The NHL Awards Show festivities got started with Media Day.  This took place Tuesday, June 19th at the Wynn Hotel and Casino.  Inside Edge Hockey News was there to talk with the players.  Here is a compilation of a few interesting topics and quotes from award nominees.

Henrik Lundqvist:

Q. Did you watch the Final at all?

HENRIK LUNDQVIST: The last game.

That’s the only game I watched. It was a weird

game. L.A. played well the whole playoffs.

Q. Can you talk about Steven Stamkos

as a scorer.

HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Well, his release.

You have so many guys that can skate fast, can

shoot far. Just the quickness of the release and

always being in the right place. You can just tell

he wants to score all the time. You respect that.

You have to be on your toes all the time. He’s the whole package. He was unbelievable this year. It’s always a challenge.

 

 

Zdeno Chara:

Q. Are you preparing in the off-season

as though the season will start on time?

ZDENO CHARA: Yes. I’m trying to be in

my best shape as possible; towards the end of

September, I’ll see how it goes.

Obviously, you can be kind of calculating.

You just have to be ready at that time when it

comes and then we’ll see what happens.

Q. At this point do you have any

thoughts on it?

ZDENO CHARA: I think it’s still pretty

early at this point to be kind of calculating if something is going to happen. We’ll wait and see.

Q. What was your reaction when you heard Timmy’s decision?

ZDENO CHARA: I think surprise, surprise like everybody else. Obviously, he never mentioned anything to me or us as a team. But that’s his decision. He has to probably deal with it.

Q. Have you talked to him?

ZDENO CHARA: No, I haven’t. I’ve been busy right after the season. I think the announcement of him possibly not playing came out right after. I was traveling again. Went to Florida, spent some time with my family. Really tried to stay away from hockey.

I kind of sat back and relaxed and spent some time with my family.

Q. Any thought to trying to convince him to come back?

ZDENO CHARA: Well, I think he’s a mature person. When he said something, probably he stands behind it. If he changes his mind, then he changes his mind. But it’s something that really you probably have to ask him, talk to him. We have to be ready with or without him.

Q. Question on Tuukka Rask….

ZDENO CHARA: Yeah, we all know he’s a really solid goalie. He had really a great year. He’s played extremely well. The last few years he’s just been dealing with some injuries. He didn’t have that many chances to play. Now he’s going to be getting the chance.

It’s going to be totally up to him. He’s showed before that he can be our number one goalie.

Jonathan Quick:

Q. Would you rather have your next contract done before next season starts or…

JONATHAN QUICK: That’s obviously a different side of the game. Right now, I know today it’s about the players here. Just trying to enjoy this for the next couple days.

Q. You have to be pretty excited about the future?

JONATHAN QUICK: Absolutely. You look around the locker room, you think about the guys (in there) everyone is fairly young. So you just hope and pray that everybody stays together and

we keep this group together.

Q. What do you need to do to keep rolling right into the next season?

JONATHAN QUICK: I think you just go about it the same way you prepared last season. You’re not going to take as much time off the ice as you usually do. When the time is right, you start

preparing as hard as you can, start fresh. You put this season in the rearview mirror and start focusing on the next season.

 

Erik Karlsson:

Q. On agreeing to terms on a seven year contract extension with the Senators…

ERIK KARLSSON: I mean, obviously I’m very happy, as I said before, with everything, how it went. All the discussions we’ve had have been good discussions. It’s been fair, no-back stabbing

or anything like that. I mean, we have a lot of respect for Ottawa’s organization. They’ve been around for a while. Bryan, as well, he’s done a terrific job with Ottawa as long as he’s been here, I think. I have full confidence in him and in the organization, as well.

 Q. On the negotiations….

ERIK KARLSSON: I mean, obviously I

knew everybody was going to be here, I was going

to meet everyone. Very happy that we could get it

done here while everyone’s here. We can talk

about it and be happy. I mean, hopefully they’re as

happy as I am. I mean, it’s going to be a special

feeling just talking to them eye-to-eye instead of

over the phone or anything like that.

I’m very happy we could get it done here.