🎥 SOUND: Theodore, Holtz & Cassidy

🎥 SOUND: Theodore, Holtz & Cassidy

What did you like about the way that trip ended? Other than getting the win, but how did you like the way that it progressed from Saturday to finishing up in uh I liked our uh our penalty kill helped us stay in the game on um in Tampa on Sunday. Got some saves, clears. Third period was good. Uh we played more like what we should look like with a better team. um didn’t win the game in overtime. Um you know, we didn’t manage the puck, but we carried that into Carolina. First three minutes weren’t great for us, but that’s typical Carolina. We didn’t give up a lot, but they had the better of the play, but I would thought we got to it in a hurry in the first period. Um didn’t have much going on, but sort of calmed things down. got a goal on a good play, good exit from our zone, a forch check, a good decision with the puck, win a battle below the goal line against they were missing Miller and Slaving, two good defenseman. Now we’re missing some players, too. But if you can win some battles against their D down low and we got it to the front of the net, which we’ve always said with Carolina, they can duplicate or overpursue. And so it was a good goal. It’s the right way to score. So we got going after that. Power play, you know, scores a nice goal and I thought we were the better team the second period. We got out scored one nothing, but it might have been our best period of the season in terms of just getting to the front of the net, recovering pucks, greasy, you know, slot battle stuff and that’s carried over into the third and no, again, I thought if we kept playing like that, we’d score and we did. So, what did I like? I like that on the road, we got to our game a lot quicker. We never really got to it in Florida. Tampa took us half the game, say, and then Carolina was probably 50 pretty good minutes. So the progression was nice. How we scored around the front of the net was good. We needed we need to score more go slot battle, right? And I thought we controlled them in front of our net for the most part. Gave up a couple uh power play was nice shot. Was a quick hitter. Uh the you know we got caught in a bit of a pinch on the third. What was the second one? Oh, breakaway. Right. Yeah, we scored one like that. Right. So all in all, I thought we did a good job controlling them from second chances, which they’re very good at. What have you liked about Alexander Holtz’s game lately and do you think he’s taken another step or two in the right direction for his development? Yeah, he has. He uh what I like about it, uh Jamie, good on the walls. He’s winning his board battles. We made a switch in game. We got Barbie back on his strong side there. We were getting pucks off the wall in the middle to Jack. That’s when he excels. Um and Holtzy did a good job with that. He got to the front of the net when he batted out of the air. Probably should have hits the post like those are greasy areas. He got to recovered some pucks below the goal line. Did a good job with that? He’s just stronger on the puck. And is that because he’s a year older? Is that he’s a little more comfortable or is that just hey, I got to be these things to play more? It could be all three really. Right. Um he’s a smart player. He can shoot. So we know that with time and space, he was always good. Now with limited time and space, he’s he’s taken some steps. So right now with Stony out, we’re looking for someone to go up there. We’d rather keep Marner with Hurdle and Dorv if we can. I think they’ve been a pretty pretty good line for us. We can balance that. Tried different people and it’s his turn now and hopefully can run with it. An impressive search for him over the course of a month coming on a PTO and then being the extra forward and now the top line. Yeah. Well, we didn’t know how it would play out if if I’ve always said this like one door closed another. If Stone doesn’t get hurt, you know, he might still be 13th or 14th forward, but he does and he’s in. Didn’t get in right way. I think we used Reinhardt when the first injury that might have been How’s it was a better kind of tradeoff, but he fits, you know, with a skill line if he can do what we just talked about, like win his board battles, get to the front of the net. Um, and he has. So, yeah, it’s good for him, you know, like uh he’s been in the league before. We scored in Jersey. Didn’t have as much success here last year, but we’ve put a lot of time in with Alex and Alex has worked on what I think he’s responded to coaching and it’s tried to bring what we’ve asked. And if he can do that, I think the rest will sort itself out cuz he’s had his looks. I mean, last year he had some looks. He was snake bit and hitting some post. This year again, you know, he hit a post in where was it? Florida one-time, beat Baroski, but hit the post. Right. The other night he’s at the front. So, if he keeps doing that, he’s going to score. they’re going to go in if you get enough chances. So, um I’m happy for him. He’s he’s wellliked. He’s, you know, he’s he’s trying to play the right way, I guess. And when you got to have respect for guys when they do that and hopefully just being a year stronger cuz he’s still a young guy that that’ll help him along his way. 10 games in, we knew that Shay Theodore was going to play more this year. Uh the minutes are up substantially. What have you seen in his game and where are those extra minutes coming from? late in game PK. Um PK’s coming around. We gave up a quick one in Carolina, but we’ve been pretty good up till then. Um closing out games. He’s on more that used to be a little more pro area with HY out. He played a lot of those situations. So that’s where he’s getting the extra minutes. He’s got tougher matchups this year. I mean, him and Nabber have always had probably one of the top two lines, but now they’re getting usually the best every night if we can control that. So that’s probably where his minutes are up. I know a lot of times coaches, players take the season in 10ame chunks. So now that we’re 10 games in, I’m curious how you assess where your team’s at. Yes, I’m definitely one of those coaches that looks at that. We look at our analytics a little closer, get a decent sample size, where are we? Um, well, our record is good and and it’s a resultsoriented business. So let’s start there. Uh, I think our defending is good. our slot, our DZone, five on five, haven’t had a ton of breakdowns, penalty kills turning the corner, so we’re in games cuz we defend well. We’ve already used three different goalies and looks like that that will continue. Um, so you got to you got to be consistent for, you know what I mean, play your game no matter who’s in there. Offensively, we’ve scored goals, but I don’t think we’re consistent with how we’re creating offense in the ozone. Power play was hot earlier in the year. Now it’s, you know, it can get cyclical. Some of that could be Mark Stone effect. We still have lots of good players on it. So, we hope it’ll help us win games. It didn’t in Florida and Tampa come through for us, but it did in Carolina got us a lead. So, timely goals. So, the offense, I think, is something we’re going to continue to harp on. The the greasy stuff. A rush game’s good. It’s just getting to 60 minutes and getting out of funks quicker. And, you know, Florida, the game we the only game we’ve lost, we never really got to it and it showed, right? the other games. Tampa, we eventually did. We got saves and then we got to it not quite enough. And then Carolina, we really got to it twice against them. So, it’s there and I think the guys have seen what it’s supposed to look like. So, that’s a good thing. Um, keep building on that part of it. Closer to 60 minutes. That’s every team’s challenge this time of year. You had a little different look to your fourth line the other night. Uh, seemed like they had a really good game. What did you think of what you know, traditionally you’d like your fourth line to look like? Did you see that the other night? Yeah, I mean I thought they were arguably our best line. They they played direct. They took care of pucks, you know, established some things in the forche. The goal they scored was a rim out. Kohley wins a battle on the wall against team a pressing D. Good support through the middle of the ice. Um come through the neutral zone with speed and Howie outside drive, right? And that’s you know that those guys can all skate. Reinhardt had a similar opportunity. outside drive hits the post. Kolasar was in all alone on a a a good pinch and and you know Nabber pinches Kohley fills they they transition quick and they’re playing in straight lines. So they all had a really good look at the net uh by playing the right way, playing fast. They’re all good skaters and when they didn’t have looks they threw it behind them and and made, you know, made it difficult on Carolina. So they’re never in trouble. And um when your fourth line can tilt the ice like that, I mean they they might have been out there for some shots against whatnot. But in general, they didn’t seem like they were ever in trouble playing their type of game using their speed and their size. Two teams left at one regulation loss, you guys in Colorado. What have you seen from the Avalanche so far? Um well, their power play got hot the other night, but it wasn’t. So they weren’t getting by on just the power play. It obviously was very effective against New Jersey. Top guys are going McKinnon. Um I always say his name wrong. Neash Nas. Nous. Remember that Bruce put it in there. Put it in the vault. I think he just signed a big deal today, didn’t he? I read. Um and uh Lechin. They’ve been really good. Then they’re getting support. Big 13 there was going the other night. Um so they got depth. Pretty healthy. I think Gerard’s the only one out on D. So, you know, they their guys are contributing offensively from the back end. You know, Macar is always going to do that. And they’ve gotten great good goalending out of Wedgwood because I don’t think Blackwood hasn’t played a game yet. I mean, we might see them tomorrow. So, um yeah, they’re doing it probably how they’re supposed to doing it. They’re scoring goals. They’ve always been a pretty good defending team. They’ve had uh different goalies in the mix. So, right now the they’re getting that that part of their game. He’s only played four games, you know, on this year, but what have you liked out of Cole Reinhardt on the fourth line with uh either Hen and Siz or Kazar? Well, this is he played more of his game. Um, and again, we hadn’t seen I hadn’t seen a lot of them come from different organization. He used his speed, as I said, went blew it right by their D, took it to the net, deserve inside post right there. Those are goals he’s going to score. Um, was on top of people on the for check. finished a few more played through hands I guess uh is how we we’ll call it um and again used his pace and didn’t try to do too much. I think first couple of games there were some unforced errors that came back at us. I think this game he made the plays that were in front of him, got it behind him and that’s how they’re going to be effective. Uh he’s he waited his turn a little bit there and he came back and when a guy goes out of the lineup you’re always think how’s he going to respond going back in. So I think when he went he he came out he had scored a goal. Um, sometimes a player will be, “What the hell are you doing? I just I’m on a streak.” Uh, but he responded well. He worked hard, got his opportunity the other night. As I said, I think they’re are probably our best, most effective line uh, in terms of how each line plays to their identity. So hopefully builds off that tomorrow. Do you have an update on Colton? Siz will be dayto day. He won’t be in tomorrow until he gets back on the ice with us. We’re off till uh, Tuesday, so we’ll have a better idea Sunday or Monday. Um, Hannneathan skating. He’s getting closer. Won’t play tomorrow and the other guys. There’s no change. Shay, we’ve noticed that you’ve been averaging higher time on ice wise than ever before in your career. I know it’s only 10 games in, but um, do you relish the opportunity to make an impact even more frequently on the ice? Yeah. Um, you know, obviously I think everyone wants to play more minutes and um, you know, I think trying to just utilize me in different areas, obviously more time on the PK um, than in previous years, but I think overall just, you know, staying in the flow of the game is good and um, you know, trying to try and be a little bit more consistent during those minutes. Does a 27minute night feel drastically different on your body than like a 23m minute night? Uh, at the time no, but you know, sometimes the next morning it does. Um, but I think overall, you know, my body feels good. You know, still feel kind of fresh from the start of the year and, um, you know, we’re still pretty early on in the season, but um, you know, overall feel pretty good. Have you had to make any adjustments in terms of more recovery or anything like that? Uh, no. I think just kind of going going with my normal uh my normal game days and, you know, recovery stuff, you know, in between. So, uh, it’s always good to have a couple off days, uh, you know, when you come back from the road and, um, you know, really try and utilize that time. I know a lot of players look at the season in 10ame chunks and now we’re 10 games in. So, how would you kind of assess where the team is at right now? Yeah. Um, you know, I think we’re in a good spot. I think, you know, we had a really good start and um you know, obviously going into that that Florida trip, you know, that’s those aren’t easy games and, you know, it’s definitely it’s different with the time change and um you know, we haven’t really seen them yet. So, um you know, I think we started off a little slow, but you know, finishing the trip strong with our game in Carolina was nice and um you know, hopefully we can continue that. the fact that you guys are playing pretty quality level of opposition right now and again here with Colorado. Do you like kind of having that measuring stick type start to the season where you’re playing those guys? For sure. Uh, you know, cuz I think all those teams, you know, at the at the end of the year when the standings fall, you’re going to face them at some point. Um, you know, we’re we’re a team, you know, our goal is to win every year and um, you know, those are the teams you’re going to have to go through. So, it’s good to see him early and, you know, figure out where your game’s at and, you know, what you need to work on. Well, Alex, you’re getting more minutes, getting more opportunities with who you’re playing with on the ice. How do you feel like you’ve taken your game a step in the right direction lately? Uh, I feel like my take a step every game. I feel more comfortable out there. Uh, used to play with a lot of speed. Uh, try to set up my teammates. Uh, hopefully I can score some goals with all the the shots I’m creating as well. Yeah, you hit a couple posts, so it’s you’re due, right? Yeah, definitely. Either hot or you do. So, I’m definitely due right now. Yeah. Um, has the coaching staff talked to you at all about other things to work on or focus on to continue to get more minutes? I think they just like where where my game is heading right now. It’s heading in the right direction. Uh, the compete level, the battle on the wall, all the wall work uh has taken a lot of strides. So, I feel like that’s something I still want to continue to improve and uh yeah, it’s it’s been a a lot of positive feedback on it. What’s it like to be able to have kind of a front row seat to watch what Jack Eel is doing right now? No, it’s it’s really fun to watch. He’s uh yeah, the best player in the league right now. So, it’s super fun to watch him and be on a line with him. So, uh yeah, I’m really fortunate and I’m just going to take advantage of his opportunity. How would you describe what he’s able to do? It’s hard to describe. It’s just like he’s super fun to watch. It’s just like the stuff he can do that no one else can do and he does it like it looks so effortless. It’s just like the skating wise, the puck handling, just everything he does. It’s just like so smooth, but like everything goes so fast as well. So, yeah, it’s really cool to see. I know you know Akira pretty well too, right? From your days back in Jersey. What can you tell me about him as a person and a player? No, he’s a pretty chill guy. Uh likes to hang a lot with himself, but uh kind of like a little what goalies do, but no, he’s he’s a good guy and stepped up for us really much when a couple guys been injured. And yeah, I’m really glad he’s taken a big step this year and hopefully he can continue with that. Awesome.

Shea Theodore, Alexander Holtz and Head Coach Bruce Cassidy speak to the media following Thursday’s practice at City National Arena.

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