Mikaël Huchette made two observations at the Philadelphia Flyers camp: John Tortorella is not the tyrannical coach that is often described from the outside and… he will never again be able to criticize Patrick Roy’s training!
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Fresh from the Flyers camp, who had offered him an invitation after he was not drafted for a second straight year, Huchette had a smile from ear to ear when he told his experience to the Quebec media. , this morning.
And it’s not because Tortorella spared him, quite the contrary! A photo showing him lying full length on the ice, while Tortorella gives instructions to the players in the background, has gone around the web.
“It was the hardest practice of my life for real! It was hell, I couldn’t stand at the end. All the guys were freaking out. I saw black at the end, it was crazy stiff! I’m telling you, guys, this doesn’t make sense! I will never be able to cry about Patrick’s practices again, that’s for sure, ”he laughed.
GOOD GUY
Because in the end, he only gets positive things out of this experience. Not only did the 19-year-old center player get to taste Tortorella’s medicine on the ice, but he especially got to know him outside the ice surface.
“He’s a really good guy. He is there for the boys. As he said, it’s up to us to be physically ready, but his door is always open. Yeah, he’s really tough on the ice, but off the ice he’s a good guy. He has a posture, he is imposing and he understands the game. I was impressed and I would really like to play for him later. He’s there for the guys and he’s honest. »
According to him, his presence in Philadelphia will only be positive on an organization that has been treading water for a few seasons. From the short time he has been in the team’s environment, Huchette has already felt that he was putting his stamp on his new team.
“His practices are intense and it has to be done his way, but it works. The Flyers, I think it was more relaxed before and now they will be ready. He expects a big season even if they are not considered among the best teams in the league. I think it’s good that he’s tidying up. »
In Pennsylvania, Huchette also rubbed shoulders with Quebecers Nicolas Deslauriers and Antoine Roussel.
“Deslauriers, he’s scary, but he’s a really good guy! As for Roussel, he chatted with us and walked with us in the morning. It was the fun to be able to rub shoulders with these guys every day. They gave me good advice. »
MOTIVATED
Huchette therefore returned to Quebec reinvigorated and motivated for the QMJHL season. The Flyers offered him some advice to improve his skating, including some exercises to improve the flexibility of his hips, and he said he was ready to contribute to the success of the Remparts.
“It was the best experience of my life. To be able to rub shoulders with guys from the NHL, you see that you are not that far away. […] We will have a big team in Quebec and my role will be more important. I have confidence in myself and I want to bring even more offensive. I want to have a big season with the guys. »
NICE PROBLEM
Even if he is back from a professional camp, it will be difficult for Huchette to carve out a place among the top 6 in attack with the Remparts. A beautiful problem, for Patrick Roy.
Théo Rochette and Nathan Gaucher are expected to fill the roles of the team’s first two centers this season. But that does not mean that Huchette will not have an important role to play with the team, warns Roy, who intends to use him in all sauces as he did in the second half of the season during the most recent campaign.
“A team that wants to win needs a good center line. At first, my plan is to get him in the center of the third line and give him more responsibility on the penalty kill as well as in front of the net on the power play. He will have an important role for us and will bring weight to our center line, along with Nathan Gaucher. »
♦ Moreover, Nathan Gaucher (Anaheim Ducks), Théo Rochette (Philadelphia Flyers) and Vsevolod Komarov (Buffalo Sabers) were cut today and will join the Remparts.