“They’re the defending Stanley Cup champions and they’re just better than we are.”
It’s hard to argue with David Quinn there, after his San Jose Sharks got buried by the Colorado Avalanche 6-2.
There were a couple bright spots though: Goal-scorer Steven Lorentz talked about the confidence that he’s playing with now, while Adam Raska, making his San Jose Sharks debut this season, shared how his game has improved throughout the year. Quinn also praised Lorentz and Raska’s performances.
Quinn also broke down a mistake that rookie defenseman Henry Thrun can learn from.
Steven Lorentz, on contributing more offensively recently to the San Jose Sharks:
Yeah, it’s coming with confidence in my game. Confidence from the coaching staff believing in me and putting me in some situations that maybe I wasn’t getting at the start of the year.
Obviously, took a little bit to adjust to the systems. Coming from a team like I did last season, it was a little bit more aggressive and man-on-man. It’s a little bit more zone this year. Just figuring that out.
It was a little bit of a learning curve for me. But it’s paying off, I love the systems. When you buy into the systems, you play an honest game, it works. So definitely, I’m happy. I’m playing with probably the most confidence I’ve ever played with in my career so far.
Adam Raska describes his season with the San Jose Barracuda:
My year wasn’t that great at the beginning. But with time, it was getting better and better. I think that’s why they called me up.
Raska, on what was behind his improvement this season:
A lot of [it was] my speed. At the beginning of the year, I felt good. [But] when I get back to the American League, guys were at the same level. So I just felt I need to get better and better. So I just tried to work on my speed and it worked out a little better than I expected.
David Quinn, on what Henry Thrun can learn from his turnover that led to Mikko Rantanen’s second goal:
That’s a play, you just throw it up the weak side. They did a good job jumping the play. Kind of bobbled on him. Just get it up, go indirect. Win a wall battle, gets to the neutral zone. Not every D-zone exit is going to be clean and tape-to-tape.
Quinn, on his expectations for Lorentz to start the season:
I didn’t know much about him [before the season].
But I think he’s gotten better and better throughout the season. I think he’s really understanding what he’s going to need to do to be an everyday player in this league. I think his last few weeks been the best hockey he’s played all year long. I think he’s really dialed to what he needs to do. He looks confident and comfortable with accepting what he is and he’s productive offensively.
He and I’ve had plenty of conversations about [what] he can produce offensively. But a different way. And he’s doing it. He’s playing fast. He’s got an edge to him. He’s got more physical than ever over the last three weeks, playing a straight-line game. Playing good hockey.
Quinn, on how he can always count on Lorentz to play an honest game and give it his all:
Yes, absolutely. He’s done that. I’m really happy for him that he’s got rewarded statistically. But I don’t think he’s caught up in the statistics. I think he’s focusing on playing the right way and he’s doing it and he’s getting rewarded. That’s usually how it works.
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