I loved it.
He definitely won the pre-season fitness testing for a reason, so if he didn't hit anybody this year then I'd be a little bit upset. I think it was nice to see him put those muscles to good use.
As we move forward, it's clear that this team has Stanley Cup aspirations.
I had a sense of that when I came into the league with San Jose, and in Dallas it was the same thing. It's nice to come here and hopefully bring some of my experiences and learn some new ones along the way.
It's nice to see a team that wants to win, but at the same time you've also got to manage expectations and can't get too overzealous to start the year. We've got to worry about winning games first and then making the playoffs. Then, after that, the goal is obviously to win the Cup. We have to have a good start, not look to far ahead and take the season game-by-game.
Off the ice, I've settled into a place in Fort Lauderdale. I can't tell you exactly where because, you know, I don't want all of my crazy, screaming fans hanging out on my front lawn (kidding, I think).
That being said, all of the guys have been great. I like to kind of make my rounds and meet everyone at least once -- hang out, get some one-on-one time. I like to force myself on people a little bit and either it works or it doesn't. There's already good chemistry, so you've just got to keep that chemistry positive and flowing. It's a good recipe to win, for sure.
Overall, I'm really enjoying South Florida. It's a great place. There are lots of good restaurants, places to shop and a little mix of everything. There's a bunch of us living in the area. It's been a nice transition… and, of course, the sun doesn't hurt, either.
