A productive partnership

MONTREAL - Max Pacioretty and Jonathan Drouin aren't the only veteran/young gun combination joining forces in the gym this summer.

Torrey Mitchell and Michael McCarron are doing exactly the same thing.
At age 32, Mitchell boasts 10 years of NHL experience and 606 regular season games on his resume, giving his 22-year-old counterpart a solid role model to mirror his workout habits after leading up to training camp.
"This is my first summer training one-on-one with another guy with that much experience. He's definitely showed me what it takes to stay in the League that long. He's one of the hardest workers I've ever worked out with," said McCarron, who trains with Mitchell five to six times per week off the ice. "Sometimes you look at him like he's crazy, but that's why he's been in the NHL for so long. Training with Torrey has definitely helped me train harder this summer."

According to McCarron, the extra work has already yielded noticeable results.
"I needed to lose a bit of fat and I'm starting to see that. I'm putting on some leg muscle, too, to stay strong on my skates and take pucks to the net and be more agile. All those fast-twitch muscles and getting strong in the legs is huge," shared McCarron, now a full-time Montrealer after making the city his offseason training ground for the first time in his young career. "That's part of getting older, too. I'm just starting to grow into my body. I like the progress so far."
Mitchell has also helped McCarron up his game in the nutrition department, giving him plenty of culinary tips to work with.
"Summer's always tough on nutrition. You don't burn as many calories as you do in the season, so you've really got to watch what you're eating. He'll tell me what I can and can't eat and when to eat and when not to eat, what to snack on and what not to snack on. He teaches me a lot," mentioned McCarron. "Nutrition is a huge part. That'll change your body."
McCarron is learning from his veteran teammate every day, but the partnership isn't a one-way street. Having never trained with just one workout buddy before, the father of two has seen his offseason setup as a welcome change as he prepares to embark on his third full year with the Canadiens.

"It's been refreshing to have a young guy to work out with. He's really strong and he's working hard," said Mitchell, who has enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with grinding it out day after day. "I try to veer away from the chirping when we're down to business, but we have a good time. He's a big teddy bear, a big goofball sometimes, but he's serious about getting in shape and getting ready for the season."
McCarron is prepping dilligently for what he knows will be a key campaign for him career-wise after closing out his sophomore year in the pros. The towering forward split time between the AHL and NHL ranks once again in 2016-17, seeing 31 games of action with the big club and picking up one goal and five points along the way.
"I knew this was a big summer for me. I want to make an impression coming into camp and I figured there's no better place to train than in Montreal with great people - a veteran presence with Mitchy and great trainers. I'm happy that I made the transition to come here," confided McCarron, who has two goals and seven points in 51 career games with the Canadiens. "Last year, I got a great opportunity. There are some things I needed to do better, but this is a new beginning coming with Claude. I just need to come in and show him that I want that spot. I'm excited for it."

It all begins with putting in the time in during the summer, and McCarron is relishing the opportunity.
"We come in here two hours every day and it's a battle. It's hard. But I'm definitely starting to see some transitions in my body. That's what makes you happy and keeps you coming back," concluded McCarron. "It's good to come to the gym. Mitchy has been teaching me a lot about how to maintain and how to last during a long season. I try to soak up everything that he talks about."