They Said It: The Best Quotes from Day One of Preds Training Camp

The meetings, the fittings, the testing - it's all complete. It's time to lace them up.
Predators Training Camp continues on Saturday morning at Centennial Sportsplex with the first on-ice session of the season (
full schedule available here
). All training camp sessions at Centennial are free and open to the public, so make plans to venture out to get your first glimpse at the 2018-19 club.
Until then, here are some of the top quotes from Thursday's media availability. Just try not to be ready for hockey after reading these.

Defenseman P.K. Subban on coming into training camp with a certain level of comfort:
"I actually believe that you've got to come in uncomfortable. Everybody's spots are up for grabs. I don't care if you're on a long-term contract or a short-term contract, that's got to be your attitude coming in and that's how you hold yourself accountable. If everybody holds themselves accountable coming in, that's the way you get the best out of your group. When you have guys come into camp complacent and you walk through camp and you've been in the League long enough, you know you can't do that. When you're lucky enough to come into camp and be healthy and have no injuries, take advantage of it and do what you've got to do to get ready for the season."

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm on just how successful the Predators can be:
"I think we have a really good team, bottom line… but I think we've showed over the last two years that we can be really good. We can be a really strong contender and I believe in this team as much as any other team I've been on. I think it's a privilege that we are together still and we barely had any change on our roster. I see that as a very positive thing."

Goaltender Pekka Rinne on why this team so close-knit:
"I feel like it's the culture. I've been here a long time, and when I came here it was very easy for me to come in and join the team. We had great leaders at the time, and obviously since those days lots has changed, but to this day, I feel like it's the same culture. You just be yourself. In the locker room, there's no rookies, there's no veterans, like everybody is on the same line, and as a young guy you can speak your mind - to a certain extent (laughs). But it's an easy place to be and we're a big family, so that's the biggest thing."

Ryan Ellis on whether he thinks that it's Stanley Cup or nothing this year:
"I think all 31 teams are going to say the same thing, that it is Stanley Cup or nothing, but it's a long road and there's going to be a lot of hard work with lots of ups and downs. We have a good group here that will be able to handle that."

Ellis on the Predators pacing themselves this year for a Stanley Cup run:
"Last year it came down to the best team and the second-best team facing each other in the second round, and usually you see that in the Stanley Cup Final. It didn't go our way and obviously we're aware of that. It's been a longer summer for some of us having to think back and relive those moments, but I think it makes our team stronger. Don't forget that we've accomplished so much in the last year or so with the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup Final, I think it's just been stepping stones for us to get to where we want to be."