Earlier this week, Columbus Blue Jackets enforcer Mathieu Olivier spoke on the Spittin’ Chicklets podcast featuring NHL alumni Paul Bissionette, Ryan Whitney, and Keith Yandle. The recently extended winger spoke about his upbringing, teammates, health, and role with the franchise.
On his upbringing
The Mississippi born Quebecois spent time in Oklahoma City; Texas; Germany; and Quebec City. Olivier began his organized youth hockey in Germany.
His father played defense in Quebec fight league and coached in Victoriaville; however, he left the rink the year before Oliver joined the QMJHL, where he spent 5 years, ditched some school to hit the rink, and went undrafted through the NHL draft while maintain the goal to go professional.
On Role Models
Growing up, he looked up to Donald Brasher and father.
Oliver on neurology
His neurologist Worked with Neuro 90 min from home to fix concussion issues working with Montembault.
Miluawakee Admirals (AHL)
Miuawakee great bar city three streets of bars all the way down not really clubs mostly Packers bars “pure wisko drinking city” and played “Bar Die” - Dice game against bartender for free round
Nervous before fights?
Not as nervous anymore; couple guys there. Don’t ask, make it happen. Last 2 seasons.
Nashville to Columbus Trade
Thought it was predetermined to be moved due to Jeannot; knew he was being traded by Poile days before.
Loved Larsen and welcome to Columbus and relationship with Gudbranson from Nashville.
On Sean Monahan
Dynamic and addition of Sean Monahan came for Gaudreau. big role model for youth
Loves Werenski and Fabbro
On Z - everything to our team; should be in running for Norris and Hart. Dialed coming into this year. Got half the roster including Kuraly and himself on Yasso bars.
On Fabbro - knows how to play with Z because of experience with Josi
On Kent Johnson
great; big year
On Marchenko
Monhanov / Andrei Fantillov good English; can talk to everyone
On Voronkov
If it wasn’t for adding the Russians; wouldn’t have stayed; players love him; calls himself Big Boss ; pending RFA Big Boss Big Money; Vronny
Big Boss watched Bear dismantle animal in pregame once this season. Russians in KHL check phones between intermissions; one player in Russia had phone fall on ice during game; it was played on Voronkov’s KHL team.
On Ivan Provorov -
taking care of all the Russians; helps translate; couldn’t tell he’s Russians; Elvis is Latvian and speaks Russian
Conductor in Dressing Room
Olivier / Boone / Guddy
On Fantilli
Great kid and hilarious; lunch with him daily; has jokes;
On JvR;
Gets treatment everywhere; huge for the room both he and Johnson; veteran presence needed; net front merchant; massive for this team
Big Contract
Comparables, numbers lower to start, worked up over year and fit with team; love for city and how under cover it is between OSU; suburbs; fans; didn’t want to leave; knew it was a risk; great negotiations. Always knew it was gonna happen to stay for six years to protect the young studs.
On Z and young guns
Here to protect them; feels like Z will never stop
Deadline fetch?
(Jackets) Decided after quarter mark that they were gonna keep him
Toughest fighting challenges?
Lucic
Deslaurirers
MacDermid
Reaves
Gajovich
Johnston
Jeannot - lienmates in Nashville and Miliawakee
Borowiecki - trained on boxing bag
Harpur
Gudbranson
Treinen
McCarron
Kunin
“Absolute meatsticks”
On fanbase
Love fanbase; one of the most under appreciated fanbases in the league; can’t wait to give them a bigger reason to cheer louder.
Torts Fired Himself Out of Philadelphia
Writing was on the wall; team and direction did not align. Flyers win the full rebuild. He publicly reserved himself in front of the Toronto press, but he wants to win and it was not going to work in Philadelphia long term.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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