Legwand signs 2-year deal with Senators: 'It's an exciting time there'
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David Legwand spoke to the media for the first time since signing a two-year, $6-million contract with the Ottawa Senators, and addressed, among other things, the decision to sign with a Canadian team and whether he feels any pressure to replace Jason Spezza.
Here are a few of the highlights, via the Senators official website:
On choosing Ottawa:
We had other options. I think Ottawa is a place where I liked the coaching staff, I played against Paul MacLean a lot when he was with Detroit and obviously with Jason Spezza leaving I thought it was a good fit for myself. Obviously they have a great group of young hockey players and they've got a top five defenceman in the League [Erik Karlsson] and guys up front like Clarke MacArthur, Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Milan Michalek and those guys are great hockey players. It's an exciting time there and it should be a good season for us.
On what he brings to the team:
I think I can take up the second line centre spot and play good minutes for the team and help out in all areas of the game. Whether it's the power play or penalty kill or 5-on-5 I think I can help and helping out with the young guys who are just coming in. They've got some solid prospects in their system that are up and coming too.
On playing in a Canadian market:
That's something that always intrigued me. Being down in Nashville for 14 years that's something I never really got a chance to do. I think it'll be exciting being in a winter city and a cold city and a hockey market, I think it'll be pretty fun.
On if he feels any pressure to replace Spezza's offence:
Obviously what Jason Spezza did in Ottawa is pretty remarkable, he's a point a game guy and a very rare offensive talent. I don't think you're going to fill his shoes. I'm going there to do some things that will help the overall game and those right types of things all around the ice and arena.
The full transcript of the conference call can be read here.