WPG@MTL: Postgame media ops | PROSPECT SHOWDOWN

WPG@MTL: Postgame media ops | PROSPECT SHOWDOWN

line. I mean, we we started clicking as the game went on and, you know, we had a ton of chances. We just need to capitalize. Last year, one of your challenge in your words was to find a balance between the moment you give some hits and the moment you choose to not give some hits. Uh, do you think it was better tonight? Yeah, for sure. I mean, I mean, I don’t have to throw too many hits when we have the puck the whole game with with Ivan buzzing around, but uh but yeah, I think I I picked my spots pretty well and I just try to create space for those guys. How would you describe this first line with Yeah, I think we’re pretty good. I mean, our chemistry grew as the game went on and we had a ton of chances. Our goalie played really well. So, you have to expect passes from collecting. Yeah, like there’s a few times where I was covered by two guys and he just somehow found a way to get it to me. So, yeah, I just try to always be ready and try to find spots to get open. You play with David run back last year. Uh, how was it tonight in your opinion? Yeah, I thought he was good. I thought he was moving pucks up well and skating well on the power play. He’s running really well. So, yeah, I think he had a great game. It’s easy for forward to play with him. Yeah, for sure. I mean, he makes crispy passes up to us and, you know, he’s always talking. So, yeah, it’s really easy. How would you describe the beat? Can you put some words on the way that I see the game? Um, it’s unbelievable like his stick handling and skating and how he can protect the puck on the corner, spin out and uh just try to find myself open on the middle and uh it’s pretty much every time he’s passing that. So, it’s it’s fun to play and like awesome how how skilled he is. How much more comfortable do you feel after having last year being here last year and then coming back uh this year? How much more comfortable do you feel? Um yeah, of course I way uh know the play and guys so it’s way easier to step in uh and don’t have to think about that one and like just makes things a lot easier. Everything was really here when I got so just step in and uh start practicing and get to know the guys again. I’m playing on an offensive line, you don’t um you know, you can trust that there’s not going to be somebody coming to clo you. So, um yeah, that also helps when when you’re playing with a defenseman as a forward um especially in physical games like that. So, um, yeah, it definitely helps and, um, you know, it’s, uh, it’s good to be predictable. It was not your first experience in this jersey, but how would you describe the atmosphere for a rookie tournament? Yeah. Yeah. Um, no, it’s incredible. Um, you’re definitely not going to find anything like it around the league. Uh, I mean, a soldout building, highest capacity in the league if I’m not mistaken. Um, you know, the fact that, yeah, the building’s jam-packed for a rookie game is incredible. the fact that it got that loud and you have a wave going on in the third period and you know um you know thankfully gave them an exciting game an up and down kind of game and um you know it sucks not to be able to pull that one out but yeah they stuck with us the entire time the the crowd and um yeah it was so fun playing in front of them as a whole vet did you find useful to talk with some young players here before the game how did you feel the group before Yeah for sure there were definitely uh definitely some nerves um everybody was you know kind of feeling out their routine a little bit not sure um you know the layout of the space and uh not sure you know of of uh you know coach’s timings and everything. So everybody was definitely maybe on edge a little bit but and I I would have been like that my first year as well but uh being here a couple years it uh it’s nice to be able to try and kind of settle them down and get them ready for probably one of the most fun hockey experiences of their life. So um yeah it was exciting to see all those guys um you know get ready for tonight and um yeah I think uh you know a lot of them play pretty well. Time goes fast man for sure. Thank you. energy. I mean, a couple guys were looking at me like with eyes. They were like bigger than something else. It was uh pretty cool. Yeah. For you, especially in the last game that you played here, I mean, it was a tough one. Yeah. Yeah, it was was tough, but now it’s it’s awesome. Uh yeah, I had goosebumps right away from the start away, and it’s just awesome playing here. How did you feel on the ice today? I felt really good, confident. Um, yeah, felt way better, I would say, compared to one year ago. And, um, with the injury, it’s out of my head and it feels so good. And, yeah, I’m just happy that I can play and I’m really like, I texted my dad hours before. I’m like, uh, yeah, I’m I’m really hungry to play and it’s it’s such a nice feeling to play again. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel you more quick on the ice tonight. Uh, did you put some energy on your explosion this summer or Yeah, for sure. Um, we switched some some plans. Uh especially like with the knee injury, we did a lot of stuff for the knee and uh especially lower body. So um yeah, I’m feeling way quicker on the ice now. Knee feels good. 100%. Yeah, way way way better. It’s 100% now. David, what does it mean to you to be able to step into an atmosphere like that for a game and be able to play in the building, but it’s going like that? I mean, that’s one’s life, right? Like um guys, uh at the face of they say like it’s a it’s crazy crazy atmosphere here. So um yeah, I’m just appreciating that. Uh it’s it’s yeah it’s just a dream come true just to play here and uh put the HABs jersey on and have some fun with the guys out there and try to bring the best performance. Talk about having some fun. We saw you all all week long joking with Ian Dev on the ice. Uh how do you how do you describe your relationship with him? Uh I think we have a good relationship. Uh it’s funny. Um I mean he he’s a he’s a workhorse and uh you can learn a lot from this guy and um just try to yeah to bring my assets to his game and help him out and he’s going to help me out. So um it’s just yeah I think u we fit in good together. How was it working with Angstrom tonight? I mean uh we know each other from last year too. So um it makes your your life a bit easier when you know the guy next to you and you know how he’s playing and what his actions are on the ice. So, um I mean he’s a really good player and I’m always happy to play with him. What did you like about your game tonight, Dave? I think I was playing quick. Uh did some confident plays. Um yeah, tried tried to make some plays and for sure not every play um yeah uh is is is happening or goes through and for sure there’s stuff which I want to improve or get back but that’s happens and that’s that’s a process and going to watch the game and be ready for tomorrow as much as it is. Thank you. Thanks for your time. But yeah, I mean like yeah for sure result is like it’s bad but game was fun. How did you feel? Yes. Feels good. Yeah. What did you like about your game? Yeah sure. You know like it’s first game after the summer. Yeah. So how would you describe the chemistry with your line tonight? It was good. I mean, we have a lot of chance to score, but hope we score more next time. We’re surprised to see so many people in the stands. I know the atmosphere and people chanting your name, even if it’s a rookie game. Yeah, I know. But I I remember like uh last year it was the same. So, I I really appreciate it that people coming cuz like they miss the hockey. So, it was cool. And you give them a good show. Uh, I hope so. Are you getting Are you getting used to that type of reaction? Which one? Just the fans going crazy for you, chanting your name. You’re getting used to that. We’ll see. Any any player in your team tonight who impress you? I can like talk talk like this cuz it’s going to be like respect for everyone. So, everyone was good, I think. How much uh how did you feel as the game went along? Did you feel you had one period that was better than the other? I think it was like three similar periods like might be in the last we have couple misses cuz you know like fun’s going everyone’s going you know like score and after this like feel a bit like crazy but I told you it’s first game after summer so it’s going to be better next time. You spent all summer here. How much more comfortable are you feeling right now just in this environment? I don’t know. It feels good. What What do you think Florian brought to your life? Florence, he’s a massive guy. He’s huge. So, I like to play with him. Yeah. Is it more skills than he gets credit for? You would say? No. I I can’t say like this. He’s like I know that he’s good. like I heard that he has like good summer so he’s looking good today. Was it really important for you to be playing those rookie games? Uh yeah, for sure. Like it’s good to prepare to full season in NHL. What do you want to accomplish at this at this rookie camp? Really? I don’t know. Just enjoy. Yeah, just enjoy. See what you can do. Yeah. Some people might have been surprised to see your name on the rookie camps list and you’re going to be on the team to start the season. Were you surprised playing? No. No, for sure. Like we we have conversation with our like uh you know manager. So I know that I’m going to play those games. What are you learning about this style of game? Sorry. What are you learning about this style of game in North America? Oh, I mean like it’s more game like from south to west or to north. So I think that’s that’s main difference. Are you happy you have Owen Pots on your team instead of against you? What? Pots to def your defenseman. Yeah. You’re happy on your team, I guess, instead of having to play against. Yeah, for sure. How would you describe Alexander Zarovski? You know him well, right? Yeah, for sure. We like we was with him like in child team. Yeah. So guys, you will see. I can’t I can’t talk a lot about him because he’s like still young. Uh but you’ll see guys. Thank you. Yeah, that TV Serious. Uh offensive man. Professor Fore [Music] coach. Crowd pleaser. Foreigneach. [Music] for now. Florian Forever. [Music] [Music] force phys [Music] You’ve been around young prospects for a long time. Yeah. Um, this organization for a long time didn’t have a deep prospect pool. What can you say about the the top end talent this prospects pool now? Yeah. compared to maybe what you’ve seen with previously with other I I think I think they’ve done an amazing job at at at being um drafting different kind of players like there’s there’s skilled some skilled players some some offensive players some some good defenseman size physicality there’s a good mix but all of them they’re good people and I think that was something very important for um the the scouting staff draft the right people And um it’s it’s very interesting because we had a taste at it last year. Young team um and they want to be coached. Um they they want to play the right way with the skill level and having different kind of players. You have a a a jack eye and now a Thorp. They can play. They’re big and they can play and and the Meshard that is still growing understanding his game at the pro level. You have different kinds of players obviously Demidov and so it’s uh it’s quite interesting. I think they’ve been they’ve been extremely smart at finding different kind of players is a bit of a throwback. What’s that? Pros is a bit of a throwback to he is he is physical you know more of a stay home but he knows what he is and that’s a gift that’s a skill uh because they don’t always at that age do they think they can be somebody else. So yeah. David Flash offensive. Angstrom say prospect. Um, power play. [Music] [Music] Just go back to you mentioned earlier how you got a sense that when he got on the ice he wanted you know there was that shift in the third period. that really lit the building on fire a little bit. You know, he took it up the left wing and beat his man pretty spectacularly. Did you get a sense when you set him over the boards that that something particular? Did you get a particular sense at that point that something was about to happen? Well, he’s pushing, right? He’s he’s pushing the game and he’s uh such a smart offensive player that he he knows how to create some space for himself. so we can see his skills. Um, I mean, he’s he’s an amazing player, but I I got to know him this week a little bit, not that much. And his passion for the game is for me, that’s a that’s a skill that he has. He he want he was disappointed after the game. He’s not happy. He wants to win. Um, so yeah, he’s um we’re lucky to have him and the fans, I mean, it’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be fun to watch for a lot of years. Um I No, I’m not getting it. Um for some of these guys, like this is as close as they’ll get to the NHL. Like it’s very hard. There’s only limited space, right? Like to be in the atmosphere that they got to play in tonight. How much do you think it pushes everybody to be a guy? It’s amazing. It’s hard to describe. I’m 53 years old. I’m an older man compared to those guys and I feel the energy from those people and I can only imagine and I’ve been in the NHL for years. I I’ve playoffs and and I feel it. And for those guys, for some guys, unfortunately, it’s the only time they’re going to wear an NHL jersey. Just to experience that is is a story you’re going to tell your kids and grandkids. Um, so and at the same time for us, I feel like we can evaluate players on how they react when you’re on the big stage. So, there’s a lot of components to it, but it’s such an it’s such a privilege to be there with those guys and for them to wear that jersey. Um, when when I told Luke Tuck that he was going to be the captain. He’s a very serious guy. He’s by the book. He’s a good influence on everyone. um said, “Coach, you have no idea what it means to me to have a C on my jersey wearing the Montreal Canadian logo. I don’t know what it means to him, but I know it’s big.” So, it’s it’s a huge privilege. coach. Fore [Music] flowers. for this. Pascal, when you’re preparing for these rookie games, how do you go about finding that balance of wanting to implement structure for some of these guys that are new? Yeah. Um, and allowing them to kind of just lean on their instincts. Yeah. Yeah. We keep it very simple. So, we introduce a few concepts in every zone, offensively and defensively. a few faceoffs positions on the power play and then from there you don’t want to you you you don’t want to play with their brains too much um in a sense that too too much too many details. It’s they want to be a we they need to be able to play and and we want to see what they can do without too much info um and see how they’re going to react. So there there’s a fine balance u because it it’d be easy for us coaches to overload them with info but we we don’t we keep it simple and like before the game I I told them a few things but one of the thing was just just just focus on what you’re good at just just bring if you’re nervous just just bring what you’re good at and we’ll be fine. And um so it’s um but there’s a fine line between too much and not enough. Yep. That’s it.

Canadiens prospects address the media live following Game 1 of the Prospect Showdown at the Bell Centre on Saturday.

00:00 Florian Xhekaj
01:32 Oliver Kapanen
02:32 Owen Beck
04:42 David Reinbacher
07:36 Ivan Demidov
19:21 Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent

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