NHL Peachy: 2015 Stanley Cup Final Off-Day Transcript (Chicago - Toews, Richards, Versteeg, Seabrook, Oduya, Coach Quenneville) Our Coverage Sponsored by Maine Woolens
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An interview with:
JONATHAN TOEWS
BRAD RICHARDS
KRIS VERSTEEG
BRENT SEABROOK
JOHNNY ODUYA
COACH JOEL QUENNEVILLE
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Jonathan, Brad and Kris.
Q. Jonathan, Niklas was talking last night about the opportunity here. He says it's hard not to daydream and think big about that, at the same time temper that emotion. How do you find that balance with what's at stake tomorrow?
JONATHAN TOEWS: I don't know. I mean, I think for at least the guys in this group that have won it before, whenever we answered questions going into a Game 6 with a chance to win the Stanley Cup, everyone asked, Would you rather win on the road or at home? For us, there was no difference. I think we have a chance to do that tomorrow night. We want to take advantage of it.
Obviously there's a lot of buzz, a lot of excitement, a lot of things going on around the entire event. I think we're just going to do our best as individuals to focus on our job as players and focus on the game and nothing more.
None of that stuff is really going to help us achieve what we want to achieve. That's where our heads are at right now.
Q. From the middle of April when the playoffs began till now, does it feel like time has flown for you guys or it's been a long, hard grind?
BRAD RICHARDS: I think it goes by real quick as you're doing it. If you actually think back, think like, Wow, we played Nashville at one point, that was a long time ago, if you really kind of go back to that.
As you're going through it, it's the time of your life. There's no better journey. You always have to play those 82 games, that's part of being professional, part of what we do.
The journey, once the playoffs start, there's nothing like the ebbs and flows, the togetherness, all the adversity you have to go through together.
It goes by very quick. When it's over middle of the summer, you want that feeling, that memory back again.
Q. Jonathan, you've been through this a couple times now. How do your family and friends approach dealing with you, contacting you? Do you have your phone on?
JONATHAN TOEWS: Yeah, I mean, I try my best to respond to the text messages. I think there's some from previous games I still haven't gotten around to. Still working on that.
As far as family, I think everyone for the most part has their closest family members in town to watch these games. I know for mine, I don't think their experience helps them at all. They're probably more nervous than they were the first time around.
It's definitely not easy to sit and watch. In a lot of ways it's easier mentally on the nerves to play. We make that joke a lot.
Q. Jonathan, the two previous situations you've been in in this spot where you can close out the Stanley Cup, what is it about this team that's so good at that?
JONATHAN TOEWS: I think we always like to think we get better and better as the series goes along. We get into these later games where we have the chance to play these games that are more meaningful, I think that's when we play our best.
I think it works out that way, not necessarily having the killer instinct, flipping a switch, playing our best hockey.
We played a really good team game yesterday. We're looking to build off that. We know we have to be better in the next one 'cause it's going to be equally their best game of the series, as well.
Q. Brad, since you've been around these guys in this playoff run, the guys who have been here for a while, what is your take away, thoughts, impressions, of how they handle these situations where people are talking about closing a series out?
BRAD RICHARDS: Well, I mean, they've done it. I think the more you do it, the more you get addicted to it. You're comfortable in those situations. When I got to win it in Tampa the first time, we were a bunch of young kids not really having a clue what we were doing.
This group feels a lot more like they've been through it. There doesn't have to be a lot of speeches, reminders. The core group has kind of all done it together, they've grown up together.
You know, you don't have to worry about as much as a locker room because you just know everybody's kind of got their head in the right place. They're just, like I said, used to doing it. Once you have success doing it, it's never going to get easier, but it gets easier to prepare and focus on the right things as you go into these games.
Q. Jonathan, Joel Quenneville for almost your whole career has been your coach in the NHL. How has he helped you develop as a player over these years? Do you think he's the best coach in the NHL?
JONATHAN TOEWS: I mean, Joel has done an incredible job of I think just gauging where we're at throughout some of these series, knowing what our team needs to do, what look we need to change as far as matchups or lineup combinations, things like that. I think he identifies things that will make us stronger going into the later games in the series.
I think as individuals, he also finds ways to enable you to bring out your best as well. Yeah, I mean, it's just been a great combination, the players that we have, the leadership group we have in the room, combining that with the type of coaching staff we've had over the years.
Q. When you compare your experiences in previous Cup Finals to this year, has this been more mentally taxing because the games have been all one-goal games, decided in the third period?
KRIS VERSTEEG: Well, it's been a tough playoff run, for sure. We ran into some really good teams. Especially getting into the Finals, Tampa Bay is a team that they can make a lot of plays and they got a lot of players that can make plays in hard situations.
You know, every game we expected to be close. We expected it to be a grind. We don't expect any less going into Game 6.
Q. Jonathan, we heard last week that Cedric Paquette was going to do a little smack talking in French. Did you hear any of that last night?
JONATHAN TOEWS: No. I mean, I don't think that's his game. I'm sure he wasn't 100% serious when he said that.
He is a very good two-way player. He's proven himself on a big stage right now. I think he's definitely more focused on just trying to make things difficult on our line when we're matched up against him. He's done a pretty good job so far.
Q. You lost Michal to injury with his ankle, but got Patrick back a month earlier than you thought. How fortunate do you feel overall that you have stayed pretty healthy through this run?
JONATHAN TOEWS: Well, of course, we always say you can do everything right, but you still need things to fall into place for you to a certain degree as far as guys staying healthy. We've had that so far.
I think a lot of it has to do with everyone talking about our D men taking the minutes that they have and us relying on certain guys more than others.
At the end of the day throughout our lineup we have guys, like Richie was saying a minute ago, that know how to prepare, know the right things to do to make things easier on themselves day in and day out, especially when you get into the midst of a series, playing every other day, a lot of travel.
You're doing everything you can to keep your body going. That definitely adds up. When you don't treat your body the right way, you don't recover the right way, eventually those injuries, bumps and bruises become pretty serious.
So, knock on wood, in our situation we've been fortunate that way. But to a certain degree, the guys in our room do what they have to do to make sure they're getting everything they can out of themselves.
Q. Kris, you spoke the other day about finding your game a little bit. Where do you feel you're at right now heading into Game 6?
KRIS VERSTEEG: Yesterday was a nice game to be a part of, especially with my linemates. I think we worked pretty well together. It was our first game really together as a line. Built a little chemistry.
We talked about it every shift, what we wanted to do. Again, talked today. Be ready for tomorrow's game and bring everything we have.
I'm just excited about the opportunity.
Q. Jonathan, when the League put in the salary cap, it was to create parity, not to have teams be on the verge of winning the third Stanley Cup in six years. How have you been able to do that in an environment that pretty much is conducive not to have that happen?
JONATHAN TOEWS: I mean, when you look at the way things have gone in the last six years, we won our first one in 2010. We had a good number of guys, key players, guys like I'm sitting next to, it just so happened that moves had to be made and things changed pretty drastically that summer. I'm sure a lot of people asked themselves the question if they'd ever see us returning to that point so quickly.
I don't know. I guess at the end of the day it is very comparative. I don't think there's a series we played in this year that the other team didn't think it was their year to win the Stanley Cup as well.
One through eight, everyone feels like they got a chance. There's good reason for that, too. There is a lot of talent out there. Every team is pretty level. We see that with the competition, the kind of battle for playoff spots going down the stretch in the regular season.
So I think in regards to that, it is pretty amazing to have had the chance like this group has had to keep coming back, finding ways to compete our way back into these situations.
Q. Kris, back to the coaching a little bit, Quenneville. You've been out of the lineup. Vermette was out. Teravainen was out. Sometimes the coach takes you out of the lineup and you never get back in. You guys get back in. Obviously you want to play every game. Do you have the faith you can get back in, prove yourself to this guy?
KRIS VERSTEEG: Well, I think it's always about staying ready. I guess that starts in practice. Whether it be myself or Bicks or Vermy or whoever is not in the lineup on any given night, we all feel we're good players, we all feel we're players that can contribute.
I don't think that confidence is lost in us. We all understand what we've done in this league before, what we can do. Also talking with each other, instilling some confidence in ourselves is a good help, too.
But, you know, just going out there when you're given the opportunity and taking advantage of it.
Q. Brad, 11 years ago when you were in Tampa, you lost Game 5 at home, won Game 6, then won Game 7. Do you understand what the mentality on the other side is like?
BRAD RICHARDS: It's like any mentality. It's like us having to come back against Anaheim. You know, we know once the puck drops, they're back in the battle, it's on again. The hardest part of that is waiting. That team just can't wait to get on the ice. Once you get in the battle again, anything can happen.
As the game goes, they're going to try to hang around, be in the game, have a lead. As the game goes, that's how they'll start building.
We can't lose focus on how patient we have to be, how smart we have to be with the puck. It's still a great hockey team. Doesn't matter what we can do. It's once the game goes, I'm sure it's going to be another tight game. As that goes, they're going to get more and more belief. Our job is to try to take that belief away.
Q. Brad, Marian Hossa continues to impress fans and us. What is your take away on going on the good side of him as a teammate?
BRAD RICHARDS: I obviously played against him, saw how talented he was offensively, especially down in the Southeast (Division) when he played in Atlanta, a lot of high-scoring, run-and-gun games back in those days.
I didn't realize until I got here, I didn't realize how good he is all around, on the puck, defensively, what a force he is in every zone. As you're here, you see him every day, you really get to appreciate how he plays the game.
I can honestly say, not just him, but a lot of these guys, but especially him, I just turned 35, but you learn a lot watching him play every night, how he protects pucks, how he back?checks, how he does all those things that help a team. That's why he's been to five or six Finals in his career, whatever it is. It's crazy.
Great guy to have in the locker room to lead the way for these young guys, and even guys my age that love the game. You just see him happy every day, playing that hard, it's pretty impressive.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks, guys.
BRENT SEABROOK
JOHNNY ODUYA
Q. Brent, Niklas Hjalmarsson talked about the opportunity you have here tomorrow night. He said it's hard not to daydream, be human, but at the same time temper that emotion. How do you do that? Does the experience of this team, you're able to do that naturally?
BRENT SEABROOK: I think he's right. It's obviously tough not to think about some of those things, but you want to try to put that out of your head as much as you can.
We're playing a good team tomorrow. We got to be prepared and ready to play our game, be ready to go right from the start.
Q. Brent, what do you think about the journey you've been on as the playoffs began? Has time flown or has it felt like a long, hard grind?
BRENT SEABROOK: A little bit of both. I think the series have flown by quick, then you get a break. We had 10 days after Minnesota. Felt like a lifetime. It was a long break. Even in the Final, having two days off between games, especially in Tampa Bay, felt like we were there for a month.
It's sort of both ways.
Q. Brent, when Kimmo came in, he was replacing a younger guy. What is the difference having him on the bench and in game, if he's helping maybe more than some of the younger guys?
BRENT SEABROOK: Kimmo has been huge for our team coming in. He's a great guy. Heard a lot of good things before he came about him. When he came to our group, it was awesome to have him.
He's funny. He keeps things light. He's obviously got a lot of experience. Anytime you can add a guy like that to your team, it's huge. He's been great for us.
Q. Johnny, Jonathan Toews was up here saying that you guys feel as the series goes on you get better. The record proves that. Why do you think that is? What things do you do as the series goes on that allows you to improve?
JOHNNY ODUYA: Yeah, I think we've seen it in pretty much every round here in playoffs. I don't know what it is. I think we have some guys that like certain situations. They like being in the spot when the pressure is on. They're not afraid to make those mistakes. They take a lot of responsibility. I think that shows maybe later on in the series.
The first couple games in any series, I think there's a lot of excitement, a lot of - how do you say - error for mistakes, there's more go, go, go mentality, whereas later on you tend to be a little bit more self cautious.
I think the experience, what type of player and personality you have plays into that. I think in playoffs you're not just playing the opposition, you play against yourself, too, as a team. You got to be able to go through these patches where things are not going your way, it's up and down, and still be able as a group to come out and get some results.
I think that's obviously a strength of our team.
Q. Johnny, I know you've been asked about 350 times about you guys playing so much. What is it about the group of four of you that you seem to get better as the playoffs has gone on? You've managed to stay strong and play well.
JOHNNY ODUYA: Well, I answered that question before. I think the experience helps a lot. I think Dunks, with the most minutes, is used to more minutes. The other ones, too, are used to a lot of minutes, have been in situations where they needed to play more. They've been in situations, you know, in playoffs, a lot of games.
I think that helps. Sometimes, too, you kind of take it as a challenge. I think Hammer said that, too, where there's been a lot of talk about it. Now it's almost you want to prove that it's not an issue.
Sometimes you feel, even if you're a little sluggish at the beginning of games, you can feel better when you get more time to get out there. Even if you make a mistake, you know there's going to be time for you to make it up.
I think sometimes maybe it's tougher to play the lower minutes where you're sitting around and waiting, not really getting into the flow of the game.
I don't know. There's probably a bunch of reasons for why. But I think, like I said, the experience there has a lot to do with that.
Q. Brent, you guys have obviously done this twice before. When there is the Cup in the building, you know what's at stake later on that evening. Is there a different feeling in the room that day, or is it truly just another game?
BRENT SEABROOK: It's not just another game, but that's the way we got to try to approach it. It's a huge game.
Tomorrow there's going to be a lot of things going on throughout the day, morning, afternoon and night. Lots of things going on throughout the game, too, different battles and things like that. We've got to be prepared for the game, the task at hand.
We got to come out tomorrow morning and be prepared for the day, be excited to play. It's just another game, a hockey game. We got to go out there and remember that, try to be at our best.
Q. Brent, has playing for Joel as long as you have helped you develop as a defenseman? If so, how, in what ways?
BRENT SEABROOK: Yeah, I think Q being a defenseman has definitely helped us out. Little things he harps on day in and day out, it helps the D focus on those kind of things. It helps our forwards, as well.
I think having that mentality of a defenseman behind the bench, you know, definitely helps us out, helps us focus on the little things that it takes to become a good defenseman.
He's been around a long time. That's one thing that he's definitely passed on to us.
Q. Brent, the salary cap was put in to make it more of a level playing field, parity. It's supposed to make it so it's not conducive for a team in six years to be on the verge of its third Stanley Cup. How has this franchise been able to buck the odds in a system that's supposed to create an even playing field?
BRENT SEABROOK: I don't know. We got a great team. We got a lot of great players on our team. I think the management and the coaches have done a good job of identifying the players that they've put in the lineup.
We have two of the best forwards in the league that have proven that they show up in big games. Throughout the playoffs, there's a lot of big games, right from the first round to the last. I think we've got a team that enjoys playing in those games, that's able to step up in those big games, play big parts.
I think the league has changed. I think there's a lot of parity in the league. You look at it this year, I think I heard a stat before the playoffs started, it was 15 points that separated first and 16th place in the league.
I don't know. When Detroit won it a couple years ago, it was 40-something points between first and 16th.
I think, you know, there's a lot of parity in the league. Any given year, any team can win. We've been lucky enough to be put in good situations and been able to win a couple. So it's been nice.
Q. Johnny, when you guys are out there and you see Joel is on the bench, do you draw confidence as a team just having him as your leader, considering all the stuff he's done in his career?
JOHNNY ODUYA: I think we feel as confident with him as I hope he does with us. Of course, you know, for me coming here, I knew what was set in place. Like I said, a good team, good coaching.
Yeah, like anything else, we trust the system. We know what we can do. Everything is pretty much set in place. It's just a matter of execution.
So, yeah, I find as much trust in him as I do teammates or training staff or anybody around the team, so...
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, guys.
COACH JOEL QUENNEVILLE
Q. Coach, you talked last night about the opportunity here, the excitement that will be there, the emotions. Does this team, with the experience and everything, do you have the confidence they'll be able to have the balance in this situation?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: Our team's been a lot in these situations, played in some big settings, some big stages, a chance to win Cups before, some new guys as well.
It's a whole new process for some guys, a new situation being at home for the first time.
You know, it's an exciting time. I think our guys, they know how to focus and prepare properly. I think over today, going into tomorrow, we got to be excited. We liked how we played last game, knowing we got to be better than that. There's a lot of good things coming out of yesterday's game that we liked.
Q. Since you started the Playoffs in mid-April, does it feel like time is flying, or does it feel like a long, hard grind?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: It's been a long process. When you lose in a conference final, seventh game in overtime, trying to get back to that same spot, it seems like it's a long time.
Making the playoffs this year was a battle. In our own division, it's a battle. We have a lot of good teams we have to fight through just to get two points. Then you have a series like we just faced against Anaheim after two tough series. Here we got a great test, as well.
Our team is very resilient in a lot of ways. It's definitely a process. It's not an easy journey trying to get to the end. But at the end, when you look back on it, that's what makes it so valuable.
Q. Joel, when people talk about the forwards on this team, the first two names are Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. You have a guy in Marian Hossa, who you said the other day should be a Hall of Fame player. Does that fit with his personality, he kind of hangs in the background, or is it just the nature of having those other two guys on this team?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: We got a lot of top guys on our team. I think Hossa quietly goes about his business. His production is very consistent. He doesn't play a flashy game, although he is fun to watch, the way he can control puck areas, his backside pressure, how he can skate with and without the puck. He's got some great speed to his game.
I just think when you look at a hockey player, I think he's the whole package, bringing the intangibles that make him great. But we got some real top guys that probably maybe take away him getting a little bit more fanfare. I think he's comfortable with the way it is.
Q. Joel, I asked a couple of your players this. When they brought in the salary cap, it was supposed to create parity, make it an environment that's not conducive for a team to be on the verge of winning three Cups in six years. How have you done it?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: I think each and every one's kind of been a different recipe or different group. We had the young group in 2010. We kind of revamped half the team at the end of that year. Give Stan a lot of credit, coming out of that lockout year. That was a tremendous start to that season, carried that momentum right through.
Different group this year as well. Made some acquisitions at the deadline that helped us get to where we're at today.
But the core that's been here since 2010, they lead the charge game in, game out, preparation-wise, focus, attention to detail, play the right way, send the right message. I think that's received properly by their teammates, linemates. They make guys around them better as well.
It's a fun group to work with. They come ready to start the game on time. You couldn't ask for more.
Q. Joel, since 2010, how has your approach changed in situations like this where you have a clinching game before you? Do you do anything different now?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: No, I think we got the same preparation going into it. I don't think you want to change too much of your mindset. I think you don't want to get ahead of yourself. You don't want to think about the end. You got to think about your opponent, starting, the importance of every single shift.
So I think our focus is on the job and the task at hand. We got a lot of work to do. We're coming off the game that we were looking for last night, and we're looking for our best game tomorrow. We're going to need it. That's our mindset: don't get ahead of yourself.
Q. It's hard to think about the big picture. How much different of a coach or better of a coach are you than when you were in St. Louis and Colorado? Can you step back in the summertime and appreciate what you've been able to do in this sport so far?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: Well, I think you should get better in a job every day. You get a little bit more experience. You get different situations. You know the players better, the league better, might know your opponent better. Every season's different.
I think you got to evolve a little bit with the way the game has changed. But pretty well kept the same approach, how we work with players, how we deal with individuals, communication lines. The important thing is it's about the team, accountability. A lot of things go into it. To me it's never about me, it's about the group around us. Try to maximize everybody's effectiveness. Team comes first. Go from there.
Q. Joel, your guys were saying they sensed that the team was getting better as each series goes along. We saw that in the Anaheim series. How do you explain that? Is it you making adjustments with mixing up lines, changes the lineup? Is it them getting more comfortable? How do you explain this pattern of your team getting better?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: A lot of it is our top guys rise to the challenge. The bigger the game, whether they have a settling influence in the locker room, their linemates, they make guys around them better, the way they prepare. They know it's an important game. The bigger the setting, they rise to that challenge.
It's a compliment to them. I think our team game relies on consistency, predictability, not wavering too much. That helps, as well.
The players are the ones going out there to do it. We feel if you want to progress in games and series, you got to get better as you go along.
The Anaheim series I did think Game 6 and 7 were the best games we played in the playoffs.
Q. Joel, obviously a lot has been made about how your top four defense play in a game. When you have Kimmo sitting on the bench as opposed to a younger guy, does the dynamic on the bench change? What does he bring to that dynamic?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: Kimmo brings us dependability, reliability, experience, know how. I think he defends well. Offensively he supports the attack. He doesn't play a lot of minutes, but I think he's been real solid for us in the two games. Added a nice dimension of being reliable and predictable on the back end.
Q. Is he vocal on the bench?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: I'm not at that end of the bench too much. I can tell you the guys that are not at that end of the bench (laughter).
Q. As a coach, what is your biggest concern with what you have to do to make sure your team is prepared for this moment coming up?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: We don't want to change too much our approach. We don't change how we're going to practice tomorrow, going into game meetings, what we say to the team. Make sure we're ready to play. We want to get off to a strong start. Our concentration, our focus, be ready for your next shift, make it your best one.
I think that's as simple as we put it. We don't want to change and deviate too much from how we do things.
Q. You talked about communication. Kris Versteeg, how do you punch the right button with guys like him?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: We've had some guys in the playoffs this year that have experience, missed some games. It wasn't because of health issues. Those are always challenging situations for a coach or a player. How it's received can be delicate.
I think at this stage, it's all about the team. We know that one of our strengths as a team and organization is our depth. Sometimes you use it. Sometimes I think at the end of the day you got to make sure that the player understands, and you got to work your way through it.
In his case, he certainly was not happy, but nothing you can do about it. Go out there and practice, play it like a game, keep yourself ready. I loved his response, in this series particularly.
Q. With how effective Tampa was first four games forechecking, clogging lanes, was there any emphasis on skate the puck out rather than pass it out?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: I think the pressure is they forecheck well, there's not a lot of room, not a lot of space, not a lot of options or direct plays. I thought we moved better with and without the puck.
I think we got to be quicker. That's the one thing in the first four games, one of the strengths of our team is our quickness and pace. Hopefully last night was the start of us taking off.
Q. You guys lost Michal Rozsival to an injury, but got Patrick Kane back a month earlier. A lot of major injuries to your opponents. How fortunate do you feel that basically your team has stayed healthy over this run?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: (knocks fist on table, twice) Every game is different, every series is different. Situations like that, they're all part of hockey. That's why we talked about depth, the importance of it, the need at critical junctures that somebody has to jump in and fill a hole, rise to the occasion.
Steeger, like last game, makes a big play on the goal. Vermy missed a game, scored three big goals. Could go on and on. That's part of finding your way through. That's what makes it so challenging trying to win, it's not easy.
Q. Are you planning a different speech tomorrow night? Will you be a bit more emotional tomorrow?
COACH QUENNEVILLE: My speeches are no good. I don't want to go there (laughter).
THE MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
COACH QUENNEVILLE: Thank you.
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