You're a Czech-born, German player so this is a bit of a double dip for you. Let's start with Germany. When you first heard the Blackhawks would be going to Berlin, what was your reaction?
It's almost unbelievable because Berlin, I played with Munich a lot of times there last year. We also had our final series against them which went down to Game 7 and then we beat them. It's going to be funny to be there. I don't know if they're going to cheer me because I'm German or hate me because I'm from Munich. I'm just really excited to go there.
[For those who haven't been], what's Berlin all about as a city? Tell me about it.
Obviously, Berlin is the main city, the capital city of German. There's a lot of history. It's very nice to visit, of course. You can do a lot of things there and see a lot of things there. There was obviously the Berlin Wall, which is most famous in Germany. Hockey-wise, it's also a hockey city. They've won the most ever in Germany, Eisbären Berlin. They've got a great rink, great fans so it's going to be fun for us.
What are the fans like there? Some in North America may see European hockey fans like soccer fans with flags waving in the crowds and chants. What's the atmosphere like?
Yeah. They are going to go 60 minutes all through. Usually, in Europe, behind both nets people are standing. But I think in Berlin, it is just behind their net or our net. But there are flags all over, people are jumping around and I think it's going to be special for the players who don't know it.
Your teammates are probably going to rely on you to be a bit of a tour guide. What's the one thing you would say they have to do in Berlin.
To be honest, I was only in Berlin the few times I played there. I know some things but I don't really know where they are. I couldn't give a full tour of Berlin but I know there are some things like there is still the Berlin Wall, a place where it's still there. You can go see that. There are a lot of things about the history of Germany, how there was an east and west side. There are going to be some good destinations there.
Your friend Leon Draisaitl went back to Cologne last year with Edmonton and now you're heading to Berlin. For German hockey fans to see young German NHLers play in their home country, how big is that for the fans over there?
It's huge that the NHL was there and that we're going there again. It's going to be even better. I've heard a lot of people liked it when the NHL was there, they were excited. It's very good for us Germans that the NHL is going back.
Tell me about Prague and your connection to that city.
My uncle lives there still and where my dad lives in Czech is maybe two hours away from Prague.
So you'll have a good amount of family there then?
I will have family there. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Everybody says that… It's a great city, the rink is beautiful there and the fans are going to be great.
