New York Islanders Pregame Availability | NYI at COL (11/16/25)

New York Islanders Pregame Availability | NYI at COL (11/16/25)

Yeah, thank you. Smile. I know. It’s uh it’s been a crazy week, but it’s uh No, it’s been fun. Have you slept at all this week? Uh first couple nights were a little not too much. Uh last night I got in a good time yesterday and um actually my in-laws, they’re actually here right now. They’re going to come out pretty soon, but uh I got to see them for dinner and they’re first time grandparents, so it was nice seeing them last night, but uh I got I got some sleep last night, ready to go. Is Is Theodor a family member? No, just something we kind of talked about, decided. Had it had it on our mind for a while, so cool. It works. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, how are you feeling hockey wise? You know, I’m sure you’re to get back. Good. I mean, obviously whenever you’re away from the team, you miss it. Um, you know, we had some some interesting fun games it looked like. Uh, you know, one of the nights I was up, one of the nights I tried to get a little sleep during it because those games are late when you’re in New York. But, uh, no, it’s u I feel good. I feel I feel good. But I was able to skate once back at home while I was there. So I was able to go in the morning and just keep the legs going and um you know obviously being playing college here and having family friends here um this is a fun game for me to play every year. So the fact u I was comfortable kind of getting back out here and rejoining the team and ready to go. Yeah, I mean I think Yeah, I mean obviously there’s been some mix up with the partners and stuff but uh you know we all we’ve all played with each other at some point. Um, you know, we compliment each other a little bit in terms of, you know, they want us playing well in the Dzone. Uh, that’s kind of my focus and, you know, when I’m with Romy, I said we take care of the Dzone, the stuff, everything else will take care of itself. So, it’s, uh, it was good a couple games and we’ll keep it going. How’s it feel to be back? Good. Um, yeah, I’ve always loved my two years here. I’ve had a great time and, uh, it’s always cool to come back here. [Music] No, I’ve been here before. Just uh, yeah, it’s obviously a little strange. The walk’s a little strange. need to go a little further to go to the ABS locker room. But um no, again like I enjoyed my time here. I had a blast and uh it’s good to be back. Did you catch up with any of the guys? Yeah, a little bit. Couple guys trainers. They’re going to catch up after the game probably a little bit more. And uh yeah, you got a little bit of experience with a guy like to know him as a player now playing. Yeah, I’m trying to help him as much as I can. Um, obviously I knew him from Colorado a couple of games before he got sent down last year. Um, but yeah, Richie’s been great with us. Um, he’s he’s a kid that wants to learn, wants to get better. So, that’s always cool to see. Um, but yeah, I thought he’s playing very well right now. You know, he sees the comparison between Schaefer and Macar. You’ve played with Kale, now you’re with him. Like, do you see it as well? Yeah, the skating for sure. Um, the skating is very impressive. Obviously, playing with Kale, he’s at another level now. Obviously being in the league for a little longer. Um, but what Shay’s been doing for his first year as a rookie, um, it’s been very impressive. Like I said, the skating is very similar. They have that that speed to get away from a lot of guys and create a rush. And, um, yeah, Sha wants to learn, too. He’s a hell of a kid, so it’s fun to have. We talked to Russ this morning about facing his former team. He kept using the word weird or strange. Is there any other way to describe that? No, no, it’s it’s strange. You know, every guy, you know their tendencies, you know their personalities. Um, obviously when the puck drops, you’re trying to win the game, but um, the first couple times you come back to a different building or a building you’re used to, it’s always a little, like Brock said, a little weird and different. Um, yeah, first couple shifts are always different, but it gets going, you kind of forget about it. To take numbers. Yeah, just not many numbers in the island. There’s a lot of a lot of the good numbers are retired. Um, a lot of good numbers are picked by then. And um, I had 29 world juniors. I had 29 was in Batum. So, um, just made it make sure made sure with Brock that it was okay with him and, um, yeah, he was fine with it and, uh, happy to have 29. Is that a conversation you’ve had with anyone before? Uh, no. No, not that way. Um, um, I had 92 in Montreal, so I kind of switched there. I didn’t have a good time in Montreal in ‘ 92, so I wanted something different. Um, but yeah, again, it was, like I said, there’s a lot of jerseys not numbered, retired in in the island, and not many to pick from. What was that conversation like with Bro? Just normal. Uh, just, you know, just want to make sure he was okay with it. um obviously wor for a lot of years in India Allen and um he was fine with it and just grabbed his number. Yeah, it’s obviously u bit different. I’ve never been trained in my career in junior or anything like that. So yeah, it’s a little weird for sure being back here, but um obviously I’m just kind of focusing on the game, trying to get the win tonight. You got a chance to see any of your friends here yesterday? Uh no, I haven’t seen anyone yet. So uh I’ll see them on the ice tonight. Now you have eight games with the Islanders, more than your seven games with the Avalanche. How have you been settling in with your new team? Yeah, I think it’s been great. Um, I’m learning a lot every single game and uh trying to grow my game and uh staff’s been great with me. Um, teaching me uh little details just trying to improve my game every single day. So, it’s been really good so far and I’m I’m loving being part of the Islanders. Is it strange to be here in the visit visitors locker room for the Avalanche? Yeah, for sure. It’s uh it’s a little strange. Um I don’t even know what it really looked like. So, uh yeah, it’s definitely bit of a change. Is there any do you have any animosity or or does this give you an extra motivation after getting traded? Um I mean I’m just trying to focus on myself and uh stay present. I mean I’m with the Islanders and not focusing on the past and uh what happened there. So I’m just uh really excited to be part of the Islanders like I said and just staying uh present. Do you feel connected to Brock Nelson just because you know you guys get traded for each other or do you do you not think of it that way? I don’t think about it uh to be honest. So obviously he’s a great player and legend here, but uh for me it’s just like I said, just staying present, focusing on myself, just trying to get better every single day and trying to help the team. What do you take game to game? Um yeah, I think um obviously uh as you kind of go along, uh you just try to pick up different stuff from different players. I play with a few different guys now and um yeah, it’s been great so far and um yeah, you kind of get that experience as you go along um what it’s like to play in the NHL and to handle the kind of like the the schedule and all that. So, I think it’s been really good so far. I know you weren’t here for very long, but how would you compare the environment with the Islanders to that Colorado? Do you like Do you like New York’s environment better? Uh I mean I try I don’t really compare them to be honest, but I’m I mean I love the environment here with the Islanders and I enjoyed my time too when I was with Colorado. So, um, for me, uh, like I said, just staying present and, uh, yeah, just just focus on where I’m at right now and just trying to get better. What’s your friendship like with him? I know you guys have had a good banter during training camp, but what do you expect to to skate with him on the same line? Yeah, I mean, obviously, he’s a really skilled, talented player, so I’m uh it’s it’s exciting to see him get back in the lineup. Obviously, he’s been hurt for a bit, so um yeah, no, I know he’s super excited to get back in the lineup and um yeah, I like to kind of joke around with him a bit, but um yeah, I know he’s a good guy. Both Brock Nelson and Jonathan Drew or describe facing their former teams as weird. Is that kind of what you expect when you kind of get a clash like that with two players? I would say yes. I would I would agree with what they’re both saying. I mean, especially I mean, for Brock, who’s been here for so long and uh was a key player on our team and and uh played so well for us. I mean, the year and a the two years I’ve been here, I mean, um it was uh was nice to coach coach him because he playing so well and I was a leader on the team. So, sometimes those things happen and and then uh same thing for Joe. I mean, he played what couple years here in Colorado and now he’s with us and I’m sure he’s excited about the game as well. different players, different positions, but the experience you had with an 18-year-old Nathan McKinnon, has that helped you at all with dealing with someone like Matthew Schaefer? Yes, I would say yes. Um, in a way that um you want to take your time and unfortunately there are two guys that you cannot take your time because they they want more and but when they’re ready, they step, you know, they they step up and that’s exactly what they’ve been doing for us. There’s a lot of comparisons between Schaefer and the guy he’s going to play tonight, Kale Mar. How do you how does he handle kind of the pressures and everything? I’m not going to compare the two of them. I mean, I will say this though. Um, Sha’s been outstanding, but he’s also surrounding by a great group of defenseman, the Pelle, the Pock, the the the Angel, the Roman of the Mayfield. So, he’s in a really good position. But despite all that, I mean, he’s he’s been playing really good hockey. And every day, I mean, you see something difference different from him. But what I really love about his game is He’s playing both side. He’s not just offensive guy. He’s playing both side. And I think that’s what Macard does for Diaz as well. So, um they’re they’re key players on both of on on their teams and and it’s nice to see them performing the way they are. How does he handle pressures that have come with being the top pick off the ice? I guess it’s a question for him, but I as a coach, I feel like he’s handled very well. I mean, the numbers are speaking for himself, but um I feel like he’s he’s such a humble person and and and um has such a great approach of the game. Um I’d be very surprised if it affects him. Joe, you knew Joe when he was younger and then he came here and people talked a lot about the changes that he made to his game here. Do you see a different person or different player now? Yes. very he’s he’s very mature right now. Um I feel like he um when he was in junior he was a phenomenal playmaker when he was playing with Nathan and in in Halifax and they were um they were always a threat and and they were the leaders of their team and obviously I mean um what I love about his game right now is he’s playing both side. Um he makes really good play for Barzi but he also defend very well as well. So the the 200 feet game that he’s playing is playing playing show me a lot of maturity in his game and I’m very impressed with him. Coach, it’s not just you know Brock and and Joe got Devon Taves uh you know Ray Bennett yourself obviously Ties is did that make it a little bit more fun to have these two teams going headtohead with so many connections? I don’t know. Oh, I don’t have time to think about this because we’re playing against heck of a team here and and we’re going to have to to be very good if we want to have a chance to win this game. So, we we’re going to talk about a lot of things, but this is a team that um probably the best team in the league on rush and we’re going to have to do a good job. Do you make sure to take a second to look at that 01 banner one more time? The 01 and 96 up there. Yeah, look at that’s what I said to the guys. I look at it. I said, “Hey, this is me.” So, I mean, I had fun with it, but I um it was a privilege for me to be here in Colorado and and for those eight years as a as a player and those three as a coach. Um I think they help me to become the person I am. But um playing with those players, the quality of the the quality of the people, the quality of the organization, the family crunk has been so supportive of of the team since they they owned the team and uh it’s nice to be part of that family.

Hear from Cal Ritchie, Jonathan Drouin, Scott Mayfield and Head Coach Patrick Roy ahead of tonight’s game vs the Colorado Avalanche.