Players Only: Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson joins the show
We’re gonna welcome in Brock Nelson. >> Brocktober. >> Brocktober. Uh, thanks for swinging by here. Uh, we appreciate you taking some time with us. >> What’s up, Nelly? >> Absolutely. How you guys doing? >> We are good. We are good. Uh, first thing I we kind of got to get to I think you’re on this already. We kind of ran you through the gauntlet of some of the fun stuff. Uh, so we’ll start with it this time. First question. Yeah, you know where this is going. First question uh for you is what were you thinking on this one? It’s you, uh, with the boy to my left. Did you have a scout report on Schneider? >> I think I got him fivefold there, didn’t I? >> You did. Was that >> Barlays, too? >> It was Barclays. Yeah, the ice is really good. >> Yeah. Just barely squeakaked through there, but I was pumped. >> You kept it. Had I known you like to do that? >> I wonder if I backed I wonder if I went right after uh Fron there. Fron might have went threw a backhand in there. >> You know what? I do remember this game pretty vividly because I think you guys came back from down 4-2 and tied it in the third at four and then beat us in the shootout in like the fifth round because nobody had scored yet. >> Uh so I was pretty choked about that to be honest and I didn’t know you that well as a player yet. So I didn’t know you had that in your bag and once you did it I was like never let that happen again and they did it to me in practice. >> That’s the wor that’s the worst part about being a goalie on the show. It’s got to be because we just they behind the scenes just look at every guy that we have on this >> full of old videos of Schneides. >> Yeah, just old ones of guys scoring on Schneides. Uh, how was it playing with Schneides? Uh, you guys were together there for a little bit and, uh, with the island. >> Schneider’s a Schneider’s a great guy. Uh, never complained. Just kind of went about his business. Um, did his job. Yeah. Never, uh, I have nothing bad to say about Schnee as a goalie. I know goalies can be a bit crazy sometimes, but um, I I mean, he’s a bit different, but not that far out there. >> He’s the most normal goalie, right? >> As a as a goalie, nothing bad to say, but as a person, got a lot of bad things to say. That was great. >> Uh Nelly, I did I did find out from my researchers though you only scored once on me in the regular season. So I’ll take that. I’ll take uh you can get that shootout. >> Did I get you two in the shootout or no? >> Maybe. Actually, I wasn’t very good at the shootout, so that could be true. >> I had one at the I feel like I had one at the Coliseum, too. But >> here’s one. >> Oh, of course. >> I think we had a bit of a review on that one, too. >> What a save though in the first one. >> Tell Steven J to get the guy out of the crease. Yeah. Got underneath him there. >> That kind of summed up some of my years. New Jersey, right? >> Vintage vintage black jersey, too. Those are hard to find now. >> They are. Did you like those or were those kind of like you guys didn’t love wearing them? >> They were a little different. I didn’t mind them, but they were obviously way different than the the classic blue and orange and um just the traditional Islanders jerseys. >> Yeah. I found a Barclays. It was so dark in that arena when you guys wore the dark jerseys. like my sight lines were all out of whack cuz it was like >> I remember I remember a couple guys saying that the puck puck in the glass is a bit hard to find just with the the the color of the whole arena and just the layout of it. >> Yeah, I like UBS way better. >> Yeah, it’s funny how that stuff matters though, right? With the the backdrop and and all that good stuff. I uh before we had you on here, I uh reached out to someone uh and wanted to see if we could dig up some dirt on you. And all I got in return was if if I can ask you for the world rankings in cribage. Do you know who would maybe tell me that? >> You got that from the the palm tree. Or maybe you got it from uh ZP. Zack >> ZP. Yeah, got it from ZP. He’s claiming >> good cribage crew there. Yeah, Zack Palms and I uh ever changing. Zack tries to claim the one spot. Um he was a bit of a rain delay though counting the cards. So >> we played in we played in Jersey. We had a good cribage game. I I never I never played cribage. Have you ever played? >> No. The first time I saw it was on the plane with the Islanders and I sat in front of them a couple times. They have these intense cribage games. I’m like, are we 100 years old here? Like I didn’t know we played cribage still. But these guys are like great. It was fun to watch. >> Is that a Minnesota thing? >> Uh I don’t know actually if it’s like a Minnesota thing, but uh I feel like Yeah, it’s it’s common there. Um I feel like in Canada too. >> Yeah, Canadian thing. And uh it it was awesome though. I love it’s a great like simple game. >> I love the intensity too. I would be like fixated watching it. I didn’t play it, but these guys would just be really into it. So, it was fun to watch. >> We put We put some fun prizes on the line, like we’ put some uh some golf clubs or something for the winner. Um just random stuff, golf shoes, different things. >> There was so much There was so much crap talking in that. It was because we played I I I was told you guys just You guys did three-way. We played >> three-way. >> We played pairs and I remember in Jersey it was like me and Dave Clarkson and and Zack and Travis Zjac. So those two thought they invented the game. So I always got the world rankings. So when he got back to me to tell you that to you, I think it was a shot at me too that he was number one in world rankings. >> Trying to claim number one. Yeah. Oh yeah, that’s about right. >> Well, speaking of uh shootouts, you already picked on me a little bit. But we had a story that came out last year about when you got to Colorado, uh you guys were in Montreal and you had a shootout and Jonathan Dan went up to coach Bedar and said, “Hey, I think you should put Brock in for this one. I think he’s got it.” And you went down and scored. Can you tell us a little bit more about that? Like what what went on there? Must have just been a good feeling by Drew. Yeah, because I feel like I mean I hadn’t really said much about the shootout and then uh I heard that after the fact. But um I feel like as a lefty I just wanted to kind of come in there on on mow and kind of pull across and get that little glove spot and um good pre-cout by Drew to kind of have that uh awareness pre pregame pre-shootout. >> Let me ask you something here Nelly because you were really good at this shot that curl and drag under the glove and I keep saying now like the new high glove is under the glove. guys don’t go shelf as much anymore. They get the goalie to freeze and they snap that puck over the pad under the glove. Is that something you guys have been taught? Is that something you work on now because you know it’s a pretty effective shot or how’d that evolution happen as a shooter? >> I feel like it’s talking to goalies, goalie coaches different things. I mean hearing it from you. Um I would always ask like Vley Sroi a little bit in practice. Uh Pier Greco goalie coach just different people in the summer too. And like I feel like they the way they kind of explain it as goalies from their perspective is like they’re they’re worried about the glove high and then it’s just a little bit harder to kind of rotate the hand down and get it down there. So I feel like it’s all situational too and just timing and different things and and what have you. But um if you have a little bit of space and kind of get that uh that that motion that movement on the shot to to kind of pull it in, I think it gives you an advantage low glove. Well, Brock, uh, last year we saw that big trade at the deadline, seeing you go to the ABS, and then I think most of the media hockey world was like once this thing got into the summertime, it just felt like you were going to be a Minnesota Wild. Like that just everybody just said that and kind of ran with it. So, what was it in in your mind that was like, “No, Colorado was the the place for me.” >> Yeah, I mean, I love my time here. I thought I really thought I mean, last year that uh we were going to be the team to do it. um down the stretch after the deadline. I thought, you know, that was as good of a team as I’ve ever seen and been a part of. And um really wasn’t familiar with anything in Colorado, but um the area, the lifestyle, the weather is incredible. Uh my wife loved it, the kids loved it when they came out here. And then I mean just to have the opportunity to play with these guys, uh you know, Nate, Kale, um Marty Nous. um to see what the what the staff, the brass had done here in terms of trying to win and I feel like you couldn’t have got a better spot to to play and try to win in the short term. So, um the opportunity came up to kind of come back here for a few years and it was felt like a no-brainer. >> Well, it’s a great fit because obviously they were looking for that number two center slot in. If I was McFarland or Sackic, my sales pitch would have started with what you just said. Nate Kale, what are you going to do? Um, speaking of Nate, I I always tell people that you’re one of those guys who’s obnoxiously good at everything. Pingpong, cribage, soccer, golf, you know, it’s like pickle ball. It’s like everything you play, you’re just good. But you’re also a pretty big competitor. Like you don’t like losing, you take it seriously. Uh Nate’s a notorious competitor as well. Have you had any runins with him or any uh pretty serious competitions going on with Colorado now that you’re there? No, no, like internal competitions, but I feel like that’s I mean that kind of just goes back to conver conversation too about just wanting to win and seeing those guys and how hard obviously Nate I mean Nate is arguably the best player in the world and to see how hard he’s still working to kind of push himself to be better. Um Kale same thing. Um I feel like that’s just a contagious kind of environment and and personality kind of be around and um just makes guys and pulls guys along to try and try and find ways to be better themselves. So, um, yeah, but no, and yeah, you’ve definitely saw the the competitive side of me in a lot of different areas outside of hockey, but, uh, I just love, you know, any kind of competition. >> I was watching the, uh, the game, your your big return to UBS, uh, just a little bit ago, and, uh, you obviously were honored in that game. U,, I was, I pretty sure you I saw your your wife and kids kind of go on and get interviewed on set there with Shannon Hogan and and the rest of the crew. Um man, it was uh it was pretty emotional just from this side and I remember your last I guess game back when you got interviewed too. I mean this is this is >> that’s an old there. >> Yeah, it was a good that’s a good head of hair. >> I mean what what did it mean the other night kind of getting honored there? >> Yeah, it was crazy. I mean that was a couple people have asked me and I mean it was it was super cool and and awesome to kind of see the the video and the the ovation from the crowd. I mean it was a special place. I enjoyed my time there and uh my wife and I briefly chatted too. like it still feels a little bit like home there. We spent 12 years of our life there, raised kids, you know, we had a couple kids born there and um but at the same time, it was very weird being a visitor in a spot where you’re so familiar. So, it was a bit uncomfortable as well, but um I mean, so many great memories there and just it was fun to kind of see people behind the scenes and friends outside of the game, the workers and um yeah, it was pretty emotional, but um it was fun. Yeah, I mean everyone thinks of the Dynasty 80s, those guys, but there’s a core group of you guys, Anders, Josh Bailey, Clutter, you that have really worked your way up those rankings and mean a lot to that franchise. So, I’m sure that was a really weird experience going back in there as a visitor. Um, >> very weird having never gotten through it. I mean, and I talked to a couple guys like I talked to Bernie here and he said like that he had the same exact feeling. It’s just a weird hard to explain and a little bit a little uncomfortable just kind of being in the the opposite setting of what you’re used to there. >> And you’re not a big attention guy, too. This would be the center of attention there. I’m sure you didn’t love it, but you appreciate the fans giving it to you. >> Um, >> that was a nice nice touch. I appreciate that. >> No, it was good to see too. Uh, cuz I really do love you there. But speaking of center of attention, you obviously played for the Four Nations for USA. Um, it goes without saying that you’d love to be a part of the Olympic team. Does that ever cross your mind? Are you just playing your game, but I mean that would be pretty cool with your history with your uh uncle and your family as a part of the Olympic teams in the past to kind of carry on that tradition. Yeah, I mean that was incredible opportunity to represent the country and um I’m fortunate to be a part of a couple world championships but obviously Foreign Nations is a completely different animal and um yeah just an unbelievable time and best players in the world and that was some unbelievable hockey and yeah Olympics would be the same obviously um to be in consideration is awesome um and it would mean the world for sure to to me my family and um whatever happens happens but uh just trying to play my game here in Colorado. Hey, I was just I was just thinking about it being War Road in Minnesota. Just what what is what was childhood like? Was it pond hockey? Did you guys build a backyard rink? What was that kind of >> uh We didn’t have a backyard rink, but my grandparents lived on the the river uh in town and I remember a couple times like they would they would shovel off a little area and we’d skate up there. Um they’d have a boat house out there. we kind of go in there and warm up and then outdoor rink right next to the two indoor rinks up town that was kind of always open and even the indoor rinks at the gardens or the Olympic like there’s always open ice open hockey there’s I mean everybody all the youth teams had their practices but then there was still going to be open times might be 8:30 at night or might be holidays there was somebody that was going to have a key and you could kind of skate I remember being there on Christmas Eve or Christmas day sometimes and somebody kind of checking just saying you know like have fun just make sure you turn the lights off and um you know don’t trash a place and everything will be good. And you could always find a crew of I don’t know five to 10 guys. You’d fire out a couple texts and um just go up there and play freefor-all and some of the best memories just kind of going up there and doing whatever and messing around at the rink for for hours on end. >> I end up going to North Dakota so you just rattle off you, Zach, Travis. I guess there’s some decent guys that go to NOAK after all. But >> couldn’t get him out east. Not my fault. >> Not your fault. >> No, not everyone can be an eagle. I get it. Uh hey uh you got uh so a little bit of an Iron Man kind of going here. Um is is that something that you I’m sure you’ve been dinged up and playing through things. >> Not like not like Bernie though. >> No, that’s still going. He’s still going in his >> Bernie. Yeah. Oh, what’s Bernie’s count now? >> Got to be pushing. He’s got to be pushing high 900s now. >> Yeah, he’s I know he’s he’s under a thousand, but he’s in that in that range, right? Good for him. >> Bit of a machine. >> Yeah. What’s it like? Uh how was it? Did you know him prior? >> Just playing against him. We actually have I mean we actually share a financial adviser and uh agents. My my first agent is his agent and uh remember talking to him just once or twice on the phone and then obviously you kind of he’s like a mythical creature. I feel like you always hear stories of just like personality and like how he is and you’re always like man like I wonder if he’s like really like that. And then seeing him day in day out here, I mean, he is just always having a good time, making people laugh, throwing jokes around. Everyone sees his bags. He’s got the 60 lb bags he’s carrying around every day like no problem. And feels like he’s got everything in his house coming with him no matter where he goes. So, >> he’s got his whole terrarium and animals and stuff, right? >> One of a kind. He’s Yeah, he’s got he’s one of a kind, but he’s got a system. He’s got all these gadgets and things he pulls out that uh keep him going. Obviously, he’s doing something right. So, um, great guy to have. >> Uh, Nelly, real quick before we let you go, I want to ask you one little thing. Like, I started my career in the west of Vancouver and came east. I found there’s a difference. It takes a minute to adjust playing in the east and playing in the west. The east is shorter trips. You’re in, you’re out. The west, you go on two week road trips. Uh, the travels further in your division. It was a bit of an adjustment, at least I thought. I don’t know if you found that at all playing in the west for the first time. >> I feel like it’s a little bit different. I feel like it’s a little bit different even too in just like the the mountain time zone. Even some of the some of the oneame trips like you’re you’re going back an hour which doesn’t seem like it’s too much but I mean it’s like this Seattle trip the other day is a 2 hour 45 minute flight lose an hour it just kind of throws you off a little bit where in the east you don’t really have too many flights like that like if you’re if you’re going somewhere you’re going two and a half to Florida but you’re not losing any time or or things like that. So, it’s a little bit different, a little bit of an adjustment, but I mean, the way they have it set up, like you can’t have too many complaints and um it’s just fun to be with the guys, I guess, and we got a great group. >> That’s stuff you think about when you get older. Time changes and flight lengths starts to hurt. >> I know. >> Yeah. >> Body aches a little bit more. >> It offsets it when you’re playing for the globe trotters. That’s true. >> It It definitely helps. Uh hey, we appreciate you taking some time and swinging by with us. Uh keep doing your thing. >> Appreciate it, Ellie. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. See you guys.
Brock Nelson talks about returning to Long Island for the first time, playing in the Four Nations tournament and competing in cribbage.
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