Behind Enemy Lines: Nail Yakupov on Alex Galchenyuk

Despite engaging in some heated battles on the ice, opposing NHL players often forge enduring friendships away from the rink. We thought it might be interesting, then, to do some reconnaissance in the visitors' dressing room to get an occasional take on a Canadiens player from a friendly foe on another club. Today: Avalanche forward Nail Yakupov on his former OHL teammate, Alex Galchenyuk.

Did you know Alex before you played together in Sarnia? How close were you?NAIL YAKUPOV: I'd never met him before going to Sarnia, but we became really good friends as soon as I moved in with him and his family.
You stayed with the Galchenyuks for a year in the OHL. What was Alex like as a roommate?NY:He's a smart guy, a good person and everyone in his family was really good to me. The one thing he does is eat for too long. He'll take like two hours to eat his dinner!
Both of you are known for being dangerous in shootouts. Who has the best moves on the ice, you or Alex?NY:Galchy is better than me, no doubt about it!

You trained together off the ice in Sarnia as well. Who's the strongest between the two of you?NY:We worked out at the gym together with his dad. We did everything together. Tough to say who's the strongest, but he has much bigger legs than me! (laughs)
You and Alex each scored your first NHL goal the same night. How cool was it that both of you got to do it the same night? Did you call or text each other afterwards?NY:Yeah, we texted each other to say congrats. We were both very happy about scoring our first goal on the same night.
You two spent hours playing Xbox together. Who usually won those battles?NY: We usually played NHL and we were fighting a lot after our games. I dominated him at NHL at first, but after a year he was beating me all the time. I'd still always beat him in fights though.
When you found out the date of your first game against Alex, you said on Twitter that you two should maybe drop the gloves. If it ever happens for real, who would win that fight? NY:(laughs) It will never happen. I don't think it would be fun and it would be really stupid. If you have to fight, you have to fight for real, not for a joke. I don't want to hurt him - he's my friend.
Before coming to Montreal, Alex was known as "Gally" or "Galchy" but here, he's "Chucky". What do you think of that nickname?NY:(laughs) He called me "Jumbo" and I called him "Elf" or "Galchy". In Colorado they call me "Yaks" so it doesn't make a difference to me if they call him "Chucky" in Montreal.
How often do you keep in touch during the season? NY:We stay in touch, we text each other occasionally. But my mom stays in touch with his mom, they call each other every day.

Who's funnier between you two?NY:(laughs) We're both funny sometimes. He's got some good jokes.
Who's got better style? NY: He's pretty good, but I know how to dress well, too!
Could you tell us something about Alex that no one would know?NY:I don't know if anyone noticed that in Montreal, but he always tapes his sticks with no one around on game days. He'll leave the warm up four or five minutes before the end of it, find a quiet spot and tape his sticks by himself.