And none of those players is over 25.
This is where you'd insert a head exploding emoji.
To top it all off, they're having fun doing it.
Savor this ride, Canes fans. You deserve it.
Which player's personality would fans find most surprising? Any interesting stories from the trip across Canada? - @CaniacZach
I don't know if it's much of a surprise anymore, but the more Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov get comfortable in speaking English, especially with the media, the more their humor is evident. They're both funny guys, but sometimes that might get lost in translation. Perhaps most importantly, they're both good people, but that shouldn't come as any surprise.
My other thought as to a "surprising personality" would be Dougie Hamilton, but if you know, you know, right? For whatever reason, he wasn't fairly portrayed in his two previous stops, but as he said last week,
he's found a home with the Canes
.
Stories, stories. Hmmm. Quite honestly, it feels like we were in Edmonton about three months ago, and my memory seems to be fading as much as my hair at this point. But, the most interesting story from the trip thus far has to be when Mike Commodore hitched a ride on the bus to Banff. I think he enjoyed swapping tales with an old teammate and fellow Stanley Cup champion at the front of the bus. He also accidentally left his toque behind, but it came in handy the next day when a few of us ventured to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
And, Banff. What a spot. I had heard only great things, and it lived up to every one of them. It was a welcome reprieve from the rink, a chance for the team to grow closer.
That in itself is a story
.
Do the guys have to share rooms when they travel or do they get their own? - @Beth94828749
The short answer: Some players have to share, but most get their own rooms.
The longer explanation, via article 15.2(c) in the most recent
collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA
: "Any Player on an SPC who is not in the Entry Level System shall be entitled to single room accommodations for all Club road trips."
"OK, Google, what does that mean?"
Basically, this: A player not on his entry-level contract - that first contract a player signs while under the age of 25 - receives his own room on the road.
Prior to 2013, only players who had logged 600 games or 10 years in the NHL were given their own rooms.
Currently, the Canes have three roster players on their entry-level contracts: Andrei Svechnikov, Warren Foegele and Martin Necas. So, those three don't automatically get assigned single rooms, but since you can't divide two evenly into three (fast math!), one lucky contestant gets to come on down to a room to himself.
Everyone else on the roster plus traveling staff also get their own rooms.
Even though the players and coaching staff are professionals, do you ever see any signs of homesickness on a long road trip? - @\_adaminthehood\_
I don't know if "homesick" is the right term, but life on the road, especially with a trip this long, can certainly take a toll.
Head coach Rod Brind'Amour is a big proponent of not idling on the road, and I get it. I asked him about the team's layover in Banff earlier this week: "I think the players enjoy it. The staff doesn't. We want the games over with and go home, right? I think it's good. It's unfortunate the way the schedule is, but we did a nice job figuring, OK, we'll make the best of a bad situation, in my opinion. Any time that you can get the guys together on the road and have some enjoyment, not thinking about hockey, is good."
The two nights spent in Banff did seem to do the Canes well, as they responded in Winnipeg with a fairly dominant performance against a team that sported an identical record.
But, look. We're now in our sixth city in 10 days. We've crisscrossed time zones. If it weren't for my phone, I couldn't tell you what day it is or what time it is. Delirium is setting in.
It's been a blast, but I've had enough time-traveling for a bit. It's time to go home - with two more points, of course.
Will Pucky the Whale be at Whalers Night again? - @AndyElliott1999
We're working to make that happen again!
Best meal you've eaten while on this road trip? - @hannahGmartinn
I ate lunch at Meat & Bread three days in a row. Aggressive? Yes. The correct decision? Absolutely. All three sandwiches -
