Sabres.com chatted with the new Sabres defenseman. Here's a portion of the Q&A:
When you were traded here, you looked at the roster and said you saw speed and skill. Now that you've had a month with the team, what else do you see?
Obviously, our power play has been off to a really good start, so that's something that can help you either stay in or win a lot of games throughout the regular season. It's such an important part, special teams. But yeah, I think if we play every night with that speed and skill and keep it simple, we're always going to have a very fair shot. It's been an encouraging start.
Your unit on the power play with Marcus Johansson, Casey Mittelstadt, Conor Sheary, and Rasmus Ristolainen] includes a bunch of guys getting to know each other. How has that progression gone?
It's been good. Johansson there, he's so smart with the puck on the half wall. A lot of it runs through him, and then we've got a couple of good shots over on our side with Risto and myself. I think with the time that we get out there - obviously that other unit has done a great job - we just want to go out there and do what we can.
I've read that Roger Federer is your favorite athlete outside of hockey. Why?
I think you just look at the way he plays. He's so smart and so calm out there and obviously a very true professional. He's kind of an interesting guy to watch. Whenever I watch him, you kind of see how in control he is of his game. The results come through.
It's funny you say calm. That's how [Sabres coach Ralph Krueger] has described you. Is that a good description?
I hope so. You try to play like that. There are always moments throughout the game where you get a little sporadic, but if we can stick within our game we'll be good.
[Read the entire interview here.
