Get to Know Paul Cotter - Part Two
Paul Cotter talks about his life as NHL rookie
CA: Take us through your game day routine
PC: On game day, I wake up at the last possible second to get to the rink. I'm probably the first one here. Actually, you know what, Marchy is here before me sometimes on game day. But normally I'm the first one here. I go straight into the shower, take a shower, kind of wake up a little bit. Go into the cold tub which is hell on earth. It's the worst part of my day. I hate it so much. So then I go upstairs, do some stretches, chill out, eat breakfast.
CA: What's your favorite breakfast food?
PC: I have the same breakfast every single day. Ham and cheese omelette with two pieces of bacon and Himalayan sea salt. No coffee, not a coffee guy. Saves a lot of money, right? Morning skate, always skate if I can. Go upstairs, do some workout stuff, make sure my feet are going. Every day, I go up to the chef and I do this \motions with a salute signal\ and he says "I got you" and makes my same meal every time. Penne Alfredo with a little bit of chicken, my man. Then I go to The Factory right from the rink. I can't tell you what that is because it's a secret. I had Derrick Pouliot hooked, he loved it.
I was trying to get Sven Bärtschi to come with us and he called his wife and was like "hey I'm gonna go to The Factory." She's like "what's that?" And he's like "I don't know." And she's like "you're not going." So he gave the phone to me and she's like "Paul, where is Sven going?" And I'm like "I can't tell you." She thinks it's like something crazy. But it was the funniest thing ever. So I go to The Factory, head home, eat whatever my Factory thing is - can't tell you, secret - Normatec for an hour, pregame meal. Sleep for an hour, on the dot. Wake up, get all fancied up, normally somebody drives me to the rink because I hate driving. So I make Korczak drive me. I hate driving. I hate it. Not on game days, can't do it.
CA: Any superstitions?
PC: I try to do the same thing every day. Well, on game days. But I'm pretty good with it. Like if something goes wrong, it's like "okay."
CA: What about the water bottle ritual? Is that a superstition for you? Does it have to happen?
PC: Oh yeah! I've been doing that for a long time actually. It started when I was in warmups one time, I was kind of buzzing around and I was like "I just don't feel awake." So I went to squirt the water bottle behind me and I was like "I can't do this, I don't want to do it. It's cold." So I told one of the trainers to do it, this was back on the Lincoln Stars. 2018. It kind of woke me up. So from there, I always ask whoever is on the bench to do it. Raul is getting creative too, he's adding a couple squirts [of water] in my face. I'm like "whoa, that's not a thing!"
CA: What goals do you have for yourself in the future?
PC: I want to get to 40 points. That's a goal of mine. That would be really cool. [Going to the All-Star game] has been my dreams since I was like five. I just want to do the shootout. I've had my move ready for so long.
CA: You can't reveal it though right?
PC: Nope. No one knows.
CA: What's a song/artist/TV show some people might not expect you to like? A guilty pleasure?
PC: I don't know if it counts as a guilty pleasure, but I love Cheddar Jack Cheez Its. They're unbelievable. I don't know what is in them, but oh my god. I crush at least two boxes a week. No doubt. Like, if I built a wall of the little boxes, I could build a house.
CA: So no Gossip Girl or Britney Spears or any guilty pleasure that you admit to listening to or watching besides the snacks?
PC: I got forced to watch Too Hot to Handle with the Korczaks. Korczak's girlfriend forced me into watching it with them. I don't like it. [I was forced] to watch Too Hot to Handle. I was there for the wine.
CA: But that's not a guilty pleasure then, because you don't like it.
PC: True. Yeah, the Cheez Its thing is the guilty pleasure.
CA: Do you have an all-time favorite song/artist/TV show/movie?
PC: Ooh, yes I do. Movie: Focus. Will Smith is in it. It's the best movie of all time. There's a scene in it where everything kind of comes together and you're like, "how the hell did somebody think of this?" You know what I mean? It was insane. It's the coolest movie of all time. If you haven't seen it, watch it.
CA: Is he your favorite actor?
PC: No, you know what, I like Jason Statham. The bald dude. He's a ninja. That guy is nails. I'd say either him or Matt Bomer in White Collar. He's a baller.
CA: So besides your favorite movie, do you have a favorite song or artist?
PC: I like Morgan Wallen, don't get me wrong. But I'd say 'Alive' by Klingande. It's a yellow album picture. It's the best song in the entire world.
CA: Do you listen to it before games?
PC: It's kind of a banger. You can listen to it on the beach, you can listen to it going to a game.
CA: When Korczak is driving you? Are you on the aux when he's driving?
PC: Oh I'm ALWAYS on the aux. No matter what.
CA: You don't let Korczak DJ even though it's his car?
PC: No. The car catches on fire [when I'm on aux].
CA: Favorite food? Least favorite?
PC: Favorite food, rigatoni Alfredo with shrimp.
CA: That's your pregame meal right?
PC: Yeah, but it's my favorite meal. I douse it in Himalayan sea salt.
CA: You don't get sick of it?
PC: No, I'm surprised but I haven't. [I have it] with Vitamin D milk, a Perrier - lemon Perrier. Maybe a little box of Cheez Its on the side. Cheddar Jack. Least favorite food? Tomatoes. I hate tomatoes. They should not even [exist]. I ate one yesterday and I almost threw up. I hate [them] actually, they're the worst thing ever.
