Nick Paul’s Toronto homecoming is already starting to feel real.
The new Maple Leafs forward said Monday that the moment hit when he finally moved into the city and stepped on the ice in team colors. Speaking at the Leafs & Legends Charity Golf Classic, Paul said he has also been spending plenty of time with family while helping with the move.
“It’s great. I think it sank in when we finally moved here and I hopped on the ice in the Toronto gear.
I’ve been seeing my family a bunch and helping with the move a little bit. It’s been great.”
For Paul, the first time he takes a shift at the rink where he used to watch games as a kid will carry a different kind of weight. He remembered catching the GO Train, scalping tickets and climbing into the nosebleeds, and said the feeling was never quite the same when he entered that building as a visiting player with Ottawa or Tampa.
“It’ll be fun. I was already talking to my family about it.
It’s crazy. When I was younger, we would catch the GO Train, scalp tickets, and head up to the nosebleeds.
I’ve always said it was different when I played for Ottawa or Tampa and came into this rink. I was playing in my hometown, but I wasn’t playing for the hometown team.
Having a Leafs jersey on and playing in front of everyone will be fun.”
Paul also made clear he likes what he sees in the group around him. With a roster that has changed a lot this summer, he said the early work during captain’s skates has helped smooth out the transition.
“Honestly, all of the guys have been great and super welcoming. It’s a good group of guys who support you and have a couple of good laughs.
It seems like a really close group. I feel like I’ve been able to slide right in and become comfortable immediately.
It has been great around the room with the leaders and the new guys. There are a lot of new guys as well, so it has been a good transition so far.”
He pointed to the offseason additions as a sign the team is built to contend.
“It’s going to be a good year. We’re going to work really hard, and we’re going to try to get it done.
I think management did a great job this offseason of building a team that is ready to compete and compete for the playoffs. We’re all going to buy in, and we’re going to find a way.”
That chemistry work has already included skates, time together, and even a fantasy draft, which Paul said helps when camp is short and everyone arrives with summer training already in the rearview.
“Everyone knows it’s a short camp, so you have to arrive ready. Everyone has been working out all summer anyway. Nobody is coming in out of shape.
It’s more about bringing the group together, especially with so many new guys, and building chemistry. Holding those events, bringing everyone together, and allowing everyone to become closer definitely helps a lot.”
Paul said two preseason games should be enough to get ready, though he noted it is all new to him. He also said joining the Leafs with Darren Raddysh has made the move easier, especially since their wives are close as well.
“It’s great. Coming with someone is a little easier than coming alone.
Darren is great. We don’t sit across from each other in the room because the defensemen sit a little farther away from the forwards, but it’s nice to have someone here. It’s not just Darren and me; my wife and his wife are close as well.
It’s nice to have someone to share this experience with, including moving and all the fun stuff that comes with it.”
Paul said he also enjoyed facing Sergei Bobrovsky in the Battle of Florida and is happy to have him behind the Leafs crease now.
“Bob is really dialed in when he comes to the rink. He’s a true professional and an unbelievable goalie. We’re happy to have him kicking pucks out for us.”
As for Auston Matthews, Paul said the captain made a strong first impression by coming over quickly and welcoming him in.
“He’s great. When you’re playing against someone, you don’t know what they’re really like. I didn’t know what to expect from anyone coming in, but it has been great.
He was one of the first guys to come up to me, shake my hand, and talk for a little bit. He’s awesome. He’s a great leader and a great locker-room guy, and you can see the presence he commands around the room.”
Paul’s offseason work was built around a different training approach, one that leaned heavily on cardio, hip activation and building from the base up before adding strength.
“I changed my routine a little bit this summer. I focused more on cardio, activating my hips, getting my base right, and then building muscle and strength on top of that base.
It has been good. Ever since I was traded here, I’ve also been skating a lot. We’ve had some good skates, so I’m just trying to be ready to go.”
He also praised O’Brien’s work in shaping what comes next for the team.
“O’Brien is amazing at what he does. There is a lot that goes into it, and he has a great team around him.
Having him come in, explain his thoughts, and explain the reasoning behind everything we do and what we’re going to be doing is super exciting.”
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