[In exchange for the cap, the players get more control over their rights and a pension three times larger than the one under the previous deal and easier to attain.] Before, our rights were we came into the league at 18 and didn't have a choice where we were going to play until we were 31, ... That's a lot of years. Now you can come in at 18 and be 25 or 27. It gives players a chance to choose a city they've always wanted to play for. |
A couple years ago we were very excited just to clinch a playoff spot because we hadn't been there. But back then we also didn't go in thinking we just wanted to have fun; we wanted to win a series. This year we start just wanting to win one series. |
After the first period, it was anybody's game. In the last game [Thursday], they out-competed us and deserved to win. In this game, our power play out-competed their penalty kill. |
All night he just looked so solid in there making tough saves look so easy. There were a few right on the crease where from the bench they looked like they were going in, but then he sticks out his leg and makes the save and those are huge boosts. |
And that's what we need. |
As a group, we do spend a lot of time on buses, at lunches, and politics does come up. I don't know if we know what we're talking about. |
As a series goes on, each game gets bigger. We have a chance now to put a dent in them, but we know that, coming off a loss, they're going to be more desperate. |
Being the only black player on my team growing up, I dreamt just like everybody else to be in the NHL, ... When I would say it, some other kids -- not trying to be mean -- (said) 'There are not that many black players in the NHL. What are the chances?' |
But we can improve. It was not a good road trip, but it's good to come home and start over with the home opener. |
But we know it's going to be tough, nobody in our room is getting ahead of it. |
Defensively, we've been doing really well, and offensively, we'd like to score more goals. I don't think that's a secret. Personally, I think the first half could have been better and I'm looking forward to the second half and contributing more on the offensive side of it. |
Denis made a good save on that one in overtime. Obviously I probably should have chipped it up. It would have been nice to see that one go in. |
Everybody thinks about it a bit. You try not to. This year it seems a little bit quieter around our place, which is good with us. |
Goalies are good, Kipper was good on that play, |
He ended up with a few big points. He really got us going, got the confidence up and then everybody fed off it. |