HENDERSON, Nev. — Was it the NHL’s annual preseason media event, or was it “Nathan MacKinnon: Unleashed”?
It was the preseason media event, actually — but still, MacKinnon stole the show. He was great. On a number of topics. We’re not going to spoil it for you.
The better part? MacKinnon wasn’t alone. He was one of 35 players to make the media rounds last week at one of the Golden Knights’ practice rinks outside Las Vegas. Every team was represented, though Sidney Crosby and Dylan Larkin had to cut their days short.
What follows are the best bits from 33 of the NHL’s biggest stars, including MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Cale Makar, with bonus points going to Jonathan Huberdeau, Cam Atkinson and Max Domi. They were standouts on their own merit. Most of all, they provided a nice reminder that the start of the season isn’t far.
Cam Atkinson, Philadelphia Flyers
For six years in Columbus, John Tortorella coached Cam Atkinson. Their relationship, Atkinson said, is “unique” — and tight. Atkinson vouched for Tortorella while the Flyers were making their coaching hire, then got a special shoutout in the handwritten letter Tortorella sent to his new team after he got the job.
Yes, every season — in handwriting that Atkinson said “could be improved” — John Tortorella pens, photocopies, stamps and sends a lil’ note to his guys.
“(The letter) is explaining what’s going to happen during training camp — and threatening everyone,” Atkinson said. “He put in the letter, ‘We’re doing a skate test. It’s gonna be hard. And if you have questions, ask Cam.’ You can imagine obviously, everyone has reached out, kind of picking my brain.
“When he did get the job, he’s all fired up. I was on the phone with him on speaker. My wife’s sitting next to me. She’s like, ‘I can’t wait to get that handwritten letter. (Tortorella) goes, ‘Oh, it’s funny, Nat, because I’m actually writing it as we speak.’”
Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
Barry Trotz might not be around anymore, but Barzal — the Islanders’ most gifted forward but one who struggled to repeat the production of his rookie season — said not to expect all gas, no brakes under Lane Lambert.
“I need to still do those things that make top players successful. I still need to backcheck hard. I still need to play hard defensively. It’s not like I’m just going to be skating around, run and gun, no stopping on pucks. That’s just not winning hockey at the end of day. It’s maybe fun hockey, but I’ve learned through Barry and through Lou that the way you win is playing the right way,” Barzal said.
“Maybe I will have a little more … I don’t know. It just comes down to doing the right things, and then maybe I get a little more leeway on the other side of the puck. But at the end of the day, I gotta do the right things defensively for me to be successful.”
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 2011. That’s a well-worn fact. Over the past decade-plus. though, there haven’t been many bigger reasons for optimism than their 16-9-3 finish last season. Things are getting better in Buffalo, and Dahlin doesn’t need to look far for proof of how the city will react when meaningful games return.
“I’ve been talking about it today,” he said. “The thing that makes me most excited about (improving) and stuff is — you see the Bills. They made the playoffs and it’s thousands of people waiting outside the airport. It’s such a passionate sports town. That’s what makes me most excited.”
Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in 2018 and a new entry on The Athletic’s list of the top 100 NHL players this year, took a major step forward last season, as did several of his teammates. “We only got better and better and better,” he said, “and we ended the year in the best way possible.”
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