Shots From The Point By OEL

GLENDALE --We're just one day away from beginning a new season in Dallas and I can't wait. Everybody around our team is super excited to get started. It's been a long off-season and we want to start playing meaningful games again. We've done a lot to prepare during this training camp and I think we're ready to go. There's still work to be done as the season goes by, but we're in pretty good shape right now.
Our goal is to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's why we all play hockey at this level. It would be foolish to enter the season thinking we're just going to play the games on the schedule and that's it. Playing games beyond the schedule we see on the wall is what's motivating us. We added some character guys to our team and I can feel a different vibe in our room. We're all excited to get going.

I'm always a little nervous before the season starts and I still get excited for Opening Night. It's a great reminder of how much of a privilege it is to play in the NHL. If you take it for granted, you won't last long in this league. So, yes, I'll be a little nervous on Thursday night but that's OK. I think I play my best when I'm like that.
I don't mind starting the season on the road. Honestly, it really doesn't matter where we play that first game. We definitely need to play well and get off to a good start and get some confidence in our group. I think doing that will be huge for us and will make Saturday's home opener even more special. I hope we see everyone reading this out there in Glendale that night.

Looks like I'll be paired with my friend Jason Demers again to start the season. We built good chemistry last year and I feel we keep getting better and better as a pair. He's so easy to play with and he's helping me out a lot. He's a very vocal guy on the ice, and he's a very vocal guy in the room. Sometimes he's a little too vocal in the room, you know? No, not really. That's just a joke. It's good to have vocal guys like him in our room.

I'm going to end this blog by congratulating my friend Radim Vrbata on his retirement from the NHL. Vrby was such a special player. He had some good years here in Arizona and was a big part of our team that went deep in the playoffs in 2012. Before that, he was here when I first got into the league and he really helped me feel like I was at home here. I remember him being so friendly toward me. He played over 1,000 NHL games and he's a great hockey player, but I can tell you he's an even better person than he was a hockey player, and I'm happy for him as he starts the next chapter of his life.

Thanks for reading.
-- OEL