Brodie’s Breakdown vs VGK (9/21)

Brodie’s Breakdown vs VGK (9/21)

Three nothing final score tonight in San Jose’s preseason opener here with defenseman John Clingberg. Hey, a goal in the first game. That’s a nice way to introduce yourself to this building and some new teammates. Yeah. No. Uh the first power play wasn’t that good, so it was nice to uh capitalize on the second one. It came pretty early off the face off. But me and Tov uh we talked a little bit about it before. Uh he asked me what he was thinking about for me from the blue line about sifting and I said I I think it’s fine if you if you um if you um get to the net either you’re going to tip it or I can score from there. Yeah. Hey looked great. Uh obviously you want to be a big part of San Jose’s power play this year. You also want to play a lot of games this year. I know that for you last year returning when you did health was a big part of it staying healthy. How’s that going and what are your focus areas off the ice this year to make sure you stay healthy? Yeah, I know the organization has been really good to me. So far, it took me under the wing as soon as I got here with the trainers and and all of that. So, we we’re working through things. Uh it’s not perfect. Uh hopefully, we’ll get there. Uh I mean, I’m 33 years old at the same time. So, but no, um it’s it’s a work in progress, but I do feel like I’m moving a lot better than I did in the past and just continue to get stronger and stronger off the ice and and trying to get better every chance you you can here in camp on the ice to to get uh on top of your game. You know, I don’t think you showed up tonight to lose the game, obviously, but winning a preseason game, three nothing feeling good about it. What makes it a good preseason game? Is it Is it the score? Is it other things that make you feel good about a night? No, it’s not really the score, but I do think that we played a solid game. Uh I think our goalie played really well as well, but I think we uh we played really good in front of him as well. Um I mean, I think it speak for itself if we don’t get scored on. So, I think we did a lot of good things that the coaches really wanted to emphasize as well. uh moving forward and obviously capitalizing on on the power play as well and and shutting down on the PK as well. So I think a good solid first game. I’m trying to think about your career and and Ned’s career if they ever cross paths. Did you ever play against Adidulkovich as an opponent? Yes, I played against him a few enough times to know what was it like tonight to play in front of him and and what do you what did you and your teammates notice? Yeah, I mean just uh very agile goalie. I think uh he fights really hard to see the puck as well. And I think he had a great rebound control, but what stuck out to me the most as a defenseman was his ability to move the puck uh really good. So that’s going to be a huge plus for all the defenseman. He likes to score, you know, too, right? Like he’s got a couple of I know that. Yes, I know that. What are some of the things that have made you feel comfortable so far here in San Jose? Like when you did the press conference over the summer, you didn’t get here yet. Now you’re here, you’re in training camp, you’re in preseason. What what’s making you feel like this is at home to you? Yeah, it’s been uh three almost four weeks here. So, um I mean, ever since I got here, I think uh the medical staff, the trainers, everyone just kind of took me under the wing knowing uh what my history is with uh with my hips. So, uh it’s it’s been a little bit of a work of progress here the first few weeks, but we’re on the same page and it’s already feeling a lot better than it did in the summer. Uh so, yeah, like I said, it’s been really good. Um it’s it’s really fun too when you’re a veteran guy to come to the rink and you see all these uh young guys that’s just having a lot of fun. So um it creates a a great atmosphere around the rink. So so far it’s been really good. The places you’ve been in your career, all the games of experience you’ve got. How does that lead into to being an example for them? How how do you see yourself now walking into a place where you already knew there’d be young guys, but now that you’re here, how is that going with the young kids? Yeah, I like I said, I think it’s a lot of fun. Uh, I mean, I’ve been young. Uh, I like to say say that I’m still young. You’re still young at heart. I got it. Uh, it’s a little bit different. I think he matured a little bit, but at the same time, I think I’m a pretty outgoing guy. Um, which a lot of these young guys are as well. So, uh, I think it’s going to be a good fit. And, um, I mean, just coming to the rink with a with a great mindset every day, it’s going to make this organization, this team come long ways. All right, couple more things. Just going back to the power play, which is obviously how you scored tonight. uh you could be a big impact on the back end of that this year and and seeing the talent you’ve got up front. How do you hope San Jose’s power play can look uh both units this year in terms of of the man advantage? Well, I think a good power play always be if you look at the best power players around the league, they’ve been together for for a lot of years. So, that’s that helps a lot. But you’re saying it’s the ability to read and know where predictability. Exactly. But at the same time, I like if you look at a guy like Celabbrini, he’s just on another level. I think just so far on on practice and stuff, you just see how good he is. And then you have Will and and and Eklid as well and all these guys, they all know how to score. So, uh it’s exciting for sure, but I think a good power play are not afraid to take the puck to the net. It’s hard to write up plays before because the PK is going to be in their spot. I think when you’re getting those seam passes and and those nice plays on power plays when you shoot the puck first and you win it back because then the PK is going to be scrambling a little bit because they’re not in their position. So I think that helps a lot. Uh so you’re going to have a shooting mindset and when the rebound kicks out, you got to win that second battle and then all of a sudden those scene passes can open up as well. I got to see a lot of Will and Mack last year obviously in their rookie seasons. Now there’s more young players, but the the common veteran sentiment is these young kids are all doing things the right way. I’m wondering if you agree with that and what do they mean by that? Yeah, absolutely. I think ever since I got here, uh, all the youngest guys, well, I look at Smitty, I look at Celebrini, Ekan, like when I came into the rink the first day, I thought I was going to be the first guy there because I was jetlagged and all that. But all the guys were there already. They were in the gym working out. out. They were first on the ice even in the captain’s skate before camp started, stayed out on the ice the latest, and then all of a sudden I woke up for lunch and these guys are in the gym working out again. So, it’s very, very impressive. I think that goes a long ways and it shows even the older guys and the guys that’s been in the league for a long time that they’re not here to Yeah. to just play hockey. They want to become better every day and that’s how you thrive in a team and and you build an organization and a winning path. Hey, save some goals for the regular season. And I’m sorry I kept you a few minutes longer. You’re just great to talk to, John. I appreciate this. Okay.

Brodie Brazil breaks down the Sharks first preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights on September 21, 2025 with defenseman John Klingberg. The Sharks won 3-0.