How are you going to build on such a strong year in Laval? You ranked second on the Rocket in assists (32) and points (45).
JE:You just can't be satisfied with what you did. You have to keep pushing and not take anything for granted. You can't go into the next year thinking 'Oh, I'll do the same thing, for sure'. I also can't put pressure on myself, like I've been saying my whole career now. You have to enjoy it, be driven, and keep pushing to reach new levels. I'm definitely happy with my performance, but there are things I have to do to take that next step. You want to be confident, but don't get too high and don't get too low. That's where I'm at.
With that in mind, what are your expectations for next year?
JE: I'm going to show what I have at training camp and try to impress. That's the biggest thing. If I don't make the Canadiens, I want to be that next guy to get called up and I want to be one of those guys in Laval that's the go-to guy. If something happens in Montreal and they need a forward, I'd like to be that first guy up. Overall, I want to be trusted more at both ends of the rink. By the end of the year, it started to take form. I started to do a little better defensively and started to get a little more time on the penalty kill. And then faceoffs, too. At Notre Dame, I was more of a guy to take those big draws and I want to be that guy in Laval or Montreal. That's where I've got to take those next few steps. You have to find ways to contribute, and being as well-rounded as I can will help me.