Nate Schmidt opens up publicly about joining Paul Maurice and the Panthers
The Florida Panthers added veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt this offseason, after he was bought out by the Winnipeg Jets.
The two-way defenseman only played for head coach Paul Maurice for four months on the Winnipeg Jets, but fell in love with his temperament and style, and chose the Florida Panthers for that reason — and to win a Stanley Cup.
Here is an interview Schmidt did with the NHL yesterday where he opened up about everything:
«My biggest ups when I was in Winnipeg was when I was under Paul Maurice,» Schmidt said Wednesday at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer league featuring collegiate and NHL players with ties to Minnesota. «And honestly, I just felt like he was somebody who understood my game and knows how to unlock the most out of his guys. I felt that comfort level, and with Paul and this team, I'm just chasing a ring. That's all I want. I just want to win. I want to be a part of it, too.»
«I've been to the (Stanley Cup) Final (with Vegas in 2018, a five-game loss to Washington) and I know how hard it is,» Schmidt said. «But you don't realize how bad you want it until you're not close to winning it again.
«I just want to have a chance. That's all you ever ask for as a young kid. A chance to win the Stanley Cup. And I couldn't be more grateful to get that in Florida.»
«When you go with the champs, the first thing you say is, ‘I got to win that roster spot,'» Schmidt said. «So now, I've got to get back into hardware mode of wanting to get into that grind, and that's what's been my motivation this summer.»
«I'm joining a team that's done it, that's won the Cup,» he said. «I have to step it up. As defending champs, now it's going to be harder. It's hard to stay there. But what's really important about a young group, and a group that has a lot of talent, is trying to have that same type of swagger they had all year.
«They had that swagger that, 'We're going to outwork you, we're going to outcompete you.' That's an awesome mentality to have. If you don't have it, you can't manufacture it and that's what I love it about joining this Florida team.»
«I've been to the (Stanley Cup) Final (with Vegas in 2018, a five-game loss to Washington) and I know how hard it is,» Schmidt said. «But you don't realize how bad you want it until you're not close to winning it again.
«I just want to have a chance. That's all you ever ask for as a young kid. A chance to win the Stanley Cup. And I couldn't be more grateful to get that in Florida.»
«When you go with the champs, the first thing you say is, ‘I got to win that roster spot,'» Schmidt said. «So now, I've got to get back into hardware mode of wanting to get into that grind, and that's what's been my motivation this summer.»
«I'm joining a team that's done it, that's won the Cup,» he said. «I have to step it up. As defending champs, now it's going to be harder. It's hard to stay there. But what's really important about a young group, and a group that has a lot of talent, is trying to have that same type of swagger they had all year.
«They had that swagger that, 'We're going to outwork you, we're going to outcompete you.' That's an awesome mentality to have. If you don't have it, you can't manufacture it and that's what I love it about joining this Florida team.»
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 13 | 87 ANSWERS Nate Schmidt opens up publicly about joining Paul Maurice and the Panthers Do you think Nate Schmidt and Florida Panthers will win a second Stanley Cup? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 29.9 % |
| No | 61 | 70.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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