Sabres/Amerks Defenseman and Richmond-Native - Zac Jones Joins To Talk Puck & RVA - Step Brother Sports - Episode 72

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And folks since we last spoke USA men's and women's hockey won gold.

The savers continue their warpath NHL trade deadlines this Friday.

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Maybe more on that later NFL free agency next week already.

But super excited to bring on today's guest as you folks can see here.

When it was shared with me by a friend that he is from my neck of the woods.

I felt like we just had to find a way to make this happen.

He is a current defenseman for the Rochester Americans and Buffalo Sabers.

He is fresh off his NHL all star appearance.

And we're really excited to get his perspective on what it means to be a

professional athlete in today's day and age. Please welcome Zach Jones.

Thanks for having me Chris. I appreciate it.

Yeah, again, Zach really appreciate you making the time for this and hop

on out with us this this evening.

I told you right off camera a moment ago. I know the amorks are gearing up for

another big divisional tilt against the level rocket tomorrow.

Not to mention what you have to do to obviously prepare for the game.

But what I want to do to start right here is talk about really your hockey

origins for those who don't know for me obviously.

I grew up in Buffalo. I now live in Richmond, Virginia since 2012.

You Zach are a Richmond native and so we've ultimately swapped places more or

less. There are a few folks actually funny enough.

I've gotten to know in Richmond that you know quite well actually.

One being your uncle who many refer to as red shout out to red and all the good

folks of Gucci linen sports page bar and grill.

I'll die on the hill that they have the best wings in the city.

Richmond are in that area.

The other like we just talked about about a moment ago.

Being one of your former coaches from way back in the day and my current

co-worker Greg Simone. So again the world is too small.

So before I kind of give you a moment to chime off on here, Zach.

Greg wanted me to share this just because I figured folks would get a kick out of this

because he would always say about you that as soon as you would get home from practice

because you obviously were on the same team as his son.

When it was dark you would go out, shoot pucks against his garage with one of those fake

ice mats, eat dinner super late, go watch more hockey and he said you would just eat,

sleep and breathe hockey and then also he wanted you to elaborate on he wanted to say

quote-unquote what little rink was to the listeners that there was a fun story behind that.

So yeah, tell us a little bit about growing up in Richmond, your hockey path through there,

through juniors getting drafted, going to UMass and being where you are today,

with all of that kind of wrapped up in a bow.

Yeah, so I was born and raised in Richmond.

I played there until I was about 14.

My dad was an equipment manager for the Richmond Runner Gades back in the day

when they were a team and so I kind of always just grew up around hockey.

I was lucky enough that we had a few dads, Greg, some of my dad,

a couple of their dads that just decided, hey, let's see if we can get our kids into hockey

and see what happens and we made some good teams growing up stuff like that.

I played there until I was about 14 years old that we had kids on our team from all over

Virginia really and a couple of kids from Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

So it was more of a, you know, an all-star team I guess per se in a sense of the best players

in that area. So we had that team.

I played there until I was 14 and that everybody kind of just decided, you know,

it's time to go our own separate ways.

So I went to South Kent actually before that.

I went to South Kent when I was, yeah, 14 was there until I was 17.

I played there for three years.

I was fortunate enough to get drafted my third year in the USHL to the Tri-City Storm.

And I had a great experience there.

I met some amazing people, some great coaches.

And I was there for a year and the year before I got to Tri-City,

I was fortunate enough to commit to UMass with Greg Carbell and his staff,

Gerard DeMichael and Benny Barr.

So after my first year of Tri-City, they decided to bring me in and, you know,

I had a great experience at UMass, obviously with the COVID incident happening.

We got shut down my freshman year about a year and a half

way through the year.

So I didn't really get to experience the full, I guess, college experience.

Yeah, I can't even imagine what that would have been like at that time.

Yeah, it was weird.

It was, you know, we were playing, we were preparing for playoffs,

and then all of a sudden, we started seeing other leagues getting shut down and stuff.

And next thing, you know, we were all home, we're home for about, I don't know,

six months or so before we had any word on what next year was going to bring.

And luckily enough, we got to play my sophomore season with

no fans in the stands for the entire year.

We didn't have any family to come, nobody.

So that was different for sure, but, you know, it was cool with our team.

We, we became really close and, you know, it was basically the hockey guy singing out the hockey

guys when we could.

And I was fortunate enough to win a national championship there.

And, you know, that was one of the highlights of my hockey career.

I won't be able to, you know, describe the feeling to you personally,

but it was something that was, you know, it's everything you dream of, honestly.

And so I guess going back a little bit, my, after my year in Tri-City,

I was lucky enough to get drafted in the third round by the New York Rangers.

And so after my sophomore year in UMass, I decided to

sound with the Rangers, got to play 10 games when I was there.

And then my next two years, I was in Hartford.

And the past two seasons, I was up with the Rangers full of time, just, you know,

being more of the seventh offense for them.

Yeah, that's awesome, man.

And again, obviously, congrats being drafted when you were.

Being a third round pick is absolutely an awesome achievement in and of itself.

And not to mention just being where you're currently at as a professional hockey player.

Kind of go into a little bit more about your time in Richmond, of course.

You mentioned the Richmond Renegades.

And I can tell you this, there are many in this area that would be

pining to have a minor league hockey team of any kind back in the area.

And man, I mean, I would have seasons, a season tickets yesterday.

I know so many other people would.

What was it like having that round in the city as well?

And also, what part of the city or what part area did you grow up in, if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, so I grew up in Glen Allen and Hendrick,

often most part, right around the short-point mall.

Oh, that's funny.

Yeah, I was there for, I mean, I've been in a few houses,

but basically in that area, my family has a house now in Montpelier.

So, okay, yeah, I go there.

But having the Renegades there was, I mean, I can't say I remember all of it

because I was so young when they, you know, were there and stuff.

But from the times I remember, I mean, it was,

it was so cool to have a hockey team in Richmond.

I mean, obviously, you know, there's not a ton of hockey in Virginia as a whole,

but having the capitals, obviously, has been huge for, you know, growing hockey in Richmond.

But, you know, having the Renegades there was awesome.

I remember going to a few games when I was really young.

I mean, Christ, I think they were probably eight when they,

when they folded or something right around there.

But, you know, for the time I remember, it was awesome.

I mean, having a pro hockey team in Richmond, I mean,

I know my dad was, him and I would go to games with some friends, obviously,

and it was, it was awesome.

I mean, I would love, love for there to be a pro hockey team back in Richmond.

That's for sure.

Absolutely.

And you mentioned growing the game.

One more point just about Richmond as well.

For anybody that is a part of like the development program,

I know the generals is a big youth development program.

And I think you are part of that as well.

What message would you have to folks that are on those teams to say,

just to say who are pursuing aspirations like yours,

to maybe eventually playing college, maybe open to go pro,

what type of message would you have for them?

Yeah, I mean, it's crazy how much hockey is grown.

And, you know, obviously, you know, you got to work extremely hard,

but you can really, you can make it from anywhere now.

I mean, there's guys, I mean, growing up, I remember it always being Michigan,

Minnesota, the New England area.

That was the, you know, the staple of hockey in a sense.

And now, I mean, you see guys from all over the country,

all over the world that are, you know, playing professional hockey,

playing college hockey.

So it's really all about your mindset and your work, I think.

But, honestly, you can make it from anywhere.

Yeah, I love to hear that.

So folks, especially some of the youngins out on the Richmond generals,

hey, you can make it happen, folks.

But one last thing, again, about Greg Simone, your old coach,

tell us a little bit more about LilRank.

I know he'd love to hear your thoughts on that and just giving a fun little story.

Yeah, honestly, I think that I can credit the lowering for being, you know,

where I am today.

I mean, Greg Simone, my dad, I want to say it was about eight other dads.

They, we had two ranks in Richmond at the time,

and it was, it was pretty tough to get ice in a sense.

I mean, there wasn't a huge market for hockey back in the day.

I mean, so they decided let's, let's build our own drink in a sense.

And, you know, they, we had it around for, I think it was probably three or four years.

And, I mean, it was, it wasn't a full-size ring, but it was about three-quarters

the size of a full-size ring.

But we would, I mean, okay, so I went there probably every day after school with

the couple guys that did play hockey in Richmond, and it was, I mean, it was awesome.

I mean, we got to skate whenever we wanted, and, you know, we had little

three-on-three tournaments with teams from all around kind of Richmond and Virginia,

and a sense, and it was, I mean, some of the most fun I've had playing hockey.

Love that. Hey, homegrown and every sense of the word.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, but again, thanks for sharing it just about your origins for that, too.

But then, what's also pretty awesome as known that, like I was saying,

it still lives and breathes in Richmond.

But what I want to do now is kind of go into like what your daily life is

as a professional hockey player.

Again, ultimately, like us regular folks here,

we don't know what it's like to do what you do on a daily basis.

So, how regimented is like your training routine?

Do you have a very strict diet?

I mean, are there any fun, like, little odd superstitions you have when you're training

or practicing with you that the sabers or the Amherst feel free to elaborate on that a bit?

Yeah, I mean, if I'm being honest, I think people have the conception that, you know, we're,

you know, we're working 24-7.

And in the sense we are, I mean, our body is our, you know, we have to take care of it.

We have to be ready to go at, I mean, especially with the way hockey is,

guys get hurt all the time and stuff happens.

So you got to be able to be ready to get called up or sent down whenever it is.

So for me, basically, I mean, I don't, I wouldn't say I have a strict diet at all.

I try to eat as well as I can.

But for me, I mean, wake up, go to the rank at about, you know, 8, 45, 9 o'clock.

And therefore, uh, depends, honestly, depends on the day.

Could be two hours, could be four or five hours.

It just all depends on how, you know, things are going with practice meetings, you know,

obviously with the HL schedule, we don't play nearly as many games in a short amount of time

as the NHL does.

So we have more time for practicing, working out.

And you know, just it's, it's a developmental league for reasons.

So it's nice to, you know, kind of hone your craft in a sense.

You can stay on the ice really as long as you want.

We have an awesome shooting room down here.

We got a great support staff as far as our strength coaches, our athletic trainers.

So it's, uh, it makes, it makes our lives really easy in a sense.

But, uh, I mean, I pretty much every day up until a game day or day before,

we have workout, skate, and, you know, you can get whatever treatment you want,

however your body's feeling or you can just, you know, go practice and that's it.

I mean, it all kind of depends on how your body's feeling.

And, you know, I think that's a big thing with pro hockey is, uh,

you know, everybody is as their own routines in a sense.

I mean, I feel like college and juniors was a little more, you know,

schedule oriented and, you know, you're trying to prepare guys for the next level.

But obviously being in pro hockey, it's kind of, I mean, it's as far as you can go in a sense.

So it's, uh, you know, it's at this point, it's about being in good pro.

And, you know, taking care of your body, knowing what your body needs as far as

how much you want to skate, how much sleep you need, and, you know, stuff like that.

Of course, uh, maybe just a little bit more specifics on this, like,

so you talked about more in season one.

Now, what would say more like an off-season program look like for you?

Because that's more independent per se.

So what would that look like for you?

Yeah, it's, uh, it's five days a week for the most part.

I mean, some, I mean, everyone's a rally.

I have a six day where you just skate, but for me, it's five days a week working out.

Probably at the start of the summer, two, maybe three times a week skating,

and then probably depending on how long our season goes, it all depends on, you know,

skating-wise, I mean, we play so much hockey, we skate so much during the season that,

you know, you need a break once the season's over.

But, you know, working out, we do it five days a week.

I mean, like you said, it's pretty, uh, on your own type thing,

but I have a great group up in Michigan that I work out with, I skate with.

So, you know, we work out five times a week.

We skate two to three times at the most at the start of the summer,

depending on how long our seasons go, and then towards the end of the summer,

you know, ramp that up to maybe four, sometimes five times a week,

just depending on, you know, what you're trying to get prepared for in training camp.

Of course. So, yeah, thanks for counting given a little bit of perspective on that,

because again, like we see so many of the games being played on TV,

and obviously getting a little peak behind the scenes is always interesting,

to your just air average every day, Joe, uh, per se.

So, thanks for kind of going in on that.

So, yeah.

But, uh, let's kind of get into your, uh, you're squad with the Amherst this year.

You guys are continuing to make some noise in the North Division.

You guys are hot on the power play, uh, one of the best in the AHL,

and often led by you, of course, too, which is outstanding.

So, tell us what it's been like for you, uh, being in Rochester this year,

and obviously getting the opportunity to go back and forth the Buffalo,

when they give you the call-ups, of course,

and playing alongside your teammates, and again, specifically focusing on your,

your boys in Rochester.

So, uh, ESOC Roseanne, Devon Levi, Ryan Johnson,

maybe the rest of the gang, too.

So, tell us what that's been like as you've transitioned from being part of the

Rangers organization now to the Sabers.

Yeah, it's been great.

I mean, I have nothing but good things to say about my time in Buffalo and my time in Rochester.

I mean, obviously I've been, I haven't been forced to play a game up in Buffalo.

I mean, they're doing unbelievably well right now.

It's crazy to see, but, you know, it's been great being in Rochester and being,

you know, being able to play, and to like the last couple of years in New York,

wasn't necessarily playing as much as I would have liked.

So, it's been nice just to kind of be in a consistent groove of playing,

and being in the lineup all the time.

And, uh, you know, we have a great team down here.

We've got a ton of guys that one day will be full-time NHLers.

I mean, ESOC Roseanne, I'm surprised he isn't already.

Uh, Consta Hlanius, another guy that I think is, you know,

I mean, he's only 19 years old, but he's going to be a star one day.

I mean, he's got all the tools to be a full-time NHLer,

and an impact player at the NHL level.

I mean, Devin Levi, I think, has been the best story for us this year.

I mean, as far as he's played however many games,

I feel like every game he's played, but he...

Workhorse, yes.

Yeah, workhorse, exactly.

And he, I mean, he's kept us in so many games wearing, you know,

you're not going to have your best every night,

but Devin's such a, he's so committed to his routine.

And he is so locked in that, you know,

he, every day, we don't we're getting out of them.

And he's one of the best goals in the NHL.

He's been awesome.

I mean, the rest of our forwards,

we have an unbelievable group of guys that, you know,

can play up and down the line up.

You know, we have great role guys,

and we got guys that can produce offense.

I think our D-Core is one of the best in the league.

I mean, as far as, you know,

obviously there's guys that aren't going to be playing every night,

but we can rely on every single guy no matter who's in

to make an impact and be good for us.

So I mean, it's been fun to be down here,

and it's been fun to be around the guys.

I mean, we have a great group off the ice.

It feels like, you know, college, in a sense.

I mean, we're a pretty young team.

And, you know, me, I'm not old by any means,

but for some reason, I'm one of the older guys,

which is crazy to say.

But, you know, we've got a great group down here.

Yeah, I love hearing that, too, especially again.

It's funny, when you were with the Rangers organization,

obviously you played for Hartford as well in the AHL.

But with your time being spent mostly with them

as a depth defenseman last year,

you ultimately didn't really have to change your license

fights to your car, or your actual driving

driver license in general.

That's probably got to be a nice,

convenient thing, especially just somebody

who's ultimately switched entire franchises this past season.

But with that, also, again,

have you really embraced the Western New York culture

at this point?

Obviously, it could be both between Buffalo and Rochester.

I mean, are you getting the bite to eat anywhere in particular?

You want to give a shout out to an either spot?

Any favorite wing spots, garbage plates

that you've indulged at this point?

Obviously, I know you want to take care of your body,

but hey, every once in a while, you can indulge.

But at the same time, you're doing anything in particular

for fun.

So like, feel free to give us a little bit of a rabbit hole

down there too.

And also, chat, feel free to chime in as well.

Yeah, I mean, personally, I haven't had a garbage plate yet.

That's something that I probably should have.

At some point, while I'm here, I've heard great things about it.

But like you said at the start,

I can't really go away from my sports page wings.

You know, there you go.

Yeah, I really can't.

So I've tried different wings here.

They just don't hit the same for me.

If I'm being honest.

Hey, true to the hometown routes.

You got to respect that, man.

Exactly.

Hey, can't go wrong with that.

So again, shout out to those good people

over at sports page here in Goochland

and all their establishments in the area too.

So I know they got a few.

So yeah, love here and that too.

But on the side, of course, like when you're obviously

not practicing and training, of course,

what are some things that you do to pass the time

just as far as like, again, what goes on in like the free time,

again, a professional athlete?

Again, people just don't know this perspective.

And I always think it's fascinating.

Like these guys are human beings too.

And they're like, it's always cool to just see

what how they tick.

Yeah, no, I mean, it's, uh, I don't do a whole lot

if I'm being completely honest.

I, uh, I have two dogs.

I got a fiance.

We take our dogs for walks and take them to the dog park.

This is the first time I've really kind of experienced

snow like this.

If I'm being honest, I have, uh,

I've been in New York City for the last two years

and even in Hartford.

There really wasn't a ton of snow per se.

I mean, it's been absolutely unbelievable.

How much to know we've gotten this year.

I've never experienced something like this.

It's been, uh, something I, you know,

you see the news, you see Buffalo getting all the snow,

especially when I was in New York and stuff.

And experiencing it firsthand has been mind blowing.

But it's, uh, it's been nice.

We, like I said, we don't do a whole lot here.

We go out to dinner.

I mean, there's a couple of places in Rochester that, uh,

good luck.

Uh, let me think about a place we've gone to.

Oh, uh, next door by Wegmans, there's been a few, like,

a couple of places here and there.

But for the most part of my fiancee,

I would like to just hang out, take our dogs for walks.

The, uh, the Midtown gym here has been great.

I mean, they have an awesome sauna, hot tub area.

So it's more of, I wouldn't say I go there necessarily to work out,

like my fiancee does.

But, you know, I go there and I sit in the sauna,

hang out, but, um, yeah, from being honest,

I don't do a whole lot.

I would watch TV.

Obviously, once the weather starts to get nicer,

I'll probably be out in the golf course a little bit more

and trying to hone my craft and get a little better at that game.

That's for sure.

But, uh, yeah, I don't do a whole lot.

Hey, nothing wrong with that.

A simple homebody life.

I've come accustomed to that now being, uh, in my 30s

and being, uh, basically a suburban dad at this point in time.

But still, hey, much respect to that too.

So, uh, a couple of comments chiming in.

So, Nick Tahoe's in the 585.

I'm sure you've heard that name plenty of times already.

Uh, since you've been in Rochester, there's ACK, uh,

but, uh, front of the show, Michael Phillips.

Uh, he's, uh, he's mentioned how Richmond,

I'm sure you probably heard from family at this point.

They had some crazy ice in this area, uh, this past year.

So, basically, like, compared to what Western New York has

as far as snowplows go, like Richmond is very much

not prepared with the infrastructure on that.

And it was just never been prepared for it.

I mean, it was the best growing up.

We'd always get snow days left.

Oh, yeah, it was awesome.

Yeah, as, uh, like I said, uh,

when I told you off camera, I'm a teacher.

I got to also take advantage of that at this point in time.

So it was great.

So, and also a couple, uh, Shawnee V, uh,

co-host again, uh, chime in in where he can eat,

sleep, puck wouldn't want it any other way.

So yeah, we appreciate you putting all the hard work into Zach.

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But let's keep it rolling a little bit too.

Obviously, when it comes to your call-ups with the Sabers,

you've had some pretty good opportunity to practice alongside players

in your position group like Rasmus Dalim,

Matthias Samuelson, Owen Power,

Bowen Byron, and obviously many more,

especially even in Rochester as well.

But what are some things you have learned from all of those guys up in Buffalo,

both on and off the ice or even from some guys like Adam Fox

over with the New York Rangers?

Yeah, I mean, they're all great people.

That's the one thing I've started to notice about being in this organization.

Everybody's been unbelievably great to me,

especially when I first signed here and stuff.

I have to you guys reach out, text me and just say,

hey, welcome to the organization, things like that.

But being in New York for the last four years,

I really got to watch Adam Fox,

and that's the guy that I try to model my game after.

And it's fun to watch Adam Fox play

and compare him to Rasmus Dalim in a sense.

I mean, two completely different players in a sense,

as far as, you know, the way they move on the ice.

But they're both, I mean, it's fun to see the best players in the world

and how different they are in a sense.

And those two guys are, you know, two of the top five,

10 defensemen in the NHL.

So I mean, but that whole team has been awesome to be around

the few times I got in called up.

They've been great to me.

I mean, there's some good mix of older guys

that, you know, take in some of the younger guys

but then the younger group there has been awesome.

So I, uh, practicing with those guys,

I, it's fun to watch.

That's what it that way.

I mean, especially when I'm called up

and I get to experience a full hand.

I mean, seeing a guy like Rasmus Dalim play,

that guy is, I never really watched him

as much as I was with New York

and now really like getting to watch him first hand.

I gained a whole new sense of respect for him

and had the way he plays.

I mean, he's, I honestly think he's one

of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL.

I think he gets enough credit for, you know, how much he plays.

He does, he plays every situation.

He's, you know, plays 26, 27 minutes a night.

It's unbelievable, but, you know, that whole group is,

you know, making a bunch of noises here

and they've been playing great.

Hey, not to mention the fact that you guys are making plenty

of noise yourself in the AHL North Division too.

So nothing to slouch at with that,

all stark nod, you got there too.

So, hey, absolutely credit, we're credit to do there, Zach.

Kind of go a little bit further on the Sabers

and even comparing them to the Rangers.

So, obviously there's still a lot of love

for someone like Chris Drury

because he had his run with the Sabers back about 20 years ago.

But still, comparing just two franchises like that,

very storied in their own sense.

Obviously, the Rangers being like the much older team, of course.

But when you first heard something like that,

obviously things didn't go the way you wanted it to

with the Rangers and then getting signed

by the Buffalo Sabers back this past off season.

What were your thoughts as you were just

in that transitional phase for what you were kind of going

through at that point in time if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, no, it was something I never really experienced.

I never really kind of expected to happen this soon in a sense.

But I got nothing but respect and, you know,

I had a great time in New York.

I loved everybody there.

They were all great people, you know,

the whole staff was awesome.

Obviously things didn't work out.

And sometimes that's just the way it goes.

But, you know, signing with Buffalo,

I really, I saw a team that was hungry to win

and hungry to, you know, be a contender in the NHL over here.

And that's something that, you know, I want to be a winner.

I want to be a guy that, you know,

was relied upon when it comes to winning hockey games.

So, you know, I didn't really expect too much when I was signing here.

I just kind of, you know, saw what was best fit for me in a sense.

And, you know, when you're a free agent like that,

you have teams calling in asking, you know,

what you're thinking of this and that.

And, you know, you're obviously your agent

stealing with a lot of the stuff.

But, you know, I've got nothing but respect for the Rangers

and I'm really happy to be here in Buffalo.

And I know we're happy to have you here, Zach.

Here's another question from the chat.

So, Zach, if you can kind of handicap this for us,

as he's saying, as a player,

is there any rhyme or reason why Sam,

he met to you, Sam, you'll say,

and he's playing out of his mind this year?

Is it just him finding confidence in his game

and being healthy that's unlocked his offense?

Or is it something else?

Because he's also saying, obviously,

we've all seen it with our own eyes.

I know you have too.

He's been an absolute stud out there this season.

What are your takes on that?

Sam has always been a great player.

I mean, I've played against him growing up my whole life.

And then I played, it was fortunate to play with him

for a few, you know, spring or summer tournaments.

And being a guy that's, I don't even know,

I'll tell you, six, four, six, five,

that can move like he can.

I mean, he's got all the tools to be an unbelievable

NHL player, and I'm really happy for him that he's,

you know, he's been fully healthy this year.

It's been great to see obviously, you know,

you never want to see a guy get injured.

And, you know, having the injury bug

that he kind of has the last couple of years,

I feel like it's, you know, I wouldn't say it's hurt

his confidence in a sense.

But, you know, it's tough to come back from injuries

and, you know, kind of feel the same

and feel like you can, you know,

make a difference every night.

But it's been, it's been awesome to see.

He's been playing unbelievable hockey.

He's another guy like Rasmus that, you know,

they, they're different makers.

He's a guy that can, you know, it's not as,

I'd say flashy as dolls is.

But, you know, he, he's a really good hockey player.

And his offense ability's always been there, in my opinion.

I mean, he's got a great shot.

He's got good hands, got good vision.

It's just, you know, I think, you know,

injuries do affect you guys.

And, you know, obviously, you know,

I wouldn't say the normal person would really sense it.

Oh, he's, he's hurt.

He's going to come back.

He's going to be the same person.

I mean, it affects us.

I mean, it's, uh, it's the way it goes.

Obviously, when you come back from injury,

sometimes that injury is not feeling great.

So you're kind of, you know,

playing a little bit on the edge.

You're not really sure, you know,

about going into a battle or doing certain situations.

So, you know, it's been, it's been great to see Sammy

have the year he's having.

Yeah, we could not agree more on that.

I know us included.

We've been, uh, critical of just playing the past.

But obviously, like, again,

we don't see what goes on behind the scenes

as far as like how those injuries do impact him.

Or, uh, folks like yourself.

So again, it's great to see that rebound that he's had this year

and just not only him playing with confidence,

and he's playing well,

and just any player for that matter.

Again, there's just so much more that goes beyond,

like what we see on the ice, uh,

even just from the TV,

because you just missed so much that way.

Uh,

Zach, I would be remiss if I didn't bring this up,

obviously, because the Sabers,

as an organization,

have been making some noise in the last 24 to 36 hours

as far as the trade deadline goes.

Obviously, a few hours ago,

there was some big noise with, uh,

Colton Paraco, uh,

on St. Louis being potentially heading over here, allegedly.

But again, if that trade were to go through, of course,

for Colton Paraco on St. Louis,

making his way here.

Obviously, he would need to wave his no move claws on here, of course.

What would be your thoughts on getting someone like him

into the organization?

I mean, what are your thoughts on him as a player?

And how could the Sabers organization

and the D-Core itself as a whole benefit from someone like him?

Yeah, I mean, he's an Olympian.

He's an unbelievable player.

I mean, he's another guy like Sammy that's, you know,

six, six, however big he is that can move unbelievably well.

He is a shut down defenseman,

but also provides a good amount of offense.

And, you know, I think that would be a big get for the Sabers.

But, uh,

now the D-Core up there has been playing unbelievably well,

especially with guys being hurt, left and right.

You know, you need guys to step up.

I mean, guys like Med's price and, uh,

oh, uh, oh, and these guys have been great.

I mean, like, you know, guys that wouldn't necessarily,

you know, I don't know, they'd be getting minutes still,

but you know what I mean?

They've been in the bigger roles this year,

and they've been playing great.

I mean, that whole D-Core has been fun to watch.

It's been a great year for them.

Obviously, getting a guy like Colton Paraco,

it's, uh, it's tough to say no to that.

And he's, you know, one of the best shut down defenseman

in the league in my opinion.

He's, uh, a big body, as a great stick.

I mean, it's, he's gonna be definitely a big difference maker, for sure.

I mean, it's an already stacked D-Core, in my opinion.

Yeah, uh, could not agree more.

I mean, obviously, like, again, behind the scene stuff,

uh, you don't know what's going on there,

because waving a no-movement causes a big deal,

especially if he's somebody who has roots in St. Louis,

especially with a family that he may have.

Uh, but still, again, uh, seeing somebody like him, uh,

laced it up and put on, uh, uh, the crest for the,

for the savers would be awesome to see.

Obviously, uh, making a big playoff push

and making a statement trade would be huge as well for the organization.

I'll see another one coming in from the chat here.

It's another friend of the show, Michael Phillips.

So kind of, uh, rehashable we were talking about before.

He's asking Zach, how to grown up in Richmond,

where, again, where we don't really have a strong hockey presence,

as we used to, uh, impact you and your career specifically.

Yeah, it was, uh, it was different, I'd say it, and most, uh,

you know, hockey players growing up, especially in like the New England,

Michigan, Minnesota area.

We had to do, uh, a lot of travel.

And, you know, I was very fortunate that my dad

was my coach growing up.

He was, you know, he's one of the smartest hockey minds in my opinion.

And he knows the game.

He's been around the game.

And he always, from a young age, was trying to, you know,

get me to be a pro hockey player in a sense of the mindset.

You know, it's, there's a lot of things that you have to do.

A lot of sacrifices you have to make.

And, you know, it, it's definitely, you know,

when you're younger, you're always questioning things.

You're always, you know, in the back of your mind,

is this something I want to do.

But, you know, I, I loved my time, Rich.

And I loved, you know, the eight-hour car trips with my dad,

my buddies, a couple other dads.

Like, it was some of the best times of my life,

just getting to, you know, play hockey every weekend.

And, you know, not gonna lie, I wasn't a big school guy growing up.

So, Missing School was also something that I did love to do.

But it was, it was a ton of fun.

I mean, it, I wouldn't say it impacted my hockey career negatively at all.

I mean, I would say it was only a positive experience for me

in getting to, you know, experience different,

different situations that other people would say.

For sure. I mean, again, I can't even imagine

just the differences like you would face to just like your day-to-day stuff.

I know school is probably quite a bit different for, for you,

as opposed to like your average or every day person

going through public school or things of that nature.

So, again, your life experiences, I mean,

your life experiences.

And again, it's just really cool to just kind of link the regions

that we've had, we've done here with both Richman and Western New York,

just being like hockey fans near and far.

But just as kind of putting a bow on this, Zach,

obviously you want to respect your time as well,

because you have a good road trip to prepare for against LaValle,

like we said earlier.

So, it's been an absolute pleasure.

Thank you so much for your time.

Best of luck to you, the rest of the season as well.

Chris, I really appreciate you having me on.

Yeah, again, I wish you nothing but the best.

Hope to see you with a saber sweater on,

very, very soon in the near future as well.

To everybody else out in the,

either just watching us, all 800 live viewers, appreciate you tuning in.

Thanks for giving some love to Zach here, both in Western New York,

in the Richman area, or even to our family in Texas,

where we made sure to say hello to them as well.

But again, we got a lot of things going on next week in the world of the NHL NFL.

So much more, I will be back on regularly again next week.

So thanks always for tuning in, folks, and as always, let's go Buffalo.

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