It's almost like a conclusion to years and years of playing hockey. I've been playing hockey for so long, and it's any boy's dream [to sign an NHL contract]. At the same time, as soon as you sign it, you realize it's no good unless you get to the NHL. It's more hard work from here.

I think it's just more a nervous energy there that he's gonna regress and something's gonna flare up again. That's tough to play with knowing in the back of your mind, kinda thinking you're almost fragile compared to what you're usually able to play at.

You see all the murals of all the great players. You never really think you'd be mentioned alongside any of them.

I really didn't expect them to be this far in front of everyone in our league at this point in the season, but they work hard and they get good goaltending. So much of their game is played in the offensive zone. They don't have to rely too much on their defensive zone. They have a young defense - they don't have to rely on them to play that well.

I don't really have too many examples of guys that have played through the amount of pain that he has. Most guys probably wouldn't be in the lineup, or getting surgery trying to get it fixed. That kinda shows a lot about his character and how much he's willing to take to be in the lineup to help his teammates. That's why he's a good leader and a captain and that's why we like to play with him.

We gotta give a better effort than we did last time.