Still as inexpressive in front of journalists, forward Evgenii Dadonov nevertheless said he was excited to join the Dallas Stars, a formation occupying the top of the Central section.
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The news of the transaction concluded a few hours earlier did not surprise the main interested party, who said he was happy to land in Dallas. His agent had also informed him in the previous days that an event was brewing, since he asked to lift his non-movement clause.
Traded by the Montreal Canadiens for winger Denis Gurianov on Sunday, the 33-year-old hockey player will try to help his new club go a long way in the playoffs. Certainly, he now has the opportunity to enjoy much more collective success than within the Habs, virtually eliminated.
“I’m very excited to play here,” he told NHL.com in a relatively serious but relaxed tone before Monday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. They are a good team which is always difficult to face. For me, this is a step forward and a great opportunity.”
Also, the skater had little time to mourn his departure from Quebec, as he quickly had to pack his bags. Above all, he prefers to look to the future and not think about what went wrong in Montreal.
“In terms of points obtained, it was difficult. We had good games and bad ones, with unsuccessful sequences. But here I am in good shape and ready to play,” he said.
A familiar face behind the bench
Dadonov finds himself in familiar country with the presence of head coach Peter DeBoer, a man who seems to hold him in high esteem. He coached him with the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights – the latter last year – and he knows what to expect.
“He’s a good instructor. He is fair and honest with the players, to whom he tells what is going well”, he considered.
“I’ve known him for a long time,” DeBoer said. I’m a big fan of the player and the person. He’s a regular season veteran and he’s never been overtaken by the course of events. On the ice, he can be trusted and he has proven that he is capable of scoring important goals in the playoffs. He is an athlete who has participated in the World Championships. Having a guy with that background inside the locker room is great.”
In Texas, the one who collected only 18 points in 50 games wants to do better and he has a wish to make, he who will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. And the good news for him is that he will be alongside Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment in the Stars’ second line.
“I hope to play on the power play. Everyone here excels and I will enjoy growing with them, he said. I can play with quite a few players and adjust myself.