Cats Check-In: Wallmark Working Out, Playing FIFA in Sweden

The Florida Panthers are riding out these unprecedented times much like the rest of us. Whether it's finding creative ways to stay in shape or brushing up on their culinary skills in the kitchen, players have hunkered down and begun to find ways to adapt to their new routines at home as the NHL remains on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic that's gripped the world.

Through this new "Cats Check-In" series, FloridaPanthers.com's Jameson Olive will be catching up with some of these players to see how they've been spending their days, with questions ranging from what they're currently binge-watching on TV to how they're keeping in shape.

This week's check-in: Panthers forward Lucas Wallmark.

OLIVE: We've officially reached two months since the NHL paused its regular season back on March 12. Are you still hanging out in South Florida are you back in Sweden?

WALLMARK:I'm back in Sweden. I've been able to [work out], but I'm staying home mostly.

OLIVE: How soon after the pause did you decide to go back to Sweden?

WALLMARK: I stayed [in South Florida] for a little bit, but when I heard how things were all over the world I wanted to go back home and be close to my family. I wanted to be with them during this time.

OLIVE: Are you staying with your family or do you have your own place?

WALLMARK:I have my own place, but it's been nice to be in the same country, same city as my family. It's really good to be close to them during this time.

OLIVE: What's your day-to-day routine been like lately?

WALLMARK: I usually go to the gym in the morning and do my workout there. That's pretty nice to have that routine. That's pretty much it.

OLIVE: When you're done working out, have you been watching anything good on TV?

WALLMARK:Yeah, I've been watching a lot of things. I've seen a couple good TV shows, a little bit of everything. It's nice to have something to do when you're at home.

OLIVE: Does Sweden have any really good shows that we're missing out on in the USA?

WALLMARK:[Laughs]. Yeah, we've actually got some good shows. But I've just been watching Money Heiston Netflix. I'm also watching The Last Dance [on ESPN]. That show is really good.

OLIVE: A big part of The Last Dancehas been showing just how big of a global icon that Michael Jordan was in his prime. As a kid growing up in Sweden, were you aware of him?

WALLMARK: I knew the name and knew who he was, but I didn't know he was that good. He was one of the best all-time. It's pretty fun to watch right now and see just how great he was.

OLIVE: I know a lot of your teammates have been playing video games during the quarantine. Have you been playing anything lately?

WALLMARK:I'm playing some FIFAon PS4. I'm a big soccer guy.

OLIVE: Do you play with any other hockey players?

WALLMARK:I'm playing with some hockey players that play back in Sweden. We have a couple hockey guys that get together to play FIFA. It's pretty fun.

OLIVE: With all the time you're spending at home, have you become a pretty good cook?

WALLMARK:I'm actually lucky. My girlfriend is good at cooking. I go to the grocery store and she cooks. It's a good combo [laughs].

OLIVE: Is there one specific dish she makes that's your favorite?

WALLMARK:I'm lucky because anything she makes is good.

OLIVE: Looking at the bigger picture, you've had a pretty hectic few months. From being traded to the Panthers in February to riding out the current pandemic, how would you sum up this period of time?

WALLMARK: It's been a lot. I was really happy to come to Florida. I know it's a really great group of guys. I felt really welcome from the first day. That made everything a lot easier. With [the pandemic], it's a bad time right now all over the world. You just have to deal with it and get through it. Hopefully we can get back to normal [eventually].

OLIVE: That being said, how much do you look forward to getting back to hockey?

WALLMARK: I'm super excited. It's hard to not play when you've been playing so many games. You want to finish the season. You want to get into the playoffs. That's the best time of the year. That's what you want to do. Hopefully, we can be there in the future.

Stay tuned for more "Cats Check-Ins" with your favorite Panthers!

\Some parts of conversation were edited for clarity.*