Media Availability (7/14): Jeff Skinner

Media Availability (7/14): Jeff Skinner

when you signed with Edmonton last season was you hadn’t made the postseason and you guys make the run to the finals. Um given how you know your age and where you are in your career and how long it took for you to get in the playoffs, what what made San Jose the right fit given their recent history and lack of playoff appearances? Yeah, I think uh for me um obviously they they showed some interest and I think that as a player um you look for someone that’s that’s sort of interested in you or willing to give you an opportunity and um I know there’s there’s a lot of young talent there. Um, and I’m looking forward to to getting to know the guys and um, yeah, helping contribute as much as I can to uh, taking that next step. You you mentioned opportunity when we spoke to Mike a couple days ago. Um, I believe it was the day you officially signed or they announced the signing. U, Mike told us that um, they like the way you play. They just felt like you didn’t get that full opportunity to play top six minutes in Edmonton and they were looking for that to do for you in this time around. Does that excite you maybe after maybe a tough year opportunity wise uh like you mentioned? Yeah, for sure. I think um yeah, every player wants to play obviously um the way the year went uh for me personally in Edmonton. Um there’s a lot of good players in in sort of uh similar sort of situations and um brought sort of similar skill sets. So um it’s just the way it worked out. Um at the same time you try and sort of fight for every opportunity you can and try and play as well as you can. So um I think yeah using that experience coming to a team where um yeah they’re they’re interested in in sort of um show sort of excitement to to to have you and to give you some some opportunity as a player. I think that’s that’s what you look for. And um and then obviously as the player, you you you have to take advantage of it and you have to to make good on your end. So um yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. And then just kind of building off that here, last one for me. Um obviously you mentioned the young talent and the opportunity and the possible top six, whether it’s Michael Misa, Mlin Celerini, Will Smith, Willie Mecklland. I mean, being around these guys, a lot of the veterans that the Sharks have signed, a lot of them said that just excites them. Going against, you know, Celerini and Smith last year and and Eklund, you know, last couple years. I mean, knowing what they’re like to play against What do you think it’s going to be like playing with them and possibly on the same lines as as some of the top guys on this team? Uh, it’ll be fun. I think it’s it’s always fun to play with great players, I think. And and that’s what uh that’s what those guys are. And I think the fun thing to see sort of young guys anytime, but especially I think in today’s game, the the steps they take, I think um sometimes can be bigger than expected. And um I think that with the talent that they they already have, I think the experience they’ve um started to gain, I think is only going to help them. So, um, yeah, I’m really excited to to to join the team. And I know there’s been a few a few veterans that have sort of signed on and, um, there’s been some I know obviously Clinger Clingberg from from Edmonton, but I think you see that pattern where there’s a good mix of of old and young guys and also I think like you mentioned the the old guys showing that excitement to to play with those young guys is is always a good sign. So, um, yeah. Yeah. really really excited to to get to know those guys and to to get to play with them. Awesome. Looking forward to meeting you when you get here in San Jose. Thanks. You too, Shang. Hey Jeff Shangpang, San Jose hockey now. Welcome to San Jose. Thank you. Have you spoken with Tyler to yet? Is it nice to reunite from with your teammate uh from when you were a teenager? Yeah, he texted me. Yeah. So, uh, yeah, I think it’s it’s one of those things where I think in hockey, like with with everything, but you you kind of lose touch over the years because you you play with so many guys. But, uh, yeah, super excited to to reconnect with him and and, uh, to play play on the same team again. Who was a better scorer back then, you or him? Uh, you’re asking me to go way back my memory. He’s he was pretty good obviously always, uh, even when we were younger. So, um, we had a pretty good chemistry, I think, and, uh, probably, uh, pretty even. So, yeah, I’ll say it’s pretty even. Um, you were in Buffalo for a long time and you had a lot of younger players there. What did you learn about mentoring younger players in Buffalo? Um, I don’t know. I mean, I I think as I’ve gotten older, I think old guys can can learn from young guys just as as much as the other way around. Um, I think obviously having experience and not only my own experience, but sort of playing with other guys and um the more guys you play with, the more sort of um situations or different kind of um different things happen to different guys. Everyone has their own journey. I think the more guys you play with, the more you pick up sort of um almost by osmosis. I think I don’t I think that for me anything I can bring to the young guys in terms of a situation they may be going through that I may have personally experienced or may have seen someone go through um I think those kinds of things things help. I think maybe saying what I did and it didn’t work is is a way of of helping along uh someone that’s that’s that’s that doesn’t have the the benefit of that experience. So, um there’s a lot of ways I think it it sort of pops up, but I I don’t think there’s anything that you kind of can force. I think it just sort of happens organically. And um I know for sure that some of the young guys there are are more advanced and more ready for the league than I was when I came in. So um I’m sure that over the over the year it’ll shake itself out, but uh yeah, try and offer any support I can. Well, yeah, maybe this next question might be a little too specific then kind of uh from what you said, but you know, you’ve had a very long and interesting hockey journey. you know, you won the caller trophy, long contract with Buffalo, ups and downs there. And so I would wonder like what would be like a number one lesson that you might have for a younger player like a Mlin Celerrini from your own journey, but maybe that’s again a number one lesson might be too hard to ask of you. Yeah, I don’t I mean I mean yes most guys I think especially to get to my stages number one thing is usually to enjoy enjoy it I think and and to have fun with it because obviously it it goes by quick from my perspective but um yeah he’s a guy I think for me I’m I don’t think I was that talented or or that prepared to come in the league as as he was from from what I’ve seen from afar. Obviously, it’s it’ll be different getting to see it up close, but um yeah, I think in in a lot of ways, he doesn’t need me to to say anything. I think he’s doing an okay job, but I like any other guy on the team or any other older guy on the team. Uh um for sure if if he had a question about sort of my experience in a certain situation that may pop up. I think you for sure you offer your your what happened to you offered to kind of recount what happened to you and and how it how it played out. But uh yeah, him and and and the other guys the the other young guys are they’re doing okay, I think by my by my standard, I think, just from watching. Uh, how how much have you talked with Mike Greer and Ryan Warski about expectations that they have for you this season? Uh, I just I talked to them briefly obviously when I signed um both of them. I think just to continue to take next steps. I think that’s that’s sort of I think there’s a lot of excitement around sort of the young core and um the talent that’s there. And I think for me coming in as an older guy to try and support that and and trying to again I think some talk about sort of getting some opportunity. I think as a player you still have to do the work. You still have to be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that may come your way. So um but I think for me just being an older guy I think um sort of joining a young group that’s that’s ready to take the next step. I think that’s probably um the most exciting part about it and and uh definitely something that was appealing. You know, last year in in Edmonton, uh you had uh 16 goals, which I know is for yourself, for your career kind of standard, not the highest, but obviously there’s extenduating circumstances. You didn’t get a lot of playing time or power play time. Uh I wonder for you though, um you are not that far from 400 goals. Maybe you’re even thinking about 500. Um, do you feel pretty confident that you have a lot in the tank to maybe get to those those those goals? Yeah. Yeah. I don’t I haven’t really thought of those in terms of numbers wise, but yeah, I for sure think that I have um a lot left in the tank. I think um I think I’m excited to to start a new challenge. I think there’s some extra juice and extra energy that comes along with that and um yeah, I think for sure I got got a lot left and uh yeah, I think uh when I don’t don’t feel that way, I probably won’t play anymore. So um yeah, I’m I’m really excited to to get going. Oh, Jeff, great to meet you. Look forward to meeting you in person. Thanks. You too, Curtis. Hi, Jeff. This is uh Curtis Pashulka from the San Jose Mercury News. Thank you so much for for doing this today. Um getting back to that photo you had with Tyler TFO. How old how old were you guys at that point? What what team what team were you playing on? Uh I don’t know the exact age. Probably like 10 years old. We were playing for the Toronto Junior Canadians. But the the the age exact age I think maybe 10. I I I can’t can’t recall. Okay. Okay. Well, I mean, like like like Shang was saying, it it wasn’t you’re not too far removed from, you know, being a 30 goal scorer here in in in this league. What what’s going to be the key for you, do you think, in terms of trying to get back to that level? Is it just a matter of opportunity or are there things in your game you’d like to get back to or what’s going to be key for you to maybe get back to that level? Yeah, I I mean I think every every summer you go into it trying to trying to evolve your game, trying to build on strengths and and maybe work on things that you’d like to do differently. So I think um I think it’s it’s hard kind of in season to kind of look at exact details that you want to adjust from um from a macro perspective. And I think that once you get some time in the summer, you can sort of step away and um reflect a lot on reflect a lot more on the season and and where your game’s at and where you’d like it to be. And I think for me that’s that’s kind of been the case throughout my career. I think uh every summer you’re trying to tweak things and work on new things, whether it’s in the gym or or on the ice. And um yeah, I think this summer has has been no different. um you try and work on little skills and and improve uh things that uh are going to help you um come the regular season and and and uh yeah, and keep keep evolving your game. I think uh yeah, I’m I’m confident I can I can do that. What um can you say like did Emonson or the Oilers let you know that they were going to go in a different direction after after the season ended? Did you kind of have that that feeling you’d go be able to become a free agent? Uh yeah, there wasn’t ever sort of a direct conversation, but um yeah, I think it was just kind of the way it things shook out. Obviously, there was there was quite a bit of turnover there. Um and uh yeah, really excited that uh I get the opportunity to to come play in San Jose now. What did you what did you make of just that playoff run um you were on? What was it like just for you just be a part of that? Uh it was fun. Obviously um disappointing ending, but um I learned a lot. Obviously, there’s there’s been a lot of uh a lot of coverage on on my career and how I haven’t had that uh opportunity uh as much as I would have want personally wanted personally, but um to be able to to be in that environment uh obviously the team had been there the year before um so there’s a lot of guys there that have a lot of experience um that I could learn from and um and then going through it um being around that environment was was definitely something I learned a lot from and um there’s a lot of excitement obviously around that kind of a run. Um and yeah, I think that using that experience going forward will will definitely benefit myself. What was um what were those first couple of days of free agency like for you? guy said maybe a little bit unnerving because you don’t quite know what’s going to happen or how do you look back at that time maybe just at the start of free agency there and you know were the Sharks a team they maybe reached out to you or um early on in the process. Yeah, it was I think I think people have commented before about how it was a little bit different I feel like this year um just with uh the timing and everything. I think um there wasn’t sort of a flurry of signings right out of the gates at 12:00 Eastern on July 1st or like there has been in in the past in years past. And then um and I think for myself personally, obviously the the the Eers deal sort of taking a while um was another thing I think that maybe slowed the process down. Um, I think for me, my agents kind of handle most of that stuff and all of that stuff. And I I was just getting back uh actually from Edmonton and moving back and getting settled and starting my training. So, I was able to get into a routine and and wasn’t really worried about it. Uh but yeah, of course uh San Jose had shown interest and and that was exciting and uh I’m I’m really happy that uh it turned out the way it did. You mentioned obviously, you know, being teammates with with John Clingberg there. Um what do you what do you look what do you make of what the Sharks have done, you know, this off season? It’s been pretty busy couple of weeks uh for my career. um you know what uh what’s what do you think is going to be the key for the for having a group that has a lot of new faces and maybe uh might take some time to to get some chemistry or to come together. What’s what’s going to be the key for this group uh and just kind of coming together uh you know as quickly as possible? Yeah, I think uh it’s kind of on us as players, I think, to to sort of come together and find that chemistry um as quick as we can. I think that um I don’t know a lot of guys personally on that team. Obviously, like you mentioned, I know Clinger just from playing with him. He’s he’s a great guy and and kind of a a great story of his journey and and sort of what he’s been through the last couple years to get back to that level he was at and um how well he was playing in the playoffs was was great to see. So, I think I’m I’m real excited to get to play with him again. But I don’t know a lot of guys personally, but I know guys through guys. I know there’s a lot of really good guys on the team and obviously that that helps I think when you come together as a as a group. Um but yeah, I think uh there is a good mix of of young and and there’s been a lot of uh older guys that have signed on and and um are excited to be part of the group. So I I’m I’m expecting the transition to be smooth. I think uh um yeah, we’ll have plenty of time in training camp to get on the same page through the preseason games and um I think we’ll we’ll hit the ground running and uh it’ll be uh it’ll be really exciting. You um you know, you’re you’re close to 700 points, you’re close to 400 goals. Um, do you feel though that you at, you know, at this stage of your career, you still have a little bit something to prove um, around the league that you can still uh, be a productive player in the NHL? Yeah, for sure. I think I think every player feels that um, that need to to prove themselves and to prove they can contribute. Um, and yeah, I’m no except exception to that. I think um having gone through sort of the season I went through last year, I think in terms of offensive production, it wasn’t kind of up to my standard. I think um for sure I’d like to to improve on those those um those those produ that production I had last year and um and try and try and help the team uh in any way I can really. But I think for me, um, getting back to the level and standard that that I have for myself personally is, um, something I’m I’m looking forward to doing. All right. Thank you, Jeeoff. Appreciate it. Thank you. We’ll finish up here with William. Obviously, last season was the first time in your career that you’ve played in the Western Conference. What was that experience like, and how was it kind of different for you? uh a little bit longer flights and a few more road trips, I guess. But uh yeah, I thought that the adjustment was was fine with me. I think that um obviously the travel is a bit different, but it’s it’s the travel is the same for the whole conference for the most part. So, um, yeah, I, uh, I’d say the the biggest impact is my, uh, parents or family watching the games. They they have to stay up a little bit later. So, uh, that’s probably the the the biggest impact it had on me. And there were a couple former Sharks on the Edmonton team last year, namely Ty Emerson, Jake Walman, and Evander Kane. Did any of them kind of reach out to you, tell you what to expect with the city or anything like that? Uh yeah, I mean I mean obviously I think when you went to dinner with MBI quite a bit throughout the year um and you get to know guys and inevitably I think guys talk about um their past experiences and and where they’ve played in the past and how they liked it and how they like the guys and um yeah I think envy for sure. I I’m just uh realizing I spent the most time with him probably I think cuz obviously Vander was was injured for for most of the year and and and then Jake was joined us um about 3/4 of the way through. So, but Ammy had great things to say, I think, and and obviously he’s a young guy and that was sort of his first experience and um and uh he had a lot of positive things to say, which is uh which is exciting and and and and really uh a positive I think positive aspect of of playing in San Jose. Obviously, if guys speak highly of it, it’s uh it’s a good sign and uh yeah, I’m excited to get there and experience it myself. And last thing for me, we talked a little bit about Clayberg coming over with you. How excited are you to see what he can do with you for a full season kind of playing together rather than unfortunately he only had 11 games in the regular season last year? Yeah, I’m really excited. Obviously, uh I think first and foremost, he’s a great guy. I got to to know him quite a bit and uh um yeah, he’s he’s a he’s a great character and obviously he’s been around a long time, so he’s a lot of experience. Um, I’m I’m also, again, I kind of touched on it lightly before, but he’s gone through such a his story is, in my my opinion, pretty great in in sort of the adversity he’s had to go through the last couple years. And to see him get back to the level that uh um that I saw him playing at in the or everyone saw him playing at in the playoffs is um is is something that’s nice to see. I think especially if you’re someone that saw it every day the sort of the the the work he put in to get back to that level. Um, I’m I’m really excited to to see him continue to progress and to continue to kind of show what he can do cuz he’s uh he’s got a lot of talent and um yeah, it’s uh it’s fun to to to be on his team. Thank you and welcome San Jose. Thank you.

Forward Jeff Skinner speaks to the media after signing a one-year contract with the Sharks on July 11, 2014.