Alexandre Carrier has been with the Canadian for less than three weeks and he already feels at home within a group that he clearly likes.
Before facing the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night, he had played only one of his first eight games in the blue-white-red jersey at the Bell Centre.
These numerous games on the road, including those of the fruitful five-game trip which ended Saturday in Colorado, allowed the Quebec defender to familiarize himself with his new environment.
“As a new player, it allowed me to know the guys a lot more. We spend time together, we go to dinner together, we spent the New Year together,” he noted late Monday afternoon.
Soda
Even when it was more difficult at the start of the season, the collective spirit seemed good among the Canadian and that is what Carrier has noticed since his arrival.
“Off the ice, I would say the chemistry that they have, that everyone has, now I’m in the group. So the chemistry we have is impressive. Everyone stays close, there’s no clique, everyone feels good, everyone is positive.”
All of this has a positive impact on the ice, which explains why the team has been playing so well lately.
“Everyone is on the same wavelength, everyone works hard, there are no passengers, everyone brings something to the team, whether on defense or on the forecheck. Obviously, our goalkeepers were very good too, so all that put together, it leads to good results.
Veteran
At 28 years old, Carrier is now a young veteran even if he did not take full advantage of this status with the Predators.
“I’m sitting a little further away on the bus than in Nashville,” he joked.
“Obviously, these are two completely different groups and I find it interesting because it allows me to be more expressive, to show my leadership, while in Nashville, there are several guys who have won the Stanley Cup.”
With a young team like the Canadian, he can give free rein to his leadership.
“It’s a great challenge and I’m at a point in my career where I’m more comfortable with who I am and the kind of leader I want to be.”
On the road…
The Canadiens players undoubtedly wanted to sing On the Road Again a few times over the past week and a half. After all, Willie Nelson’s classic fit their reality well.
Even though he was accustomed to the numerous time zone changes in Nashville with a team that played in central time in the Western Conference, Carrier was surprised by the Canadian’s schedule during this trip that began in Florida and which continued in Vegas and ended with two matches in less than 24 hours in Chicago and Denver.
“Honestly, I have rarely seen this, a trip like this. We went from the East to the Pacific, back to Central Time and then back to Mountain Time. It’s impressive, I didn’t even think we were capable of doing that. But it’s part of the job.”
