Podcast highlights: Alex Belzile

MONTREAL - Before debuting with the Canadiens last summer, Alex Belzile perfected his game in the ECHL and AHL ranks.

The veteran forward recently joined Marc Dumont to talk about his career, the adversity he encountered over the years, and growing into a mentorship role. He also shared his thoughts on top prospect Cole Caufield.
Read on for a few highlights from Belzile's discussion with Dumont, which is available in its entirety wherever you get your podcasts.
MARC DUMONT:You're competing with players for a spot on the team. Some of these guys see you as a mentor. How do you balance helping younger players and trying to attract attention from the Canadiens?
ALEX BELZILE:I'm a very transparent person. I'm really passionate about hockey. Helping others comes naturally for me. I've experienced both sides of the coin. During my first few years in the pros, there were more experienced players who helped me get better. I was also trying to steal their spots, though. There's a constant cycle like that in hockey. There'll always be players to replace you. I understand the situation. I think I'm mature enough and I've experienced enough to get that. It wouldn't make sense for me to compare myself to a guy like Caufield. We're far from being on the same page. He just got here and he's a first-round pick. I'm just trying to control what I can control. You never know when you're going to get the call that they need you. Things change quickly in the hockey world. The day I understood that I needed to stop looking left and right and just focus on improving, that's when I understood that regardless of what happens, I have to control what I can control and be the best at it. It's just that simple. I think it's a good way of approaching the situation.
MD:You played for the Canadiens during the most recent playoff run. Did you take some time to appreciate the experience?
AB:I didn't really think about it at the time. I was more focused than anything. We were in the Toronto bubble, so we were isolated. After the playoffs, I realized the impact that it had in the Lower Saint-Lawrence region. There aren't many guys from there who've played in the NHL. There's Gabriel Dumont, Gabriel Bourque, Jordan Caron and Cédric Paquette. We know them by name because there are so few of them. But during the playoffs, I was very focused. I just wanted to help the team. I didn't look at my situation any differently from the other guys. I just wanted to concentrate.
MD:What were your first impressions of Caufield?
AB:I think he's an excellent player. The biggest difference between college hockey and pro hockey is the execution speed. The level of intensity and the strength of the players is also different between the two levels. In Cole's case, though, it doesn't show. If you change the name on the back of his jersey, you'd think that he'd already played 20 games at this level. He got used to it very quickly. Cole has natural talent. Since he started playing, there were always doubts, but he always found ways to be successful. I only have positive things to say about him. It's fun to work with those kinds of players. We talk a lot about his shot, but he works hard to keep improving it. His execution and speed are impressive. I'm watching and learning from him, even though he's only 20 years old. He's a real expert in what he does. If you're the least bit fired up, you'll try to learn from him.
Watch: Youtube Video
MD:Does Rafaël Harvey-Pinard remind you of Brendan Gallagher?
AB:I wouldn't compare him to Gallagher because he's a lefty. All kidding aside, he's been a nice surprise with the Rocket. I never saw him play before. I'd just heard some nice things about him. I was really surprised by his hockey sense. He understands the game really well. He checks a lot of boxes in terms of forechecking, being responsible defensively, having a good shot and good hands. You'd think he was 27 or 28 years old because of the way he plays. It's impressive for such a young player to play such a mature game. That's going to be his trademark.
Click here to find the show on your favorite podcast app.