The Hockey News’ Derek Lee previews Game 2 of the Ducks-Golden Knights series.
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Video Transcript
Senna is a Calder finalist.
Yeah.
Just, I mean, for people who wouldn’t watch him out east, right?
Like, can you describe the year he had and the impact he had on this team?
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Well, he had a, you know, tremendous year.
I think that, you know, he’s kind of a, got a unique skill set that are, you know, he’s long, he’s wiry.
He does, he makes a lot of plays that you don’t see very often.
sometimes they, they turn spectacular, sometimes they look like, okay, not every day you want to try that in this league.
so I think there’s some gr- growing pains with him along the way.
But I think that, you know, I just think that his upside of, a talent that he has is, is tremendous.
that unpredictability in his game, gives some defense and some opponents something to think about.
Mm-hmm.
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And, so he’s, you know, that was a, you know, he had a tremendous year, so he’s a, you know, and everybody that plays with him, you know, they get, all of a sudden things, things outta nowhere happen.
you know, and at the same time, we try to let him do his thing.
At the same time, we try to bring balance into his game where he’s more of a, you know, you gotta play and do the right things here as you go along here.
You talked about you don’t know the speed of the playoffs until you experience it.
Are you seeing, like you said, growing pains a little bit, right?
Like in the playoffs?
Yeah, I think that, you know, he’s a young guy and I think strength in the puck area, areas is, you know, something that they, it’s a growing, strength that you get.
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And, you know, I still think that, his positioning awareness is, is improved over the course of the year and it looks like he’s okay now.
but you know, I think that as a young guy, you learn as you go and, and getting these big moments here and, and new experiences and, you know, game eight tonight for him, I mean, that’s a, he’s, he’s, he’s fine.
You talk about things like situational awareness or puck management, things that he’s had to work on all season.
How do, how has he matured in those areas this se- this year?
Well, I think he’s had some tremendous, games this year.
He had some tremendous, moments where I’m sitting there, you can’t do that in this league.
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You can’t try that at that time of the game.
You can’t do that against that type of defenseman.
or, you know, or make that play where you’re trapping everybody.
So I’d say, you know, I think that was progressively, but I still think you gotta find the balance with, with a guy like him ’cause he’s, he’s skilled and, you know, the upside’s tremendous and he does make some plays that, wow, that’s a, he wows you and, that’s, that’s a great a- asset to have.
He said that, you guys had a lot of conversations over the year, whatsoever.
When you guys did have those conversations, did you find him to be real res- receptive to what you wanted to say?
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Like you said, I mean, that balance you’ve been talking about.
Yeah, I think that sure, he was receptive.
I mean, you know, whether we’re showing clips to the guys, you know, whether it’s individually or with the team, you know, sometimes he’s in it and, you know, I think he understands and he’s, he absorbs it and he, he doesn’t have any respon- you know, doesn’t feel bad, you know?
Mm-hmm.
He just knows it’s part of the, the learning curve and, and we try to do things in a positive way with him and all our guys.
And, but he’s, you know, he probably gets talked to more than most guys.
Or any, or everybody.
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Well, that’s what I’m thinking.
But I hear a lot about his- I’m just saying I hear a lot about his swagger, right?
Like, he’s got talent, he’s got swagger, and these are things that you, it’s easier to rein in, you know?
Like, you like, those are good problems to have, right?
Like, you can rein him in, teach him, right?
Very likable kid.
He’s, you know, he’s got, you know, you, you enjoy trying to help him and, uh- Mm-hmm you know, and then I think he understands when your, your tone gets a little bit more direct.
but he’s, he’s, he’s a sharp kid.
I mean, he understands, you know, how he’s gotta get better and, you know, he’s willing to do whatever it takes.
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Going into tonight when you’re looking to disrupt the flow of their, their goaltender, how did you feel you sort of did that in game one, and what do you need to do more of in that, in that area in game two?
You know, we gotta get, maybe get more pucks to the net.
We gotta definitely have more bodies at the net.
I know we say that all the time, but that was definitely, We did get some shots at the net, but I think he saw a lot of them and, you know, I think we gotta make him do some different things.
But, he was, he had a good game and, you know, we gotta make sure it’s not as easy for him to find the puck.
Troy’s playing tonight?
Yeah.
Radko out?
Yeah.