Claude Giroux contract is official and Ray Emery is your new, and very likely, No. 1 goalie for the Flyers.
Gonna be very interesting to see how Emery and Steve Mason work out in net this year. You got to be impressed with Emery's attitude about being a better team guy and understanding that goaltending is a tandem operation.
Courtesy of the Flyers, here are the two transcripts of the conference calls on Friday with Emery and Giroux:
Ray Emery conference call transcript
July 5, 2013
Q: On re-signing with the Flyers
I’m excited. It’s been kind of a crazy couple days. I was really excited when I got wind that that would be an option. I’m happy to be back in a situation where the first time around I was really pumped about it and it didn’t work out the way I wanted, the way I [would have] liked. The team as a group had a great year, losing in the Finals, but I'm really excited about being back.
Q: When you left Philadelphia, at that time did you think you would ever play again?
Yeah. I understood that there was a possibility that I might not play again, but it was just kind of what’s the next step after I found out I had that condition. The next step was finding the best doctor, the best procedure... the next step after that was taking care of it, and just getting off crutches and getting out of a hospital bed, just one step at a time. You normally get what you want when you look at it that way.
Q: Do you feel like you're a better goalie since the surgery?
Yeah. I think goaltending’s a position that you're always... I’m a student of the game, so you're always finding, especially as a goalie, better techniques and getting to understand the game more. Physically I was in great shape when I came there. I still feel like I'm in great shape and feel good about my body, especially the time and effort I put into it now. But just as far as thinking the game, reading the game, and the technique I use, I’m four years older and more experienced.
Q: How difficult was your rehab? Was it the biggest challenge of your career?
Definitely. The time immediately after the surgery was pretty crazy pain-wise, and just getting used to that. I’m missing a bone in my lower leg and they kind of hacked and whacked at it. It's amazing how much pain and how crazy that part was, and it's amazing how great it came back, and how I don’t notice it now. I take care of it preventatively, but I don’t notice it. So to come from that much pain and such a crazy process coming back to feeling fine and dandy is pretty amazing for me.
Q: Did Paul Holmgren tell you you'll be in competition with Steve Mason, and are you excited to have a shot at being a #1 goalie?
Yeah, I’m excited. I haven't talked specifics with Homer. I skate with Mase in the summer. He's just around the corner from my place in Toronto. He’s a great young goalie. He’s a guy who started off as a Calder [Trophy] winner, I think, if I’m not wrong. He’s a guy who’s had success and he’s going to continue to get better. I just look at it as kind of a tandem relationship. Last year with me and Corey in [Chicago], it was more about the team success and we both kind of helped each other get better. As far as I know, that’s the best way to treat a goaltending relationship. I’m excited to work with him, teach him what I know about the game and what I’ve learned about the game, and I'm excited to work with a great young goalie. Whenever I evolve, I end up watching the young guys, because they’re kind of the pioneers. You go and watch these young kids, they're amazing in net. I'm just excited to work together with Steve.
Q: Did the Flyers make that a point, working with Mason?
No, we didn’t talk about that, really. They know what to expect from my last time there. They know I really want the team to do well, and that was kind of it. It was more about how it was going to work and that was it.
Q: What swayed you to come to Philly?
To be honest, it’s a situation where Chicago looks like Corey’s got one year left there, and he’s probably going to end up making 5 or 6 million for the next little while. I feel the writing was on the wall in Chicago as far as myself goes. In Philadelphia, it would be a new situation for both me and Steve. Going forward, it's a chance to maybe play more games than I would have in Chicago. It's a great team and it's a situation that I knew from the last time I was there that I was really comfortable, and anytime I go to a place... I just kind of left myself with a funny taste in my mouth about my experience there. I'm not saying that it wasn’t enjoyable, I'm just saying that I really felt like we could have done better, and I could have done better, than what was done there. That's a huge thing. John Paddock’s the guy I started my pro career with as a coach, and I’ve followed him along the way. He's a guy I really like working with, and I really want to do well with him. The whole organization... I really had great relationships in the organization.
Q: Are you better equipped for a goaltending partnership now than you were when you were younger?
I think I’ve kind of changed my outlook. When I was younger I wanted to play all the games, and got a pouty attitude when I didn’t. Now, you start to realize that if the team is successful, that everyone does well. It’s a better working relationship that way. It's kind of a different philosophy. You learn and you grow and that’s where I’m at. It's fun having a great group of guys and everyone gets along well, and especially sharing success.
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Claude Giroux conference call transcript
July 5, 2013
Q: On his reaction to the contract
“I’m very excited. I’ve been able to play with the organization for five years… it’s been unbelievable, the fans are always expecting great things. So just to be a part of that, it’s a really great feeling.”
Q: How important was it to get this out of the way before the season started?
“That’s one thing me and [Paul Holmgren] wanted to do, to make sure we get this out of the way and from now on we can start focusing on the right thing. It’s done with.”
Q: Can you talk about playing with Vinny Lecavalier?
“I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about him. Growing up I watched him play a lot. I think he’s going to be a player the Flyers fans are going to enjoy watching. He’s an intense guy, he goes to the corners and he plays pretty rough. And obviously he puts the puck in the net. It’s great to have him. I was talking to some of the guys and everybody’s pretty pumped to have him.”
Q: Did you ever have a time where you thought you’d be a career player with the Flyers?
“I never really got to thinking about that stuff. I just go out there and play hockey. I just love playing the game, and I just try to play my best to help the team win. Five years ago I was just trying to get a spot in the NHL and make sure I get as much ice time as I can to be able to prove what I can do. A lot of that credit goes to the coaching staff and the management to have that trust in me.”
Q: When was the deal actually done?
Pretty much when it came out. We were looking at pretty much the same things, just the little details. It’s not really my job to do that, my agent did a pretty good job on that. My main focus is to play hockey, and that was pretty much my agent’s job. It’s not something I was worried about. Homer treats the players very good. I’m just lucky to be a part of this organization right now.”
Q: When were you notified?
“When [my agent] told me the deal was done? I think it was yesterday morning-ish, or around that time.”
Q: On what he’s doing now
“Yeah, that’s basically it. Pat [Brisson is] a great agent and he knows what he’s doing. That’s why I chose him so I can put all my trust in him and just worry about what I have to do. I’ve been training with Tony Greco for the last seven or eight years now I just keep doing the same training I’ve been doing every summer, so I can come to camp feeling good. I can’t be worrying about that kind of stuff.
Q: On potentially signing Ray Emery
If those rumors are true, obviously I had the chance to play with Emery before and he’s an unreal guy – a good teammate and a great goalie. It’s too bad that when he came to Philly he got hurt, but if that’s the case, that’ll be fun.
Q: Was it tough to watch the playoffs?
“Yeah, it’s always tough to watch the games after you’re done. You kind of want to be there, especially when you’ve had a taste before of the Finals. It’s really tough to watch it.”
Q: On the size of the contract
“It’s a great honor to be able to have that kind of contract. It just shows the trust they have in me, and I’m going to do my best to not let them down. A little bit of pressure like that never hurts. I have a lot of good teammates that are playing well, so I’m just pretty excited to move on from this.
Q: On seeing his former teammates go far in the playoffs
Thanks for reminding me about that, by the way. It’s tough to see them go far like that, but at the same time anytime you play with a guy and you get along with him, you’re happy for him that he gets there. Because it’s not easy to go to the Finals. Like I said, it’s just a motivation to want more, and to just want to win the Cup. It’s the only thing that we really thing about. It’s a tough Cup to win, but you’ve just got to learn from your mistakes. Last year was a tough season as a team, but we’re going to learn from it. We’re a young team and we’ve got new players on the team. I think everybody is pretty excited about the team, and they should be.
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