Gustav Nyquist is getting ready to kick off his twelfth season in the NHL, and while his team, coaches, and city are all different this year, the emotions of that first game remain the same.
"Obviously I'm in a new place, but these days are more excitement than anything," Nyquist said after Monday's practice.
"Just the fact that training camp's over and we get to play real games instead of exhibition games — the games that matter. Those are the games you want to play."
Nyquist, one of Barry Trotz's big free agency signings, spent last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets before joining the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline. Despite an injury, Nyquist returned to the ice for the Wild for three regular season games and postseason play. One of those regular season games Nyquist played was against the Predators on April 13 at Bridgestone Arena. That game helped shape his perception of the Nashville Predators when it came time to sign.
"I knew this was a good group coming in just from watching them play last year," Nyquist said.
"I remember one of the last games of the season I was in Minnesota, and we played here at Bridgestone and a lot of [Nashville] guys were hurt. All these young guys that are on the team now, they were playing hard and I think they ended up beating us in overtime actually. So I knew it was a great group coming in."
"That just confirmed my feelings coming in that it's a fun place to play and a great group," Nyquist said.
One of those young players that Nyquist has gotten to know much better over the course of training camp is Cody Glass. Glass and Nyquist have spent most of the preseason working together, and Nyquist likes what he has seen from Glass's two way game.
"I think he's a center that plays both side of the ice really well," Nyquist said. "In the D zone, he's a responsible guy and wins faceoffs. And offensively he makes plays and he can get up the ice fast. That's vital to have as a centerman."
"I'm excited to start the season with him and hopefully develop some good chemistry."
With a new head coach, new system, and new roster, Nyquist knows that the Predators are still a team "in process". Implementing Andrew Brunette's style of play is an adjustment for all the players and not just those new to Nashville. While the Predators struggled to win all but one of their preseason games, Nyquist believes the group is heading in the right direction.
"We've shown that we become better each game," Nyquist said. "I think the structure has looked better each game, and that's what we want to do. It is going to be a process. But we're just again, going to take one day at a time and try to get better each time."
Even with the team still learning new and unlearning old habits, confidence in the locker room is high.
"We believe in this group," Nyquist said. "We believe in ourselves. We believe we have a great team in here. We're just excited to get going."
Nyquist and the Predators kick off the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 pm CT against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.
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