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Giroux Discusses Postseason, Aube-Kubel Talks about New Contract |
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Flyers forwards Claude Giroux and Nicolas Aube-Kubel spoke via separate teleconferences on Friday with members of the local media. Aube-Kubel, naturally, discussed his new two-year contract and his breakthrough 2019-20 season in which he earned a regular role in the Flyers' starting lineup. Giroux tried to analyze the team's playoff run and his own disappointing postseason.
Courtesy of the Flyers, the transcripts of the two interviews follow below:
CLAUDE GIROUX TRANSCRIPT
How tough was it to be away from home when you and your teammates have young ones or babies at home? Do you think it affected your play?
No. Obviously it was tough not seeing (my wife or one-year-old son) for a couple months. If there was anything, I was more focused and had more motivation to win.
AV mentioned that as players get older, their conditioning might have to change as well. Do you have to change anything to your offseason training because you are getting a little older now?
I haven’t talked to AV yet. I’ve been with the Flyers for 13 years and I’ve been committed to this organization. Every offseason I think I do a great job to be a little better. Obviously when you get a little bit older, however the season went on, you always want to tweak the way you work out. That’s something that I might have to tweak one or two things. At the end of the day, I think every time camp starts, I’m in great shape. I expect the same here.
When you are unable to score on the power play, can that spill over into 5-on-5 play and make you force the play a little more because you're pressing to make up for it?
Yeah. I think power play was an issue, especially against the Islanders. We got chances, but it didn’t go in. We didn’t find ways to get momentum to the team. Obviously there wasn’t a lot of power play. At the same time, when you do have them, you have to find a way to get momentum for the team or get a few chances. 5-on-5, I think especially when you are down and you don’t have the confidence in your power play that maybe we had before the break, you are pressing a little bit more on 5-on-5 because you want those chances to get back in the game.
When you look at this roster, do you see the best chance the Flyers have to winning a Stanley Cup since you’ve been here?
Yes, I do think so. We took a huge step forward. We’re very disappointed that we couldn’t move on to the Conference Finals. We thought we had a team that was able to go further. It’s very disappointing. At the same time, we took a huge step forward from last year. We’ve got to keep moving forward and keep building on this. We love our team. We like the pieces we have. We’re all pretty excited for next year.
How difficult is it to not know the starting date when you are trying to prepare in the offseason?
It’s definitely a little more difficult than when you actually know. You can plan how you want to work out, how you want to skate and make sure you’re ready for camp. I think it’s just important that whatever you do, you’re ready to go. If it’s the date that they are saying right now, you’ve got to make sure that you’re ready for that. If it’s a month later, you just have to adapt yourself.
How would you evaluate the team’s play against the Islanders? It seemed like you had more problems offensively.
Against the Islanders, I think early on in the series we played all right. We found a way to win one of those games. When we were down 3-1, I think Game 5 and Game 6, those were our best two games. We adjusted ito what they were doing. Everybody was playing hard and playing the right way. Obviously we won those games in overtime. At the same time, we battled hard to see that Game 7.
Why does this team feel different than the previous teams that have made the playoffs? Why are you confident that next year you guys won’t regress?
I think the other years that we made the playoffs and we lost first round, we didn’t have the depth we have right now. Right now we have older players and younger players. We just have a good mix of guys. Having Carter in net, and Moose, they give us a chance to win every night. We just like the mix that we have in the locker room. As the season went on, we kept getting better. We played more as a team and everybody was stepping up at the right time. As I said before, we’re extremely excited for next year, and we learned a lot from the Islanders series and even against Montreal Canadiens. We’ve just got to keep building here.
How much does the younger players coming in and the young players already on the team make you more excited for next season?
We have a lot of young players, prospects that are knocking on the door. It’s obviously exciting in our organization. You look at Joel, he played great. As the season went on he got better. We have a lot of young players that are ready to make the jump and ready to come help us win some hockey games.
Along those same lines, what will it mean to have Oskar back for a full year and what would it mean to have Nolan Patrick back healthy and able to play up to his capabilities?
Nolan has been through a lot. You don’t want to mess around with head problems. Obviously we all want Nolan back in the lineup, but we don’t want him before he’s 100 percent. He’s going to have a long career. He’s going to be a great player. I still remember practices this year and he came on the ice. The new coaches we had were kind of looking at us like this kid is pretty good. We want him to get healthy and he’s going to be a big piece for us this year. Oskar, his whole story is just amazing, for him to come back as early as he did and the way he played. He’s got so much courage. Everybody respects Oskar very much.
How do you evaluate your performance through the season? What did you learn from this playoffs specifically?
Personally, obviously, it’s not a secret, I would have liked to play better. I think as the playoffs went on, I was starting to feel a little bit better. It was obviously a unique tournament that we had. You are off a couple months and then you go straight to playoffs. It was hard for everybody, but it just felt like it took me a little bit longer to kind of get going.
For your second question, against Montreal, we were able to adapt to the way they were playing and when we played the Islanders we couldn’t adapt to the way they were playing. We found ways to win some big games, Game 5 and 6 in overtime. Those are not easy wins when your season’s on the line, but we found ways to get it done. It’s just good that everybody stuck together.
NICOLAS AUBE-KUBEL TRANSCRIPT
What did it do for your confidence to get a two-year contract?
I knew the Flyers were trying to have a deal with me since the end of the season. I was confident they liked what I did. I feel like the playoffs just confirmed that. That’s why I had such a good offer and so quick to finish the deal.
Over the next two years, what would you want to possibly add to your game as you become more comfortable level in the NHL?
This year I had a good chance to play on the power play. At one point, I was offensively in line and I think I kind of did well. Hopefully in the next few years I’ll get other chances like that. If not, I just stay focused on my role as I did this year. I’m just going to wait for opportunities and we’ll see how the next two years go.
Have you had a chance to reflect on how far you’ve come this year? How rewarding is that for you?
Yeah, for sure. I would say that my career wasn’t always going the way I wanted before. It was hard to stay in the American League, see a lot of guys get called up and do well. They are all your friends so it’s hard. To see them go up and do well, I’m happy for them and then I was waiting for my opportunity and my chance. It happened in December. I’m so glad I stayed up the rest of the year and I did well off the start.
How hard was the bone bruise on your knee to play through in the playoffs? Do you think it hampered you at all?
I’d say the first three days it was hard to walk. It was a big bone bruise. We didn’t know much about the diagnosis, but there was less swelling after a few days. I could skate and I felt comfortable the first few skates. It wasn’t hurting that much but maybe just a little less power in that leg through the games.
What are your expectations for next season?
I want to start where I left off. I was playing hard in the playoffs, good minutes too. I just want to start the season the same way. Be ready. Be physical. Be in my top shape whenever the camp starts. It’s going to be a big challenge next year. We don’t know much about the coronavirus and everything. Just stay alert and be ready for next year.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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