With the Thunderbirds’ season just 51 days away, “Voice of the T-Birds” Ryan Smith caught up with second-year head coach Steve Konowalchuk to discuss the team’s outlook heading into the new year, from returning veterans to promising prospects rising through the St. Louis Blues’ organization.
*Some answers have been lightly edited for length & clarity*
RS: Coming into your second year as a head coach, and with lots of familiar faces returning, you have a chance to pick up right where you left off. How much comfort does that provide you and the team, and what will be the overarching message heading into the new season?
SK: Building on the year-end meetings, all of the players seemed excited about the year and the chance to build. Obviously, it was a tough finish, but we were right there and real close to beating a really good team. We’ve got a really good core coming back, and the young guys have another year under their belt, so that should really help. They know how I operate, and I know their personalities, so the expectations of the day-to-day operation should help going into training camp and the start of the season. As a coach last year, you were getting to know your guys and the guys were getting to know you and your expectations, but now they know what I expect of them, and they have pride amongst themselves that they’re a good hockey team, so the expectations are set. At the start of last year, we had to build and put that foundation in place. To me, I believe the foundation is set, and now it’s just a matter of building on it.
RS: For so many players, the leap from year 1 to year 2 and year 2 to year 3 is so pivotal. There are a lot of players who will be challenging for spots in St. Louis. Outside of production and advanced metrics, what do you hope to see from the young players as they build on the previous season?
SK: It’s a little bit different for each player. They are such young guys (19, 20, 21) that you personally want to see physical growth, where they’re a little bit bigger, stronger, faster. That will enhance their skillset. Once you get bigger, stronger, faster, the game slows down a little bit, and the game gets just a little bit easier for you. That’s the next step for a young player. From there, when you get into training camp and start getting games going, it’s a matter of having that 200-foot game. At the end of the day, that’s a big separator for a lot of players whether they’re in the NHL or…
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