How have you been able to adjust to a new team?
"It's still fresh, but any organization that plays the way they play… it's not just talent, it's also because the guys are connected really well. The most difficult part was to fit in right away. But I'm lucky enough to speak three languages, which gives me an advantage, being able to talk to guys in French, talk to guys in Swedish. And I have a big mouth."
Have you acclimated to the elevation yet?
"I was a little worried about it. I remember when I was in Philly, [traveling to Colorado] could be a bit of a [pain]. In Vegas where we had the practice facility and our house, it's 3,000 feet. So it's not that bad [here]. I think that's why I'm not feeling it that bad, but maybe I'm jinxing myself. So far I'm happy with the way I've handled it."
You seem to have a natural charisma, does that help you become a leader in the building?
"I have a routine, and that's allowed me to become a more complete player and make it here, at age 29, to the NHL. When I come to a new organization, it's the same thing--I'm here early and do everything I need to do, and eventually I get that [label]: leader. But it's just me doing what I need to do to be able to be competitive every day. And the language thing helps me. The French-Canadian guy likes to speak French, the Swedish guy likes to speak Swedish. I can jump in the middle and be tight with the guys. And it's a good locker room, so it's easy to fit in."
Does being trilingual help you on the ice as far as communicating and facilitating offense?
"When I'm on the ice, depending on who I'm playing alongside, I usually speak the language that's appropriate for that person. So I feel like it's helped me. That's probably the best advice in my career, when I was 21 and my mom told me to just learn the languages. I wasn't a great hockey player, I came to Sweden speaking no English and no Swedish. Six months later I could speak all three languages. Nowadays it's helped me to come in and fit in with the locker room."