I learned what it?s like to skate harder and battle in the playoffs. My confidence level has gone up quite a bit since winning the Calder Cup. That?s a moment I?ll never forget and will look back on for experience as I move along in my career.
Winning the Calder Cup is something I wouldn`t trade for the world. It was a great experience. I can`t explain what it means to me, but when we get those rings it will be one of the most memorable nights of my life. I`ll go wherever I have to go to get that.
I just try to go out and play hard. I`m not looking to necessarily go out and score two goals, but when you do the little things right, things go your way.
I didn`t feel the cut. I got kicked in the side of the head and that`s what hurt the most. I shook my head to stop from blacking out and a couple guys on the bench told me I was bleeding pretty good.
Oh, only a few days.
Whenever someone goes down, somebody needs to step up. I`m aware things will change a hundred times between now and the regular season. I`m going to continue to work hard and wherever they decide to play me is fine by me.
He just carries himself like a professional. He`s never late, he`s always on time. He knows what`s going on, he follows the rules and he`s a good team player. He`s friends with everyone in the locker room and he`s someone I look up to.
But he was on top of his game tonight and he will only get better.
That season with the Phantoms was the best thing for my career,
I`m not worried. I`m confident I can play here. It`s still the preseason; it`s just a matter of sorting things out and seeing where I fit in. I feel like I`ve been improving every day. I could have done more in the games but it`s a process.