What they said: Player exit interviews
The Canadiens recap their 2017-18 season from Brossard
By
Steven Nechay @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
ALEX GALCHENYUK
Alex Galchenyuk on his first full season under Julien](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59732203)
On his individual progression and the extra workload he received from Claude Julien:
"I think I improved my game in certain areas, and will continue working on that. My play] improved towards the second half. I got more opportunities and definitely improved my game."
***On a difficult 2017-18 campaign:***
"It's like life in general. If you have a bad day, there's always a next day to make a difference. That's how I see it. We had a bad year, but there's next season to improve, start fresh, start from scratch. I already can't wait to be standing here talking to you next year."
**PHILLIP DANAULT**
**Phillip Danault on the lessons to learn from 2017-18
On his health status:
"I started skating again and everything seemed to be normal. I came back at 100%. I didn't want to have to deal with the injury throughout the entire summer, so I was out for precautionary reasons."
On the lessons the team can take away from the 2017-18 season:
"It's really disappointing and no one is happy about how it went, but we learned a lot through the adversity. We can't come in next year and take anything for granted. That's going to be crucial for the coming years."
"After a season like the one we just experienced, guys are going to come back hungry. I can guarantee that no one in here wants to live through this again. We're going to come back ready for camp."
On possible changes to come:
"We all expect there to be changes. A season like this is unacceptable in Montreal. I imagine there will be changes made, but I'm not in Marc Bergevin's head. Anything that happens will be for the best and we have confidence in him."
On his next contract:
"My agents know more than I do. We talked about it a bit during the year, but nothing is finalized. We'll let things play out, but I'm confident and I feel good here and this is where I want to stay."
CHARLES HUDON
Charles Hudon on cracking the Canadiens roster](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59732703)
On his first full season in Montreal:
"When I arrived at training camp, I arrived ready to make the team. I did everything I could to make it happen."
"There were highs and lows during my first season, but a lot of highs -- I made the team and scored my first goal."
On lessons to take away from the 2017-18 campaign:
"It was a tough year, but that's how you grow. It's adversity that teaches you how to bounce back the right way. We'll see that next year."
On his health:
"I played for almost two months with an injury, which was tough both physically and mentally. You always want to keep playing, but your body doesn't necessarily agree."
BRENDAN GALLAGHER
Brendan Gallagher on what went wrong in 2017-18](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59732903)
On how going through adversity in 2017-18 will make the Canadiens a stronger team going forward:
"It's never easy going through seasons like this or this type of adversity, but I think you can use it and learn from it. I think the last time we went through this we got better from it, because you learn not to make the same mistakes. Sometimes you have to go through trial and error and you have to go through pain. That's what this year was. It's frustrating and it's never easy losing that many hockey games, but you really learn what it takes. The margin between winning and losing is so thin that you can't be making that many mistakes. If you do, you've got to learn from them. It's just something for us to learn from and hopefully we can be better for it."
"In terms of our fans, the two years that I've really appreciated playing for the Montreal Canadiens the most are the two bad years that I've been a part of because they don't stop supporting you, they don't stop caring, and they don't stop showing up. The support we get from them is always going to be there."
On how his leadership role changed this year with Shea Weber out of the lineup:
"It was the same. Regardless of the situation we're in, I have to be myself. It's not something you can force. I think I've learned a lot and I've been able to play beside a lot of good teammates and learn from good leaders in this league. I've learned what it takes and what it's all about, but you have to be unique to your own style and for me, it's really about trying to do it day after day, be consistent, be a leader in the way that you work and try to pull guys along that way."
On captain Max Pacioretty:
"It wasn't an easy year for him, obviously. He'll be the first to tell you that. He's no different than any one of us. We were all frustrated, we were all trying to find the answers and failing to do so. When you go through tough times, you learn a lot about yourself and you learn a lot about your character. With Max, I'm sure he's going to be just fine. When you're able to go through struggles and come through it just like our group, and when you do it individually and you're able to battle through that stuff, I think it's just that much more rewarding."
"I've been teammates with Max every year I've been here and I've seen him continue to grow as a player and as a leader. He's obviously a huge part of this team. Playing with him, you can see how dangerous of a player he can be, but I think he's learned a lot about himself and he's learned a lot about being a leader since the day he was named captain."
JEFF PETRY
Jeff Petry on adjusting to a bigger role in 2017-18](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59735303)
On what he needs to work on moving forward:
"I think my game improved throughout the year, but there are definitely things I need to work on and continue to focus on. One of those things is my defensive game. Offensively I felt like I took a step forward in my career, but defense has to be priority number one, so that's something I know I need to work on, and will work on."
"I know I need to be mentally tougher. There are times where I'll make a mistake, and it'll cause me to make one or two more, just because I didn't forget about the first one. It's a high-speed game and mistakes are going to happen. The best players in the league make mistakes, and it's a just a matter on focusing on pushing those mistakes aside, and focusing on the next shift."
JONATHAN DROUIN
Jonathan Drouin on his first year in Montreal](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59734103)
On his first season in Montreal:
"It was a year of learning; it was my first year in Montreal, I was playing center. I should be more consistent next year. I learned a lot of things, I'm ready for next year."
On playing center:
"At the end of the season, I felt a lot more comfortable in the faceoff circle, I'm happy to have that in my repertoire. Whether I'm on the wing or at center in September, I'm not really the one who will decide, but I'm happy to have both as options."
On the pressure of the Montreal market:
"Everyone talks about it and you hear comments until you actually experience it yourself. I enjoyed myself with all that, I was happy to come to the rink. I consider myself very lucky to play at the Bell Centre; I'm a Quebecer, it's a big honor."
NOAH JUULSEN**
On the strides he took in his game this year:
"The biggest improvement for me was shutting down the defensive zone. I think that was one of the bigger things I was working on in the AHL, and then getting called up helped. Going into the offseason I'm going to work on getting my strength up, and my quick decision making."
"Coming in to next year I'm going to have to earn a spot. They like the game I've been playing these last 23 games here. That's the kind of D-man they want me to be -- a quick puck-moving defenseman -- so that's my plan moving forward."
VICTOR METE
Victor Mete on his first NHL season](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59736803)
On his first year in Montreal:
"It's been crazy, it's been a rollercoaster. I didn't know where I was going to be this year, if I was going to be in London or here, and then making the team. Then, I wasn't sure if I was going to stay past the nine games. I stayed past the nine games, I got sent to the World Juniors, and then wasn't sure if I was going to come back. I got called back up here and finished the year here."
On his injury and recovery:
"For sure it was tough. I would've liked to play as many games as possible, but I was happy with how I did going [up] until the injury. I've just been staying in shape, doing some cardio. I couldn't really do more than that, work on some lower-body and that was it.
"Rehab is going well. I think I have a couple of days left until it's fully healed. I should get back to work after that."
ANTTI NIEMI
On his and his team's year:
"Personally, I feel like I learned a lot, getting through the struggle, having a pretty good year. I'm pretty happy about it. For the team, it was a tough year, not having a good start and being a little further from the playoff spot."
On his experience in Montreal:
"I felt great being here. Obviously, I'm hopeful on staying here."
On working with Stephane Waite:
"It was as good as before. That's one of the reasons why I was able to get back in the game."
CAREY PRICE
Carey Price on his plans for the off-season](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59740403)
On bouncing back from a disappointing season:
"Next year is a new season. Every year, you don't know how things are going to end, but you go in with the right mindset and with optimism and every year changes really fast in today's NHL."
"I'm not worried about the future of this team. We just had a bad year. We had a lot of underachieving performances, myself included. That was disappointing, but next year is a brand new year. You have to go in with optimism."
ANDREW SHAW
Andrew Shaw on his head and knee injuries](https://www.nhl.com/video/c-59741103)
On his frustration with the season:
"It was frustrating. It was frustrating for all of us. We're trying not to look at individual stuff; it's a team game. We didn't play great as a team, but we learned from it, we're going to get better, and we're going to come back and have a better year next year.
"I think right off the bat, we were on different pages. We weren't playing a team game. A lot of turnover - a lot of new D, a lot of new forwards. It was a tough year. We started behind the eight-ball, we didn't seem to catch up, and then injuries happened."
On bouncing back next season:
"The only way is up. We're going to be better next year. We know we're going to have a long summer to recover from all the injuries and the long season of having a bad year. We're going to come back positive and be ready for a long, fun year."
MAX PACIORETTY
On his season-ending knee injury:
"I got cleared just now, so I can go about my training as if there was no injury, but it was an unfortunate way to end the year for myself -- it was an MCL sprain."
On the rumors surrounding his future in Montreal:
"Everyone wants to say that they're superheroes, and they don't let any of that creep into their minds, but we're all human. I was more frustrated with my game, that it got to the point where those rumors were surrounding me. I've said it so many times before: I love playing in Montreal, and I take a lot of pride in playing here. I've had a lot of success in Montreal, and I'm very proud of that. Ideally I'd like to be a Montreal Canadien for life, but things aren't ideal right now, so things will change -- I'm just not sure what. We'll see what happens."
