it health? Was it just having set line mates? Why was it so good down the stretch? Yeah, I think um, you know, down the stretch I finally started feeling healthy and uh, that helps for sure. Um, and then I think we just having an identity as a line is good. Just knowing that we were going to be a line that was going to forch check and um, you know, play hard against the other team’s top lines. Um, you know, we’re all on the same page. It creates offense and, uh, you know, Philip played really well down the stretch, too. Healthy going into the any things have to be done medically for you guys? I feel pretty good. No, felt good, too. There were a lot of guys that kind of really turned it around and blew up down the stretch. Is that obviously it’s a testament to the player, but for you, do you look back and see that? Can you attribute that to the line sticking together? Is it the group holding each other accountable down the stretch as well? Yeah, I think um definitely like I said, having the line with a good identity uh is huge. You need you need the line to be on the same page to have individual success. Um and yeah, I think our team playing well helped a lot too. We tilted the ice against a lot of teams and it created a lot of offensive chances for everybody. Adrian, you mentioned being thinking your peak physical performance years kind of in the middle of that. You have a few more in front of you. That makes this next contract coming up probably the most lucrative of your career, especially with the cap going up. Have you thought about that next contract? And how confident are you or how important is it for you for that to be in LA? Uh, I mean, I think I haven’t thought about that much yet. Uh, I think probably start more now. Yeah. In the summer and, you know, creeping into next season probably. But I think uh, yeah, I mean, like I said before, I love it here. I, you know, only been here so I can only have this experience, but I think, you know, yeah, you know, I want to stay here. I want to take the next step with this organization. I want to take it back to, yeah, you know, winning. Um, so I mean, I feel like the identity and, you know, I think we’re doing the right things. Uh, you know, we sit here after last four seasons to say the same things, but really felt like we had something. Well, going on this year, I felt like we were good enough to to get past the first one and get past more rounds, not just the first round. And that’s the goal to get all the way, not just get past the first round. So, I think uh yeah, I mean, personally, yeah, I want to be here as as long as possible. Adrian, to follow on that, your camp and and them can start talking on July one. Uh is is that something where you’d like to see say discussions kind of go ahead and take place as as the summer plays out and maybe get something done before camp or um yeah I mean yeah I I haven’t like I said I haven’t thought about that much but obviously the e the earlier you get it done the the less stressful I guess maybe throughout the season and you know you know throughout the yeah next season and then moving to the trade deadline and all that kind of stuff. So obviously it would be nice to to get it done as quick as possible, but yeah, like I said, I haven’t really started talking about it or thought about it yet. So, uh, yeah, we’ll see throughout the next couple weeks and the months here what’s going to happen. First question here. Sure, your thoughts on Rob departing. He’s the guy that brought you from Toronto. You were forth and now you’re a core player. Just your thoughts on Rob leaving. Yeah, I mean, I owe a lot to to Rob. Um, I think as a person, everyone really liked him. He was uh he was just a great guy. Treated everyone super well and um you know he assembled a really good team. I think that we let him down in a lot of ways. Joel, I don’t think many people maybe your conversations with the coaching staff and everything was different, but I don’t think many people expect you to be a 20-minute night kind of consistent top four guy on this team and that’s exactly what you were even after Drew Gaddy returned. How big was that confidence the coaching staff showed in you in your game? Like how much did that help you? Yeah, for sure. I mean, uh, as soon as I signed here, uh, Jimmy called me right away and, you know, he’s he told me that that was going to be my role. Um, you know, be, uh, you know, play alongside Clarky for the for the most part and, uh, kind of show him the ropes. Um, and throughout the season, I think, uh, you know, I was healthy. I was able to get my confidence back. uh you know the past few years there’s been a lot of injuries but felt good throughout the whole year and uh yeah uh coaches trust me and uh you know I think my teammates did also so it’s just a good year and uh you know hopefully builds on that next year. Joel, you mentioned being healthy. This is a careerhigh in games played for you I believe. Uh how was the relationship with the training staff and how are you feeling coming out of the season? Yeah, it was great. Trainers, uh I think everybody on the team can say you know it’s all good things from the trainers. uh you know, bumps and bruises, everyone’s got those. But when the big injuries are there, uh you know, they’re taking care of us and uh felt good all year. So, you know, it’s nice to play that many games. Hopefully next year I can play even more. Is this hard to process even three days later? Yeah. Um yeah, I think we’re all disappointed. Um, you know, we had high uh hopes for this group and um it’s never fun losing, you know. Um I think they always It always hurts when you lose and it’s no different uh you know this time around, you know. Yeah. But is it more painful losing to Edmonton than St. Louis or Winnipeg? Um well, obviously for me, yeah. um you know losing to your former team isn’t fun and um you know I wasn’t offered a contract by them. So a little bit more personal in that regard too. So you know I think the frustrating thing is I thought we were actually the better team and um that’s the way it goes sometimes. You know you got to be able to close games and we weren’t able to do that. You posted career a lot of career highs this season. Going back to kind of the confidence coaches have you the impact it can have. I know you said early in the season this you felt it was the first time a coach viewed you as kind of a core offensive piece. Just how big was that for your game and is maybe the first time that a coach has kind of aligned with how you view yourself as a player? Yeah, you know, kind of echoing what Eddie said here, you know, Jimmy called me uh in the summer and, you know, said that he, you know, he envisioned me with a bigger role and um you know, kind of challenged me to, you know, push myself uh to to be more consistent and and and you know, take on more minutes and um you know, I thought he was he was awesome for that. you know, he gave me a lot of confidence and um you know, it was a lot of fun coming to the rink and and being with the guys, but uh I think for myself, I was probably the most consistent I’ve ever been. And um you know, that goes a long way and you know, I’m just hoping to, you know, build off that and, you know, have a good summer. You know, my summer last year was pretty short, so trying to get stronger and work on things that, you know, will make me better. for either of you guys. Drew spoke about you guys, Darcy, Gino, coming in and helping to change the culture a little bit in the room. Maybe just from a bigger picture, what did either of you guys try to do to contribute to the room and maybe grow it from where it was in years past? I think just coming in and being ourselves. Um, you know, some guys are more vocal, some guys, uh, you know, lead by example. And I think um you know they brought us in for who we are and we didn’t change anything but you know we wanted to make a difference. Obviously the goal was to win a Stanley Cup this year and uh this past few years or they haven’t won one in about 10 years. So something had to change and we just bringing in different pieces. Uh just getting the energy up. Um lots of play experience between us four. So, um, we don’t want to let guys lean on us. Uh, the young guys in our locker room obviously had great years and they leaned on us. They asked us the right questions and we’d answer for them. Warren, if you were asked to call unrestricted free agent this summer and tell them why it is you’re playing for the Kings, what would you tell them? I would tell them this is a great group of uh great great group of people in the locker room but you know throughout the whole organization you know since I got here um they’ve treated you know my fiance and I so well and it’s been a lot of fun to be here. Um the other thing I would say is this is a competitive group. You know that’s one thing I kind of talked about last summer was how competitive playing against the Kings were for the past couple years. And you know, there’s a there’s a hunger in this dressing room and obviously we’re really disappointed with with the outcome, but I think that’s just going to, you know, drive more motivation for this off season, you know, um the standard for the LA Kings is is to try to win the cup. And that’s kind of been talked about, you know, since we got here. And um you know we we practice hard, we play hard and um you know it’s a fun group to be a part of and we’re hoping to build on that. You mentioned one of your one of your objectives or one of the things that was given to you as a responsibility was showing Brandt Clark the ropes. When you think back to game one all the way through to game six of the playoffs, is there anything that really stands out in his game, the improvement in his game that he made? Uh uh I think just the confidence. um especially in the Dzone. Obviously, he’s got that offensive ability and he’s shown that throughout the season, but um I think you know off their rushes, he’s he’s shutting down rushes. He’s breaking the puck outs. He’s making some great plays in the Dzone. He’s cross-checking, playing hard, and you don’t usually see that from offensive defenseman. So, I think just, you know, getting that little mean streak in him and I think you saw it build throughout the season. So, last question here, guys. Yeah. Um, you and Warren both talked about the positive impact that Jimmy has had on on both of you. The the goalie challenge in game three, how you see as a pivotal moment or not, player usage. Um, are those are those did those were those legitimate factors in the series turning or too much made of of of that and and Jimmy’s role in that? I mean, going back to the challenge, it’s not No, it’s not why we lost the series, but I think uh games three and four, those were, you know, emotional losses for our group. And when you lose games like that, it’s it’s tough to fall asleep that night. So, you know, not couple hours of sleep and, you know, you’re playing the next day, it’s it wears you down. So, I think those games three and four definitely they hit us hard. Um, we had a chance to bounce back at home and game five was probably our worst game and I think uh, you know, I just think the lack of sleep, the the energy wasn’t there in game five, but going back there for game six, we came out pretty good and we gave ourselves a chance, but um, games three and four hurt us for sure. Gabby, are you staying for now? I’m here. Yes. Any any update on contract now? Is it up in a year now that Blake’s not the GM anymore? Uh, well, we just find out this morning. So, uh, we’ll see what’s going to happen in the next weeks or months. I I don’t have any deadline to to make a decision. So, I’m not in a rush at all. We’ll see what’s going to happen. Was there a thing to Was there a thing to maybe just kind of push it until after the year and focus on the stretch run in playoffs or uh because at least at the in I think it was March Blakey seemed to indicate that there were good signs toward toward an an extension. Well, yeah. Yeah. Even like before season I uh just let him know I have uh totally no rush to that that questions. So we can we can wait till whenever and then probably no one want to talk about that. I mean rushing before the playoffs especially and uh I mean during the summer you have more more time to think and uh yeah that was about it. So I uh made it clear for him we have plenty of time. From your side, you switched representatives, right? You’ve been within your whole career. What went into the the thought process of of changing and going with CIA? Um that case I mean he been uh doing the great job for me. I mean then uh through my whole career and uh I had like zero uh zero problem with him and anything like that. I just uh felt I just need to switch a like direction a little bit I would say. So it wasn’t because I wasn’t happy with him or something like that. So wasn’t wasn’t like that. And Andre, just to clarify, you’re you’re still with Dan Milstein, correct? No. No. Who you changed reps? Yeah. Oh. Who are you with now? I’m sorry. Craig Costa. Oh, thank you. Andre, have you had any thoughts about coming back to LA? Where’s your contract situation at right now? I have a safe answer with We’ll see. That’s why I’m here. Trying to make it easier for you guys. Why do you think you were so successful when you came in? Um, you you were challenged, you know, in Calgary and Philly. It wasn’t a great season, but here you kind of struck. What was the difference? Three years, five coaches. Every coach would help me a lot of moments. I understand how we can play, how we need play and uh how we can help to the teams. It’s not just offensive zone can play better in the defense zone. I understand a lot of moments. So simple. You spent a lot of time on your off side this year moving forward and we go into contract conversations. Is there any consideration you want to stay on that left side or do you not care what side you’re playing on? No, I think it’s good if you can do like multiple tasks at the same time. I would say um had zero issue to adjusting my game to that and I felt I um helped the team that too. So I mean sometimes it’s so hard for a D switch sides or like position whatever but wasn’t problem for me and u I think me Mikey for the most part of the year did a good job and uh I I I mean I felt pretty comfortable there too. Um, so wasn’t wasn’t wasn’t anything specific to me to think about it before the New Deal. You played a fair amount of right early in your career, right? With with locomotive, you played some, right? How much did you play in your developmental years on the right side, I guess? Well, I played power play there, too, which is like huge. I mean, I’ve been I’ve been like all over all over the place. I mean, that’s fine. It’s that was a long time ago. I played the national team on the right side as well which is was kind of kind of tricky after the whole season playing lefty and I came right from playing to the game one and have to play ready. That was kind of kind of weird but I mean through the through the games through the season you can adjust the things one way to the other. Sometimes it’s working better sometimes not but um as mentioned before wasn’t a problem for me. But um this this can be a big contract for you. Okay. So, how much are you weighing what seems to be a perfect fit for you here in LA? How much are you weighing that with how much is possible in free agency for you? Well, it’s a hard question to answer right now, I would say, because you have to like scouting more around the league if you if you want to know when you got to be, as you said, a good fit for a team. So, I didn’t done it obviously yet. Uh, but now I have plenty of time to do few research, meet my agent, and see where we at. So, I think I would have a good idea about it in the next few weeks or so. And Andre, similar question for you. This seemed to be a very good fit here in LA. Would you like to return or are your options open as far as your your free agency that’s pending now? It’s a hard question because uh I like it the way I like it organization. I like my team. There’s a good relationship with me and uh this team give me to good chance about flavors. I like it. But we’ll see. We’ll see what’s happen. But I won’t. But we’ll see. This is hockey business. This statistically seemed like the best season of your career. A lot of people felt like you were this team’s best defenseman all season. Was there anything that changed for you or anything you did differently that led to that kind of that elevation in your game this season? Um maybe when I do it we had one of us on a on a Gore was more responsibility to step up like offensively. Um, not going to say probably the point-wise was my best season, but uh, the game-wise, I think I uh, step up, played more and uh, mean with more confidence obviously played all the time against top lines each team and uh, probably someone wasn’t expect me to be good against them, but I proved them wrong and uh, now I can totally say it can be like tough. up to top four defenseman whenever team’s going to see me. So, it’s uh no doubt for me right now. And Andre, your ice time went down a little bit in the playoffs as the series went on, especially when defending a lead. Were you satisfied with your ice time? Did you feel like you should have played more or how do you feel about that? That’s why I’m here. I teammate guy for me it doesn’t matter how many times I have a nice if my team win I like my team don’t don’t win I don’t know why like this moment and uh I understand they can better so he’s Is it worse losing four times in a row to the Edmonton Oilers or is it just bad losing four in a row? It just sucks losing I think. I mean obviously you’d like to think after a little bit it I mean it’s not fun losing to the same team every year either but um end of the day it’s same result situation. Uh just uh couldn’t find a way to get it done. Mike looking at the group that you had in the room, the caliber and the belief. Is this one the hardest of the four to take knowing what you guys had on your side? Yeah, I mean I think since I’ve been here, this is probably the best team we’ve had um top to bottom and uh guys had some really good years to help get us there. So, uh it sucks to have that good of a group the way that you know the guys are in the room. That’s probably the tightest room we’ve had too. So, uh makes it a little bit harder for sure. But in the second half season, especially after that New York trip in December, we felt like we really saw kind of the best of your game. We saw kind of what you can be in this league. You were statistically, I think, the best center. To a lot of people’s eyes, you’re the best center on this team. How do you in next season ensure that is just your standard of game that it doesn’t creep down into that inconsistency again? Yeah. Um, you know, obviously for myself, it wasn’t, you know, the ideal start of the season. Um, you know, I think it also just goes into preseason a little bit. um you know coming into that you know coming back center um you know also just playing with Kev a lot during the preseason and um you know I feel like we were really good in that stretch and then um you know in the first couple games we you know obviously weren’t our best and then uh it took us a while to get back together then um you know I feel like once we got back together you know everything started to click again but um you know for myself the inconsistency that’s something I do got to fix and um you know be better throughout the whole season. you mentioned that for you this is the tightest group that you’ve seen. What for you personally would make it, you know, made it that way. Um I think I mean again we’ve had a fair amount of guys that have been here now for the whole time I’ve been here which helps you get to know guys and their families a little bit more. Um bring in some new guys and they all uh bought in right away. They really cared about the group. Um, and just kind of as as the year went on, I felt like we had a a big group where no one really cared how it was getting done, but we were finding ways to win. Um, guys, you know, wanted to perform for each other. You wanted to to go out there and and leave it on the line for everyone in there. Um, but just, you know, guys go to dinner, guys hang out. you’re you can you know you go sit in any part of the room and you don’t feel like you’re I don’t want to call it an outcast but you feel um like you can sit anywhere start conversation um you know get to know everyone’s family and and what’s going on in life pretty well. So um I thought that was uh you know one of the the biggest parts that was different from this year. So that’s why it uh makes it uh much harder for sure. Quinton, how hard will it be to move past the end end of game four? Uh yeah, you know, obviously I think it sucks like in the moment there like you know my thought process in that was you know I didn’t want to ice the puck on an empty neter and um you know try to make the you know the safe smart play and chip it out and um you know I didn’t get that out. So I I think that play there will you know think about that all summer honestly. Um you know if I make that play there we’re up 3-1. So, um, you know, it’s it’s that’s a tough one as well. And, um, I think all summer I’ll be thinking about that and, you know, something that could have been a what if and, um, you know, I got to deal with that and, um, you know, play for all the boys all the time and, you know, that moment felt like I let them down and, um, you know, let let them down in the playoffs there. If, if both of you can address this one, obviously the news with Brock uh, this morning here, uh, you know, both of you guys signed long-term deals here. Uh here uh could you address what Blakey meant in terms of value valuing the both of you as he did and just obviously the news of you know him no longer you know being in that capacity or being with the organization whatsoever. Yeah obviously not a fun day you know for him especially but for the organization. Oh, um I think I mean and less Q’s different. I’m sure he feels the same, but very thankful for him giving us a chance to come in and play as younger guys and again trusting us to give us the deals we got. So, um you know, very thankful for him and then even, you know, into this year, he year by year kept making our team better. Um and it again, it it felt like a a team. He really did put it together well. Um but uh yeah, I mean he he has done a lot making us feel welcome, comfortable, you know, throughout the whole organization, not just on the ice, but given us a chance to play. So super uh thankful for him um and what he’s done to to start our career. Mikey Jim shared with or Drew shared with us that there was no message from the coaching staff in terms of like sitting back or playing a passive game when you guys had a lead late. So, what what was the message from the coaching staff when you guys were playing maybe those late third period leads? I mean, it’s hard right there. You feel like no matter who you’re playing, if you’re up, you know, they’re going to have a tendency to push a little bit harder. And I think just instinctually, you maybe pull back a little bit. Um, I mean, we weren’t sitting there saying we’re trying to stand and basically just let them, you know, keep coming. Um, sometimes that just happens. you you try and maybe play a little bit safer. Um but it’s not like we were, you know, getting told or trying to, you know, as a group wanting to sit back. So, um sometimes maybe just the way it goes. Um but even some of those games like we we still had a few chances. I think it was game game four, four minutes left, he hits the pipe. Like that goes in. Now it’s 4-2. Something you know you little things happen. That’s just the way hockey is. Like you get a bounce, you don’t get a bounce. Um, but it’s uh just the way she went. Q, what about what about Blakey? Uh, sorry. What about Blakey in terms I mean, he made you the second overall pick. Uh, you know, gave you the time and space to grow. Yeah. Um, I I totally agree with Mike, you know, what he’s done, you know, just for myself obviously, you know, drafting me and um, you know, being, you know, one of the first guys in the organization just to believe in me and um, just being able to pick me in that spot. So um just for that and what he’s done for the team as well like he built you know you know hell of a hockey team in there and um you know a lot of good characters as well and um just himself like he was you know he was really good to me um you know just behind the scenes as well and um you know I’m forever thankful for what he did for me and um it’s just a tough day um you know kind of just to go around. Jen was really complimentary of your game. game. He thought you had a really good season, but he said there’s still a lot of things he thinks you can work on to elevate your play. Is there anything going this summer that he kind of pinpointed for you to work on? Is there anything for you personally you’re really trying to focus on improving to take that next step next year? Um, there’s we we haven’t talked much about that yet, but um you know, for myself next year, it’s more so um you know, being more consistent. Um obviously it’s a long season and there’s you know lots and ups and downs but um you know gota kind of keep it a lot more level um going next season. Um I think something big too is you know this face off as well like um just being able to get better on that and um just being able to get on and not getting taken off in some positions because of a face off. Um I think that’s a big thing. But um yeah, I think there’s a lot of strides in my defensive game this year and um you know, offensively as well. So um hopefully I can just keep progressing in that direction. Q obviously maybe heightened expectations for you after last season. What was it like maybe dealing with those expectations early on and then growing into your game, especially down the stretch? Yeah. Um yeah, obviously coming off of, you know, a season, you know, where I played better than, you know, previously and um you know, there’s expectations, um not just from the outside, but just for myself as well, like want to just keep on progressing in the right way. So um you know, coming in playing a different position again and um you know, different linemates. So, um, obviously it took a bit, but, you know, I feel like at by the end of the year, you know, I got my game where, you know, I wanted to be and, um, you know, I just wanted to keep building off of where I ended. Question, Mikey, the new GM asked you what the team needs player-wise to get you over the hump. What would you tell? I mean, I again, this year I thought was I thought they did a good job. Like, we again, we wanted to bring in maybe a little bit more heaviness, make it a little tough, right? you get Gino up front. Um, so it sucked not having him for the playoffs, too. He brings a a big presence out there. Um, you had big Sammy out there to, you know, guys that added maybe an element we didn’t have. Um, and again, we have some some, you know, young guys like Q and laugh. Um, you know, had great seasons. They make guys that are skilled make plays. Um, I back until you have Spenny, Clarky. Um it just sucks sometimes for them especially the way it went where they you know didn’t get as many opportunities maybe as they probably deserve. So um but that’s sometimes again the way the game goes way things happen. Um but again they’re great players so it’s exciting to still have them but I don’t I mean don’t know what else to you know add what they want to do. Obviously everyone’s going to say you want to bring in a guy that can score 100 points. I don’t think anyone’s going to say no to that. Um but again we we play hard, guys defend hard as a team. It’s still something didn’t go away with some some change in system. So um again, who knows, you know, how it goes, but uh I I really did like the way the team was uh was put together. What what was it if you can say what what that you know kept you sidelined and how tough is it to watch uh you know a series that obviously had ups and downs? Yeah. Um it was a groin injury that I was dealing with. Um so yeah, it really sucks. Like obviously you worked the whole season and you’re trying to get to this point in the playoffs and um to not get uh the opportunity to be out there and help help the guys. It it really sucked and it was really hard to do. But um yeah, I I was doing everything I could to get back. Uh it’s just unfortunate that I couldn’t get out there. It felt like it felt like felt like midway through the season like you really kind of found your spot, your place. It it that in in the puzzle here whatsoever. Is that fair to say in terms of how your season evolved and obviously you didn’t want the injury to happen the way it did, but yeah. Um yeah, I think so. Like obviously coming into a new team and new organization you there’s always that kind of feeling out process and you know every day and every game I just try to bring you know my skill set and what I’m good at. Um so wherever that is in the lineup um I try to just do that to the best I can. I I know I know what kind of attributes I can bring to a team. So um yeah at the time of the injury there we were playing some really good hockey and you know really getting a groove going. And so it was really unfortunate the timing of everything, but uh yeah, I thought like you said, I I found a a good role and just tried to bring everything I could to the team. Did you feel close that if the series maybe went to round two, you would have been an option at that point? I think so. Yeah. Um like I said, I was doing everything I could to to get back. I was really pushing and um doing everything I could. So, I think yeah, I was pretty close and um you know, you you could uh you could say anything you wanted, but it is what it is now. And so, just take the time in the offseason and um get healthy and be ready to go for next year. How satisfied were you with your season and what do you want to work on on the offseason? Uh yeah, I mean obviously I don’t think we like the way it ended, but for me personally, I thought um I grew a lot as a player this year. Um, I think just having a little more confidence coming into this year, you know, having gone through it for a full year. Um, I mean, I’ve talked a lot about the fact that you only play like 35 games in college and then you come in and play 80 games in one year. It’s a lot. And, um, something I wasn’t used to, but um, I think having gone through that first year, it definitely gave me a lot of confidence coming into this year. And, um, yeah, I just tried to grow my game a lot. Uh top off the back that we obviously saw you come out of the gate really hot, especially the goal scoring. Maybe you saw what you can be as a goal scorer in this league and it still a really strong season, but that maybe faded a little bit towards the end. Is there anything you learned about how to kind of be a more consistent goal scorer in this league, especially when other teams maybe start circling your name on the board, you start getting defend a little tighter? Is anything you learned in that aspect? Um yeah, I mean it’s the NHL like it’s a really hard league to score in and um you’re going to go through ups and downs because it is such a long season and um I mean if you look at our team like Q wasn’t scoring a lot at the beginning of the year and then he scores like six or seven straight games and is one of our leading scorers. So, it’s like there’s so many up ups and downs throughout the year and um yeah, I mean for me it started really good and um kind of did wasn’t going my way uh towards the middle of the season, but you got kind of got to just try and look at it and try and do anything you can positively for the team. And um for me, I think the way that I my style of play is um is I can be effective when I’m not scoring as well. So, um, yeah, for me, I just kind of tried to look at the positives with that, but obviously I I mean, I want to score goals. Everybody wants to score goals. So, um, yeah, but for me, I think just going through it. It’s a long season. You got to kind of stick with the ups and downs. Alex, this is a contract year for you. Obviously, it’s not something that’s going to get sorted out tomorrow, but what would your preference be as far as term? You want to maybe do something short and then reassessed, midterm, long-term, lock it up? And what what what are your goals, I guess, heading into the negotiations? Uh yeah, I mean I haven’t really thought much about it. Um just still trying to kind of process the loss, but um I mean yeah, for me I I haven’t gone through it before. This is my first time going through it. So um luckily I have a really good support staff that’ll kind of help me help me get through that. Um my family, my agents and stuff. So um yeah, I’m going to have a lot of conversations with them and obviously I love it here and want to be here for as long as possible. So, um, yeah, I mean, we’ll see and hopefully it’s good. A lot of guys take different approaches. Some guys like to be really involved, some guys like to just let their people do it. Do you know where you might fall on that? Do you want to just let it happen or do you want to be involved in the the process? Um, yeah. I honestly have no idea. I think um obviously I want my voice to be heard in the conversations and stuff like that. Um cuz it’s you know it’s my future and stuff like that but um I mean I trust everybody on my side and have really good relationships with the guys here. So um yeah not inspiring contract for you. I mean what’s what’s what’s kind of how do you see the future playing out? See the plan future playing out for you? Yeah. Um, kind of same as laugh, just haven’t thought too much about it. Just focused on just doing everything I could to get back and, you know, prove my value to, you know, the team here and and, uh, you know, go far in the playoffs. So, just still kind of getting over that, but, um, yeah, same thing. going to be having lots of conversations with family and my agent and um you know we we really liked our year here and uh we’ll see see what happens from here. Alex, this is your second playoff series, but in this one you played a far bigger role than you did last year. How was that experience being kind of a core piece in a playoff series and how do you feel like your game translated into the playoffs? Uh yeah, I mean playoffs is um it’s a different animal I think. Um, I mean it’s a lot more physical. Um, and it’s cliche to cliche to say, but experience goes a long way. And, um, I mean, we have guys on this team who are really experienced in playoffs. And, um, you can see how they’re that kind of is an easier transition for them from regular season to playoffs. So, um, I think for for me and for us, like we have a lot of younger guys who didn’t really have a lot of experience, but um, experience is crucial. And um I think it’s really good that we got a lot of experience, especially with the young guys playing a little bigger roles this year. So um yeah, I think it helped a lot. And um for me having that that um little experience last year just uh kind of showed me what I had to be ready for and um not kind of take two or three games to get into the series. You know, you got to show up right away and um I thought I did a lot better job of that this year. Jordan played a lot during the regular season. You averaged a little over 60 minutes a night. felt like a really strong season for you in the playoffs. You didn’t play a ton, ended up with a scratch. How disappointed were you with your usage in the playoffs and what’s kind of your initial reaction to that situation? Um, yeah, I mean it was tough. I think all of us in our group just, you know, they we know our job and what we have to do and um for me maybe not, I don’t know, be able to contribute as much in the playoffs, uh, it’s unfortunate. uh you know um whatever the coaches give me I try to do the best at and you know it’s it’s always about team first and I wanted to win just as much as everyone here and um but at the same time I think maybe I could have you know I think I had more to give um during the playoffs and but I it’s it’s how it goes sometimes so um yeah we’ll see. Last year you talked about knowing your worth when we were sitting here at accident interviews. Did you feel valued and valued appropriately in in that situation sitting a game three minutes in another game? Big drop from the regular season. Yeah, I mean it’s it’s hard um you know I thought I thought I did pretty well um the regular season. um you know to be able to have trust with the coaches and um you know it was a big drop off with the minutes and obviously you know you’re going against the two top players in the world and um you know there was a little bit of worry about that and how we wanted to defend. So, um you know, it’s it’s it was it was hard, but at the same time, you know, I just had to, you know, come into the rank every day, um trying to improve, um on the ice, try to be positive and um yeah, that’s what I was trying to do really. Um just mentally being there and um mentally just being ready when I’m on the ice to, you know, play play against them. Grant, how much do you feel you are at the point as a player where you can take on a greater a greater load? Take some of the load off of not take it from, but take some of the load off, you know, Drew and others and whatsoever. How much do you feel like you’re at that point as a player where you you can do that? You know, I love I love challenging myself. you know, I love being put in spots where, you know, I don’t I don’t fully know what’s what’s going to happen. I want to kind I like getting thrown to the deep end. I kind of done that my whole life. So, I’m um I feel confident when I’m when I’m on the ice, when I I can make a difference and at both ends of the ice and I at the end of the day, I want to win and I want to do whatever it takes to win. So, I’m just um you know, I was I was ready for what what I was asked to do and yeah, in the playoffs, it was a it was not as big of a role and as maybe I I had earlier in the year or whatever it may be. But, uh you know, I just wanted to win and you know, in the coming next year and the coming years, I I do want to take a greater responsibility. I do want to help this team out in in the in the best way I can. But, uh, at the same time, I just want to be a good teammate. I just want to be a good uh, you know, like listener and just kind of take it all in and just help where I can and just uh, continue to take strides. And, you know, looking back now that we the year’s kind of over, looking back, I am proud of how I did that. But uh yeah, there is more to attain and you know I’m looking forward to hopefully getting there in the near future. Your first playoffs, how different is it playing Seattle in March than game one against? It is different. You know, everyone you don’t really like, you know, everyone says the playoffs is different, but like it’s you know, it’s still hockey at the end of the day, but then you really get out there and it is it’s a change. It’s you know, they’re they’re hunting for you. they want to they got a game plan that like we’re going to do stuff tonight that is still going to affect you in game four, game five, like they’re it’s going to wear you down. So, it’s it’s kind of that mentality. So, it’s it’s definitely different and it’s definitely um a challenge. It’s definitely something that experience does play play a factor in for sure to just be ready for that. But, uh you know, I think um I think I handled it well. I think I was I was up for the like I said, I liked the big moment. I like that we were I like that there was a lot of like anticipation for it and I was I was excited and there were a little nerves at the start but I I like I thought I got comfortable pretty quickly and uh yeah it was a fun run and it’s it’s upsetting that it came to an end but I I enjoyed how we how we handled it. The first time all the way through for you too. What was that learning curve like I guess from start to finish for you? It was um it was a lot. It was it was just kind of Yeah. you know, there’s obviously every single all 82 games, you know, the we’re trying to prepare for for every game, but you know, it was it was kind of a different mentality. It was like, yeah, how are we going to attack this? How are we going to do stuff where it’s it it can benefit us like later in the series where we can change up stuff on the fly and kind of like, you know, be play different kind of a different kind of style whenever whenever it’s necessary. So, I don’t know. It was um it was definitely a a change. It was definitely stuff that you really have to like react on the fly to and uh but I was I was happy with how how I handled it and it was like I said it was it’s a lot but it’s uh it’s just part of the game and the the best teams are the ones that can handle that the best and make adjustments on the fly and kind of just handle the other teams. So I don’t know it’s like I said it’s just I’m happy with the experience I gained and whatnot but uh yeah it’s just making me eager to to do it again. Brandon, in the middle of the season, you had some scratches, some games as a seventh D. That was kind of portrayed by uh by Jim as a a reset for you and something that helped you. When you look back on that, was that something that benefited you or was it just kind of a stretch to get through and until your your responsibility kind of ramp back up? Um I I don’t know. I I think it, you know, it is it is a long year. It was it was 82 games. It was um I wasn’t perfect every single every single night. I’ll be the first one to tell you that there was there was ups and downs and um you know I think that maybe they they saw a stretch where they didn’t see the consistency they wanted to see from me and they just wanted they thought that was the best uh situation for me. Obviously I didn’t love it. You know I want to be out there with the team. I want to be battling. I want to try to my whole life I just want I want to work my way out of things but it’s a little different when you’re just sitting on the bench and or you’re not playing or it’s definitely an adjustment for myself. But uh that’s another thing where I think I just I handled it well. I took it uh I just wanted to come to practice come what uh or my next shift just the best I possibly could and I think I did a good job of that and I think that’s why I I bounced back and I got that opportunity again later in the season. So yeah, I thought I handled it well. It was uh definitely different. Defin some stuff was uh not the optimal situation for me, but I think I handled it well and uh yeah, and I think overall it’s just it’s in the past now and I’m I’m happy with how I finished the season. I talked to Joel Evansson earlier and he said from the first conversation he had with Jim Hill or a responsibility he was given was kind of showing you the ropes being someone you can lean on. Can you just talk about your relationship with Joel all season and how much he was able to help you in your first full season? Yeah, he helped me a ton. you know, it was um I was grateful to have him. We’re our whole team was lucky to have him. You know, he was uh he kind of came to me on the first day of the camp that he was like, I think we’re, you know, we’re he’s here to they told him that he’s kind of here to help me out and just help uh you g help my experience and like just kind of propel me forward. And you know, obviously I appreciate him hearing that, but it was uh you know, it’s obviously he’s in his own situation, so I was like kind of wasn’t prepared for like how that was going to go, but he really did. like not a single day did he kind of have a different mentality. He kind of he was always checking in on me. He was always talking to me on the bench, you know, all all the entire season. Like he never wavered. Like he was always in my corner trying to pick me up when things were going tough. So no, I was so appreciative of him and our team was so lucky to have him. He’s such a positive uh person. Um so yeah, he’s he was phenomenal for me. So I can’t say enough good things for sure. Drew going down in the preseason definitely had a trickle down effect with the rest of the decor. What did it take from your perspective for this group to to step up and even before Drew came back being the best defensive team in the league or one of them? Yeah, I mean obviously in the preseason when we saw him get injured, it was very unfortunate. You don’t want to see guys get injured, especially in preseason games. Um um and for us uh seeing that it was unfortunate, but at the same time, you know, I think our goal didn’t change. um he’s a big part of our team um on and off the ice. Uh you know, he brings a lot of energy on the dressing room, on the ice, like everywhere. So, not being a, you know, not like him not being able to be there, um was a, you know, a bigger role that we had to take um at the start of the season. Uh personally for myself, I think, you know, I wasn’t really having a good start to the season. Um, and you know, I think I really picked it back up in the second half and you know, played played my game, but I I think as a decor, um, with him not being there, I think we did really well. Um, Mikey, Gabby, Eddie, those are those are the those were the vets and those were the guys that would, um, you know, were the vocals and, you know, they did great, I thought. Uh, and then for us to, you know, have a bigger role and for us to contribute as much as we can, um, you know, I thought I thought we did well, um, with him not being there. So, overall, I thought, um, you know, we we did the best we can and, you know, obviously we were lucky to have him back um, in the second half and to kind of continue our success during the regular season. Obviously, playoffs didn’t go well, but um you know, we were really happy with uh with our defensive play. Jordan, maybe it’s maybe it’s a question not to assess or handle over the summer, but what do you feel you can do to earn, you know, earn the kind of trust to to where you’re viewed as a no doubt, you know, you get 16 to 18 if if not more on some nights kind of guy every single night. Yeah. I mean, it’s, you know, I’ve been here for, you know, I played with the Kings for, let’s say, around two and a half seasons, and I think being able to being able to play the full season last year, this season, you know, I I think I’ve kind of given them what I can bring to the table. Um, and the trust that, you know, they should give me. I I want a bigger role. Um, I think I’m ready to take the step again next year to have a bigger role and I wish I was able to contribute more in the playoffs. You know, it it it was unfortunate for me to just kind of sit there and not be able to, you know, be on the ice. Same as Clark. And um for myself, I just, you know, just wanted to there was more to bring that I could probably done in the playoffs, but you know, we we move on. You know, I think I think my season that I had this year, I I was really happy with um and I think I can just continue to grow and um become more of a complete player and uh for them to trust me more in certain situations. Jordan, off the bat, those two questions kind of I think there’s an argument to be made. You did prove that you can handle those 16 to 18 maybe even 20 minute a night situations in Drew’s absence. So when you prove that and then in the playoffs you get that taken away, you get your usage drop so much. Does that make you at all kind of re-evaluate your future with this organization and the thought of going somewhere that maybe does value you more will give you that opportunity to prove you are that player consistently? I mean, you know, I I I love being here. Um, you know, they they drafted me here. I signed and they gave me an opportunity to be here for me to sign two more years here. Um, you know, I I really do want to be here and for me to, you know, for them to maybe see that, you know, I could possibly play longer here, like that’s that’s what I want. That’s where I want to be. And, um, you know, I think I’m I’m I’m ready for the challenge to for them to give me more opportunity. And I think, you know, I’m going to, you know, go back home, train hard, and, um, see where it goes. really. Um I’m ready to go for another long run again to go in the playoffs and hopefully win the cup and that’s everyone’s goal. So yeah, we’ll see how it plays out. Oh yeah, Brandon, after a full year here, where do you think the fit between your game and the system stands and and where do you think that that could maybe reconcile or mesh a little bit better next season? Um I don’t know. Uh, you know, all I’ve been told since, you know, the the day I’ve got here kind of is just, you know, they they want the best for me. They want to have me kind of, you know, mold me into like what I the best like that I can I can be, you know what I mean? And try to help out in all situations. And uh yeah, there’s definitely like I I I want to be more responsible. I want to be more like uh trustworthy and everything, but at the same time, you know, I I just want to do whatever it takes to win. I’d want to, you know, if I can make a play or whatever it may be, do that. And I think the coaches appreciate that and my willingness to try to just make make something happen when maybe we’re stagnant or or however it’s going. So, um I don’t know. I think there’s still a lot of faith in me. You know, I’ve been they were happy with how my how my playoffs went. They were happy with how the end of the season went. They thought uh even if there were bumps in the road during the year, they they I’ve got nothing but praise on how the end of the season’s gone. So, I think I’m just I’m just ready to see what what comes comes next. And I’m excited. And, you know, I want to I really do want to be here for a long time. And I want to be difference maker. I want to help help out the team in all in all in all facets. So, um I think yeah, I think I if I just do that and I keep the right mentality, it’s all going to mesh well. And we have a good group in here and everyone wants me to do the best that I can and I want to do the best I can. So, I think I think it’s going to work out well and I’m just like I said, I’m just excited for what’s to come.

Timeline:

0:00 – 10:03 Anže Kopitar and Drew Doughty
10:04 – 16:57 Kevin Fiala and Phillip Danault
16:58 – 22:34 Trevor Lewis and Darcy Kuemper
22:35 – 30:02 Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore
30:03 – 37:50 Warren Foegele and Joel Edmundson
37:51 – 45:24 Vladislav Gavrikov and Andrei Kuzmenko
45:25 – 55:34 Quinton Byfield and Mikey Anderson
55:35 – 1:02:50 Tanner Jeannot and Alex Laferriere
1:02:51 – 1:17:48 Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke

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