That energy as people have seen, isn’t just reserved for practice or his media availabilities, some of if it is being spent playing ping pong as the team has recently added a table outside of the dressing room.
“I remember one day because we kind of have to walk by this empty space where the ping pong table is right now to go the wives and family lounge,” explained Barron.
“So, I remember I did my work out after the game, I got in the sauna, I showered, I ate, I changed and I went to go pick up my girlfriend from the lounge and him and Gus Nyquist were still in their gitch playing ping pong. It was an hour postgame.”
It is those moments that we have found that this group remains tight even though it has been a challenging season in terms of wins and losses, especially following up a Presidents Trophy winning campaign.
“With the group we have, it’s such a good group of guys. There are definitely moments, right? Like I think back to that 11-game skid (mid-December to early January) and you are coming to the rink every day and its more difficult,” said Barron.
“Video sessions are not as fun, things like that. There’s always going to be ebbs and flows but at the end of the day, I think we are blessed to live the life that we live and be in the position we are in. Like I said, it’s great to have the group that we have.”
Before Logan Stanley was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, he let Jets fans know about Gabriel Vilardi, his swim goggles and diving for treasure. Further investigation into this matter turned up more information as there is a group that like to hit the pool when the team is on the road.
“Gabe is always there, he’s going no matter what and I think he’s realized I’m kind of the most likely to bend if you text me once or twice or three times, I’m going to go join him in the pool,” said Barron.
“So that’s probably been a good influence for me to get loose and then I would say outside of that, Al Iafallo comes a lot, Stan would come a lot when he was here and it always kind of flows. Depends on what city we are in, what hotel.”