I got a great opportunity to go in and make this team out of camp, and I did that and I'm really proud that I did.

Deep inside, after Dallas has eliminated them all those times, it may be a case of (facing a different team). We definitely have to be ready. They're a good, quality team.

It's nothing new to this team, especially having played Minnesota. We just have to break them down on the cycle and get it to the net. That's how you beat the 1-2-2, get it in and wear them down.

We had our team meal one time in Calgary. I mentioned Patrick Roy. They suspended me out of the meal. I swear. We had a discussion about something. I mentioned Patrick Roy.

We've got a lot of guys at camp, so it's an opportunity for maybe one of them. But, they had high expectations of (Nik). You could see the way he was playing so far, what he did last year. They were depending on him a lot this year. Hopefully he'll heal quick and be here for the middle of the season and the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

It's worked out well. It took a lot of hard work and determination to get where I am.