Media Availability (10/8): Toffoli

Media Availability (10/8): Toffoli

Yeah, obviously I think it’s all an honor for uh for all of us and um I don’t think it was necessarily a big deal for um any decision that they were going to make and I think we’re all just excited to uh get the season started here tomorrow. Were you surprised there was no captain named? No, no, not surprised at all. Uh don’t think there was necessarily one needed to be named and um I mean I’m sure you’ve talked to everybody else, they probably all said the same thing. What What goes into that? I mean, as a player, when there’s a C, not a C, how I mean, what’s the thought process of the group? But you don’t need to wear a letter to wear captain. We’ve heard coaches say that. What What’s the thought process there about who needs to step up in this room more than just the leaders? I think we all have to step up. I think you look at our season last year. There’s a reason why there’s um so much competition in house this year and um we’re all fighting, you know, for the ice time that we all uh think we necessarily deserve and I think that’s a good thing. And I think that’s going to help our team and uh help our team grow and help our team win games. Have you seen Mlin grow as a leader? Obviously 19-year-old getting a letter. Have you seen him maybe he talked about comfortable. Have you seen him get more comfortable to become a leader? I think he was quite comfortable last season. Um no, I think obviously it’s it’s a privilege and um I think at the end of the day when you’re a little frustrated, you might have to hide it a little bit. And um I think so far obviously hasn’t been um he’s only played the one game, but I thought he did a good job uh in Utah and uh trying to keep everybody even keel and uh did a good job of you know help with the push back and and help tie the game there in the second. He talked about just having a feel of when to be on a guy, when to give a guy some support. How have you felt that you’ve been able to work on that skill as a leader as a veteran these last, you know, I don’t know, five, seven years of your career here? I think it just comes over time. I think it comes with friendship. I think everybody in this locker room especially uh we all know that, you know, we care about each other and we want nothing but the best out of each other and um I think there’s expectations uh for myself and uh for everyone else and we want to keep everybody accountable and I think if we do that, you know, we’re going to be a lot better hockey team than last year. Are the best rooms the ones that the players run the room and hold each other accountable? Uh I think in a sense I’ I’ve seen it uh a few different ways. Um, I think at the end of the day, it just comes obviously, yeah, like you said, with within and uh, no one’s going to do it but ourselves. So, um, whenever we’re struggling or whenever we’re down, we got to we got to work harder and, uh, stick to, you know, our game plans, whatever that is, uh, every single day. after that, you know, that first period in Utah, you know, Ryan went in their room and had a message. But after he left, was there a message within the players, too, that, you know, that’s kind of period is not going to accept anymore. You know, enough’s enough type of thing. Was that kind of was there a message to the players after after that period? Uh, for sure. Yeah, there’s obviously there’s always chatter, uh, good or bad. So, um, there definitely was some conversation and, um, you know, I think that’s, uh, private in the locker room. That’s shared, but sure was some growth though for this group that to come back and, you know, make a game of it in the second period. For sure. Yeah, obviously it was good to see a little fight back at the same time. It’s a preseason game and, uh, you know, we fly to Utah. It’s almost expected have a slow start in a game, but um, hopefully that doesn’t happen tomorrow or in the future. Is it important tomorrow night? Obviously, you know, Vegas coming in here for this team to show that it has made some strides even though it’s the first game of the year for to show the fans and to show everybody that, you know, the Sharks aren’t the same old team that they were. I guess for sure. I think that’s um like I said, that’s on us. That’s on the way that we decide to come and and play. If we’re going to if we’re going to play the way that, you know, we’ve talked about all training camp and and work hard and and do the little things correctly, then that’s what’s going to happen. If uh if it’s anything else, then, you know, might not be the best result. So, um we have a lot of belief in our group and we’re really excited for uh uh tomorrow. October’s been tough for the Sharks last couple years. What’s the message been like to get off to a better start this season? Uh I haven’t heard one time uh about last year or the year before that. It’s a new season. It’s almost a brand new group of guys in here as well. So, um, we got to be prepared for tomorrow and not look forward to game two or game three. We got to be ready for tomorrow.

Tyler Toffoli speaks with the media following the Sharks practice on October 8, 2025.