When you go through a time like we have, you go to basics. Get the puck at the net and play simple hockey, and try to get back (to winning) that way.

I looked forward to it for a long time. It feels awesome. Yeah, I was happy. It's something you dream of, scoring in the NHL, and you only do it the first time once. It was big. There's a lot of emotion. The fans were great. It was so loud. I never expected to hear them (chanting) my name. You never expect that.

Obviously, I don't want to be in the box for over a hundred minutes during the season, but at the same time I have to try to play with an edge and battle out there.

It is so important to me to have my time away from hockey. Obviously, hockey is my passion; I love it. But definitely for me, time away from the rink and time when my mind isn't thinking about hockey is important.

When you get a typical injury, you're given a time frame; you're gradually working towards getting back. With concussions, there is not generally a time frame or a span where you're feeling better. You feel like you're getting better, and it can be one day and you're back to where you started.

It's going to be nice just to talk to him and talk about some hockey things. It's been busy, with the lottery and the draft, and I just want to get started and see what the level of play is like and get out there and push myself and get ready for the season.