Duchene Talks Injury, Mentoring Young Players on Latest PoP Episode

Whether it's hearing Bridgestone Arena called "The Bridgey" or trying to interpret TikTok references in the locker room, Nashville Predators forward Matt Duchene definitely met his match with the team's young forward group.
"Some of the things these young guys say," Duchene laughed. "Like Luke Evangelista - he makes me feel 100 years old with some of the stuff he says."
Duchene, who just capped his 16th season in the National Hockey League, touched on the fun, sometimes confusing process of gelling with the younger players' personalities on the latest episode of the Predators Official Podcast.

Though he may not understand all the lingo coming from the younger generations, he knows there's still a lot he can offer on and off the ice.
"I love working with the young kids, especially the offensive guys," Duchene said. "It was really fun, and I think at times it was a challenge because you have guys just trying to get their feet wet and the consistency and experience maybe isn't there… But it's important] to try and help them out and have an effect on them, share your experience and teach them some stuff you've learned along the way."
When it comes to a player like Cal Foote, there is a little bit more of a sentimental feeling.
Duchene spent time living with Foote's family during his formative seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He still looks back on those memories - which involved plenty of basement mini sticks games - quite fondly.
"It's been really special to play with him - it's pretty wild to see things come full circle," Duchene said. "It was kind of wild going from playing mini sticks to playing Bridgestone Arena together."
Duchene ended up watching Foote from afar after an unexpected injury effectively ended his season in March. After leading the team in goals with 22, a slapshot to the hand benched him for the remaining 10 games of the season.
"Right away I was like that does not feel good at all," Duchene said. "I pulled off my glove and looked at my hand. I thought it just crushed my finger."
While Duchene's injury - and the surgeries that followed - proved to be one of the more unique of his playing career, the veteran forward is expected to make a full recovery over the summer.
Right now, Duchene is just excited to get back on the ice and pick the work back up come training camp - even with a roster that looks vastly different than last year's.
"It's not a rebuild situation, it is a redirect." Duchene said. "Come July 1, with the draft, whether we are making trades or signing guys. We have such a great core still intact, everyone has seen what the young guys can do. Even if we just got everyone healthy we are still a very competitive team. And I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do."
[Click here to hear the rest of Duchene's interview
on Episode 200 of the Predators Official Podcast, hosted by Darren McFarland and Kara Hammer.