Hi Connor. We saw you chirping
Biz Nasty in in Vegas.
I'd like to know what your takey
was from that whole trip, you k,
seeing a Stanley Cup Final game,
seeing the atmosphere and just
what did you come away from
seeing that game and that spot,
thinking maybe someday you can be in one?
Yeah, definitely.
I think when you're watching,
it makes you want to play
in it that much more.
And I mean, it was great.
Like, it's great.
The NHL does that for us and you know,
I hadn't met Leo and Will,
so it was good to spend time wih
them and get to know them and s.
So, I mean, it was awesome.
I've never been to a Cup final game in Vegas.
Their fans are crazy.
So it was really cool experienc.
And you know,
we all really enjoyed it.
Did you, did you meet Jack
Eichel in the locker room? Yeah,
yeah, I'd met him before.
He's at the Bass Steel Camp
last year, so I knew him like
a little bit. But yeah, so.
Connor, it's been a long year.
I mean, it's starting with the t
World Juniors back in the summer as well,
you know, how are you tired.
I mean it feels like the spotlis
been on you all year and now yoe
kind of in the final months here
where it's going to, you know,
this part of your career is going to end.
But you know how,
how have you been able to handle
spotlight that's been on you fot
just this year but the last few. Yeah,
I think just kind of taking
things day by day and.
I mean I'm focused on you know what's
important and and you know whatI
control and you know why it wity
own team and and my own play of course.
So I mean you don't really
think about that stuff.
I mean there's some extra inters
and attention and what not.
But you know for me if you know
I'm just staying focused on kind
of you know what I what I need o
be focused on and trying to bece
a better player and better pers.
So it's kind of how I handle th.
I feel like
Conor we have a pretty good ideo
you're going to be playing for t
year but how many teams, I'm curious.
I wanted to interview you in that over
the week and and how did you handle that.
Yeah it was it was a pretty
good amount. I'm kind of you knw
keep the number to to myself I think.
But I mean I talked to talked to a good
amount and you know it was really good.
It's I was exciting when you can talk
to a you know team of the league
you dream of playing and so you
know I had a lot of fun with itd
it's been it's been a great wee.
What kind of stuff can you learn from that,
from talking to the GM's and scs
and what have you?
Yeah. I mean, you know, you can
definitely definitely learn some things.
They're kind of, you know,
the ones running those teams
and you know getting to talk
to them and kind of build some
relationships with some of them.
Of course with that with
the meetings was was good.
Connor, I know your guy stays the moment,
you know one's put in front of the other.
But are you getting impatient
here like is is just want to ge?
Is this just another signpost on the road?
You want to get to Nashville and get this
done and get started on your pro career?
No. I mean, that
kind of mindset is, I mean, you know,
this is our our dreams and stuf.
So I mean all of this,
I think we kind of just got to take in and,
you know, enjoy it. And, you kn,
obviously you want to want to
see what happens and and whatno.
But, you know, for me,
I'm just trying to enjoy kind of
everything that goes along with.
You
gonna do all the testing here?
Yeah. Yeah, I mean we did the sf
yesterday and then we had the bike today.
So kind of the last stop tomorrow. Last
question was any off the wall questions
that you got from teams?
Nothing too wild. No.
I think there's been some of thn
the past years that people had e
stories about, but nothing too crazy.
Hey Connor, just what was your
conversation like with Kyle Davn
and with the Blackhawks throught
the year and then this week as ?
Yeah, it was it was good.
You know I met them last summer
once and then you know to see tm
again here was was good and kind
of you know some conversations
them of course and you know I
enjoyed that kind of getting to
know them and and whatnot.
So I was it was good and
you know I fun with it.
If they do select you, I guess t
would be your attitude going ino
that in a situation where the ts
in such a rebuild and you'd be d
of a central piece right away.
Yeah, be awesome. I mean the the
history with that organization .
You know, that city with sports would
be would be unbelievable and you know,
we'll see what happens.
But, you know, if they do selec,
that would be a huge honor.
Connor, I see that your buddy
Kent Johnson scored eleven poins
in in line while you were down
here but still lost the game.
Do you happen to have any advicr
him on maybe winning the next g?
No. No, I don't. Yeah,
I mean get 12 or 13 I guess, Bu,
I think me and a semi were asle.
Pretty late late games, but.
Yeah I mean he's he's pretty
good player obviously it
sucks out we we lost that one
now the friendship that you have
though him and Kent Johnson and Andrew
Kristal as well just how importt
has that friendship been going up here
And then on Kristal himself jusw
good of a player is he that you get to
see him and play with him like .
Yeah I mean for you know with Kent him
having the experience in the NHL and and
obviously playing that last full season and.
You know, kind of asking him questions
and and learning kind of what he
thought of it and stuff has bee,
has been great for me and and
skating with him all the time.
But yeah, and Andrew,
I think he's probably the smart,
smartest hockey player I've goto
play with and obviously watcheds
year and just the things he's hs
able to do out there and what he
does with the park and you knoww
well he creates offenses, you k,
some of the best I've ever seen.
So he's a special player and you know
he's going to make a team really happy.
What's your reaction to Matthewd
getting the recognition that hes
throughout this process and what
makes him such a dynamic talent?
Yeah, it's great. I mean he deserves that.
He's excelled at every level he's played
and I mean the year he had in the BCHL
last year was was record-breakig
and same this year being being 7
year old in that league of you ,
up to I think 2425 year old players so.
It's remarkable what he's done d
you know he's same same thing I,
so smart and and the way he shos
the park is unreal.
So you know it's all deserved ad
you know he's a great player.
Hi Connor. I'll take you back in time
a little bit but three years ag,
three years ago you were
granted the exceptional status.
I was just curious to know
looking back three years after,
how do you think it it benefited
you and then you know what do
you think you got out of it?
Yeah, it was great. I mean, for,
getting to play with, you know,
guys up 20 years old when I was,
I mean, you learn so much.
You're not going to be playing the same
way that you do with your own a.
And you got to adjust and adaptd
kind of change your game a little bit,
which makes you really have to think the
game and that that can really help you.
So for me, it was great and you know,
I was pretty thankful they gave it to me.
And you know, I think it helped me a lot,
Connor. Through all the times and the
shots that you took in your happy place
for the vacations that you didn't go on,
do allow yourself to reflect ba.
We'll also look ahead and get a glimpse
of what that moment might be lin
that Wednesday night in Nashvil.
Yeah, I don't know. I think,
you know there's after been a lf
work put in and you know everyone here is
you know been I think putting putting a
lot of work and they were really young.
So you know like for all the guys it's it's
pretty exciting that it's coming up and.
I guess it's only three weeks,
2-3 weeks away now,
so it's pretty close and you kn,
it's definitely in the back of
your head a lot.
But, you know,
I think we're all pretty excite.
And just how important do you
think it was as you reflect
back to have John Paddock,
somebody who's very experienced
at coaching at every level,
to have him, you know,
be your mentor there and Regina
for for those two seasons?
Yeah, it's been huge. I mean Jo,
John's been great for me and anr
our team and you know like you ,
he's been at every level. He's coach,
Gmmed and and everything betwee.
So some kind of stories about
guys you can tell or experience.
Experiences he has had has been
you know great for our team
and you know I've learned,
I've learned tons from him.
Connor, what the quality in your
game do you feel set you apart m
the other prospects in this cla?
I don't know. I'm not going
to compare myself to you know
other guys or anything but I
think for me I think my best,
the best attributes probably my hockey
IQ and you know I'm pretty creative and
stuff and and love to try to cre
plays but you know I think hocky
IQ is probably my best attribute
and and who would be your
NHL comparable and why not
Sure I get asked that question t
and never really have an answer.
I you know watch a lot of hocked
I try to take things from guys .
You know try to have them to my game and
I mean I don't know if you know I'm the
really got asked for for compar.
I'm not too sure
Connor where did your love
for inline hockey come from?
I mean I've been playing
so I was like 5 or 6.
So it's you know like hockey.
I mean you know I was I was reay
enjoyed it and you know it's not
as serious of course it's you ka
lot of fun and I'm still playinw
so it's been I guess 11-12 years and.
You know, I've had a lot of funh
it and enjoy kind of going back
and playing again every summer.
Who in this draft class
is the best in line hockey? Wel,
I don't know if anyone
plays it but me and Andrew.
So it's me or him. I'll take me.
We'll take a couple more questi.
Hi,
Connor. I'm just here. Snow, have you
talked to any? First, make over.
And if so, what type of advice
have you received from them,
how to handle pressure,
expectation and everything. Yea,
I got to talk to like McDavid
a bit with like last summer,
kind of training over there fora
week or whatever. And you know,
I mean you don't talk about it too much,
but I think just kind of living
in the moment's a big thing tha,
you know, a lot of people have
have told me and I mean like ths
huge with kind of all the outsie
noise and all the stuff going on
and to just enjoy things and.
Kind of be where your feet are.
So I think that's that's good
advice I've got from from a fews
Hello
Connor. I was curious what age did you
allow yourself to start thinking of the NHL
as your as the goal. Well
it's always the goal.
I mean ever since you're a kid d
you first touch a hockey stick that's
kind of the you know it's the bt
best players in the world best league
in the world and you know you wh
it and and grow up kind of being
a fan of it and for me I think.
You know, I think all the guys ,
if you ask that they've all dred
of playing in the NHL and it's
always been the main goal.
So I think, you know,
as young as I can remember,
that's been kind of the dream for sure.
Has the realization hit
you that you're going to be an L
player or when did that happen? Well,
I mean I still haven't
played a game of course.
So I don't think it would it
would hit me till you know, I,
I, you know, played if I do.
So you know it's hard to kind of
think about that but you know,
of course I'll.
Work as hard as I can to
try to achieve that goal,
and hopefully I do.
Hey, Connor, as you've been
interviewing with teams this we,
have there been questions you've been
asking the Blackhawks or whatever else?
Just important to you about, I guess,
preparing for that next step?
Yeah, for sure. I mean,
I think you gotta kind of be a sponge
with some things and as much knowledge
as you can get on the league, w.
You know would help your your training
and and kind of you know your
preparation to to try to try toe
it and try to play in that leag.
So I think asking questions is t
and trying to figure some stufft
and you know they can definitely
give you some little tips focusg
on this this offseason prepare.
I mean you know it's always
everything and you always want o
prove in every area and but I tk
the games the game so fast and u
know if I want to want to be att
next level then you know skating
skating's huge I mean you know t
the way the game's going and th.
You know, some small things I want to work
on my one time or a bit and maybe scoring,
scoring a few more goals,
kind of around the net,
but those are a few things.
But maybe, you know,
for me I always want to work on everything.
Thanks.