TOR@MTL: Quotes of the day

BROSSARD - The Canadiens skated at the Bell Sports Complex on Wednesday morning ahead of their game against the Maple Leafs.

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Following the on-ice session, forwards Phillip Danault and Jake Evans, and interim head coach Dominique Ducharme spoke with reporters via Zoom.
Here are a few highlights from their respective chats:
Danault on Jonathan Drouin's situation:
"It's a difficult situation. I'd rather not elaborate and get into details; it's his private life. It's certainly not evident. I understand it, too. I'm a Quebecer and I know what it means to play in Montreal. It's hard for me to comment, I don't want to get into details. He's a big part of our team and we're sad for Jo."

Danault on the pressure of playing in Montreal:
"There are lots of highs and lows in Montreal, there's no happy medium. When everything is going well, you're very happy and everything is great. When things aren't going as well, it's more difficult. As a player, we already put a lot of pressure on ourselves. I would say it gets amplified in Montreal. We so want to do well and wear the jersey with pride. It's an added pressure we put on our shoulders. Sometimes, it becomes more difficult on the ice and off it. These aren't the kinds of things we can control."

Evans on playing on a line with Eric Staal:
"He talks a lot on the bench. I think we're developing some some nice chemistry. He's such an amazing player; he's played in this League for a while and he just knows where to be. He's so strong on the puck and really good on faceoffs, too, so he's an easy guy to play with."

Evans on his reaction to news of the Staal trade:
"When that trade happened, it was still in my hands to play my game and if I played well enough, hopefully I'd get those opportunities. It's the same mindset now when I get back in the lineup: try and make sure it's not your last one, and try and get that opportunity again and again. So, every game, I'm going in and trying to prove myself and prove to the coaches and to the team that I can be a good player on this team and have a positive impact."
Ducharme on Drouin:
"I'm not getting into details. The only thing I wish for him is that he takes care of himself. We're with him, we're supporting him, his teammates support him. We're a team and we're going to remain a team."

Ducharme on the human side of the game:
"I talk to my players daily, I like to know how they're feeling. Our role is to get the best out of them. We're here to help them, challenge them, and help them reach their full potential. But we're also here for individuals. I've always acted the same way with Jonathan as with any other player. We're here to support them and we'll always be there for them."