When was the last time you played on your offside and what are some of the challenges to playing on the left side if that's where you end up?

So, I say this, like, I don't know if I've ever really truly been written as left wing on, like, going into a lineup.

I've played, like, 7D, 11 forwards where you have to come in.

When you're out there, it ends up being just whatever side you're on.

Maybe lining up for the draw is a little different.

Half the time you switch it up anyways if there's a pre-scout one way or another.

I don't think it's going to be too big of an adjustment.

Now you're in Washington, D.C. Have you and the family kind of settled in? Have you found any favorite spots yet? What are you looking forward to learning a little more about the city?

When was the last time you played on your offside and what are some of the challenges to playing on the left side if that's where you end up?

So, I say this, like, I don't know if I've ever really truly been written as left wing on, like, going into a lineup.

I've played, like, 7D, 11 forwards where you have to come in.

When you're out there, it ends up being just whatever side you're on.

Maybe lining up for the draw is a little different.

Half the time you switch it up anyways if there's a pre-scout one way or another.

I don't think it's going to be too big of an adjustment.

Now you're in Washington, D.C. Have you and the family kind of settled in? Have you found any favorite spots yet? What are you looking forward to learning a little more about the city?

When all that talk about Jack Eichel moving on and Vegas, did you know your name was being tossed around in trade talks? And what was your initial thought and feeling at the time about becoming a Buffalo Sabre, which was your childhood team growing up?

So let's say a week before the trade happened, it was rumored that- Um, that like it had almost happened or something, and I was injured at the time.

I was on LTIR.

I had no idea that players on LTIR could even be traded, so I was like, "Oh, I can't be traded." Like, I...

And then I came to find out that you can be traded, and I'm like, "Okay, that's really weird." Nothing happened of it.

My agent's like, "No, I haven't heard anything," like nothing's happening.

Um, and then a week later, it happened.

So what happened at that, at that dinner? Who was there, and like w- how can something like that just translate into the success that you guys had?

Yeah.

And I think as players we were like starting to like figure it out.

Okay, like this is what we need to do.

And then I think the GM change kinda heightened that.

Like not only this is what we need to do, but like this is what we need to do or else things are gonna change.

So that was kind of like a little bit of a kickstart to something that we had already started, like, I think internally.

And, um, we have a lot of honest conversations, a lot of look yourself in the mirror conversations.

Yeah

I'm wondering what was your perception of this Capitals team the last couple of seasons when you played them and coached Carberry and the system that you're going to now be part of?

Yeah, no, so a couple years ago, obviously, I think they won the Metro, and coming in and playing against the Capitals, they were miserable to play against.

I thought they were heavy, they were hard to play against.

They moved the puck really well out of their D zone, too, which was something I was looking around, and I was like, holy crap, these guys look like the Harlem Globetrotters breaking the puck out.

Yeah.

They're all connected and five-man units come out of the zone.

And even this year, I thought it was very similar.

They're loading up to try to get back into the playoffs where this team's used to being.

I'm wondering what was your perception of this Capitals team the last couple of seasons when you played them and Coach Carberry and the system that you're going to now be part of?

Yeah, no, so a couple years ago, obviously, I think they won the Metro, and coming in and playing against the Capitals, they were miserable to play against.

I thought they were heavy, they were hard to play against.

They moved the puck really well out of their D zone, too, which was something I was looking around, and I was like, holy crap, these guys look like the Harlem Globetrotters breaking the puck out.

Yeah.

They're all connected and five-man units come out of the zone.

And even this year, I thought it was very similar.

They're loading up to try to get back into the playoffs where this team's used to being.

Right.

So 'cause you're kinda trying to figure this out.

It's like, okay, today it doesn't look like it's gonna happen, so talk about this.

The next day, oh, they're actually, like, talks are picking up again.

So it's a d- it's a day-to-day basis.

Uh, it, it was, it was like that all year long and everything, and so I didn't really know.

And then, um, when, I mean, wh- when, when we, when we came down to it, yeah, the Caps were on our, on our list of like, okay, this is the handful of teams that we could see this happening in, and the Caps were in there.

As a, as a player though, and you just said, like, that had gone on all year, does it really take a toll?

But to start us off, take us through what you feel makes Washington such a good fit

fitUm, yeah, just I think that they, their style of play, um, I think that the, the team, my team, my, my now teammates that, uh, I'm gonna be playing with, uh, and I are gonna have really good chemistry between either whoever I play with, Dubois or Strome.

They bring in Cairo, is, uh, really exciting.

I think our, our D core is incredible.

Um, and I think all the, all the youth that we have as well is gonna, is gonna help us, is gonna keep me more youthful and, uh, and a couple really good goal- uh, goalies as well.

So I think it's just a very well-rounded team.

I think, um, I think that the work ethic is, is pretty evident each and every night that they play, and, um, I, I know that they're, they're really hungry.

How much has that helped you when you're hearing from them, and it just makes you sort of that much more excited to not just get on the ice with them, but what you can build in this locker room as well?

But to start us off, take us through what you feel makes Washington such a good fit

fitUm, yeah, just I think that they, their style of play, um, I think that the, the team, my team, my, my now teammates that, uh, I'm gonna be playing with, uh, and I are gonna have really good chemistry between either whoever I play with, Dubois or Strome.

They bring in Cairo, is, uh, really exciting.

I think our, our D core is incredible.

Um, and I think all the, all the youth that we have as well is gonna, is gonna help us, is gonna keep me more youthful.

And, uh, and a couple of really good goal- uh, goalies as well.

So I think it's just a very well-rounded team.

How much has that helped you when you're hearing from them, and it just makes you sort of that much more excited to not just get on the ice with them, but what you can build in this locker room as well?

So when you come to this team, how do you plan to use that presence along with guys like Tom Wilson, Matt Roy, whoever else, to sort of help push those younger ones and, and build them up while you're trying to attain your own success?

Yeah.

I think I've been, I've been lucky enough to play on a lot of different, um, I guess teams.

I have only a couple teams, but, like, um, in Vegas we had a lot of those older guys where, uh, I was able to learn from Marc-Andre Fleury, James Neal, Deryk Engelland, the list goes on and on, Reilly Smith, and guys like that.

And so, um, as a younger guy, as an older guy now, I can see how important it is to have a good veteran, veteran presence in the room, but also guys that are approachable and guys that ta- uh, take you under their wing and kind of teach you the way.

And I know that, um, Washington's done a really good job with, like, I know Willy's done a good job and Ovi, I've heard nothing but great things about his leadership and, um, and, uh, and how he carries himself and treats his teammates.

And, uh, I know probably some of those younger guys are probably intimidated by such a legend and by guys that are veterans.

But what is something else maybe that you want this new fan base, as they get to know you, what do you want them to know about you, whether it's something with your style of play, your game, or, or again, anything personally?