All-Star: Aho Introduced at Media Day

SAN JOSE - The puck dropped on NHL All-Star Weekend festivities in San Jose with media day.
Moved to primetime this year, media day provided not only an opportunity for reporters from around the globe to fetch soundbites from the league's stars, but also a unique perspective for fans to take in the action and listen in on live interviews.

Media day festivities sprawled across the stage and floor at City National Civic in downtown San Jose. Players were introduced one-by-one by division before they dispersed into various interview pods. Using earpieces handed out at the door, fans in the stands could then tune their earpiece to any of the pods and hear an interview as it happened, and video from each pod projected onto screens at the front of the theatre. There were also live on-stage interviews and hits with NHL Network.

It was a bustling, high-tech affair.

Aho sported the black All-Star sweater - created in partnership by Adidas and Parley for the Oceans, the first-ever NHL hockey jerseys to feature repurposed and upcycled materials with a tonal Hurricanes' primary crest on the chest - while fielding questions in both English and Finnish at his designated pod.

Here are some highlights.
On what's made his season successful so far: "I'm still a young player. I can be physically even more stronger, faster, all that. That helps when you get a little bit stronger. Good linemates. Coach lets my play and gives me a lot of ice time."
On if there's another level to his game: "Of course I believe there's a next level. I'm still a young player. I'm not done here. I want to be a better player every year. That's my goal."
On being considered an elite player as an All-Star: "I don't like to compare myself to other players. These guys have been here for so many years, and they've been so great for so many years in this league. At the same time, it's cool to be in the same group with these guys now."
On watching the best players in the league: "I look at the best players in the league and try to learn something every day. That's who I am. I like to watch the best players play and maybe learn something from them."
On Teravainen's new contract: "He's a great player. I'm so happy for him. He deserved that deal. It was a good deal for both the Hurricanes and Teuvo. I'm happy for him. He's going to be great for the Hurricanes for five-and-half years."
On Finnish hockey: "We are producing great players every year, and we're playing pretty good against the big countries in the tournaments, too."
On why the mullet is no longer a trend in the NHL: "I don't know. That's a good question. I don't think it's trendy anywhere."