Oct. 4: Postgame Interviews

Oct. 4: Postgame Interviews

Overall, first Jimmy, thoughts on tonight’s game and how the team’s progressed throughout preseason? Yeah, I mean, it’s good. It’s always it’s always fun to win. So, you know, throughout the preseason, I feel like it’s just grown more and more each day. And, um, obviously, uh, that game there was was a strong finish of the preseason, so it’s fun. This is your first preseason. Obviously, usually you’re back at school. So, what have you kind of taken from it, learned from it, and how is this different than your usual routine? Yeah, it’s intense. Um, you know, games every other day, uh, practicing every day. It’s you’re trying to make a team, you know, that’s different from college, you know. Um it’s it’s a fun camp though. It’s a fun time, you know, get to know new guys and stuff, but it’s definitely a grind. You got to embrace it. And then this last one’s from the athletic. Obviously, lots been made about your shot and how good it is. Has your passing and playmaking always been part of your game or we just didn’t hear about it as much or has it developed more lately? Uh yeah, I mean, like I said, it helps when you’re um playing with such good players. So that uh feel like it’s something I’ve been trying to improve on a lot because it’s really you know it’s needed in the game of hockey. So being able to try and you know work on things like that it’s makes the game you know more fun. Uh so first obviously you haven’t been here too long yet but overall how’s your experience been as a blue and with this organization? Yeah it’s been great. Uh it’s you know everyone’s been really welcome welcoming from uh from the players to the coaches to the management. Everyone’s uh really been great and uh yeah, just uh it’s it’s it’s been a fun I I got here on Labor Day weekend, so it’s been it’s been fun since then. So, uh uh my goal was to get better every day, and I felt like I did that, you know, you know, kind of just quickly reviewing all the games I played, four out of the six, and felt like my game got better as as camp went along. So, uh yeah. Um, you know, everything’s gone gone well so far. Yeah. And then a couple from NHL.com. Do you think you’ve picked up the flow and pace as camp has progressed, especially after the injury setback to make a case for earning a contract? Um, I think so. I think that’s a better question for management. But as far as for me, I mean, obviously it was a it’s tough bump in the road uh getting a groin injury there. Uh, you know, I know a lot of guys are a lot of people are judgmental about my skating, but you know, in order for me to be effective, I I definitely need my legs and my my speed to to play the way that I do. So, to be able to battle through the last three games with a groin injury, I like I said, I felt like I uh got better uh you know, from Tuesday to Thursday, Thursday to Saturday. So, uh, happy with, uh, you know, happy with with what I was able to do this week. Talk about, uh, how camp compared to your expectations and how you feel going into at the start of the regular season. Uh, overall, I thought camp was a success and the fact that we thought we worked really hard. Uh, we got a lot accomplished. Uh, we got all areas covered, three on three, uh, pulled goalie situation, uh, both ways, four and against. Um, and then how hard camp was. We we thought we pushed them hard and we thought in the last week we uh backed off how long practices were and we thought that would help us into games and it did. Anything you saw today that says you’re ready for the start of the season? Just our team structure in the last two games. Tonight was our best structure and last game was the best pace we played with. Uh a lot of talk going into camp about having you at the start of camp would be a benefit. What do you think was in what ways was that the biggest benefit for you? Well, the cohesion of the group, you know, like uh you could tell like right away in practice, uh we understand how we want to play. We understand our identity and I think that helped us play and practice well. Uh one on Snugarude. Um what do you thought about his passing and playmaking ability and how much of an overall threat he’ll be um because of that going into the season? Yeah, I mean uh we know that, you know, he sees the ice really well. showed us that last year and that’s why you know uh a lot of guys like playing with them because when someone moves the puck really well like him like Kyu like Holloway like neighbors like a lot of players we have they like playing together and that’s what get makes us so formidable is that we have a lot of weapons that can mix mix and match together. Um closing it up here uh of the uh up and cominging prospects coming who who’s shown for you and and look forward to keeping tabs on this season. Uh well, you know, on the back end, um Lindstein and Skinner would come to mind right away. And then I would say up front, D’Vorski, Casamaki, and Stenberg really come to mind. Uh on on Kaskaki, what uh what stood about his stood out about his overall camp and how close he is to being a NHL player? Uh how smart he is, how reliable he is. He’s trustworthy. He’s on the right side of the puck. You know, you can see him being a bottom six forward having success.

Jimmy Snuggerud, Milan Lucic and Jim Montgomery speak to the media after closing out the preseason with a 4-0 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago.