Not even by the likes of Martin Brodeur, the New Jersey netminder who just happens to have played 1,078 more games in the NHL than Seguin, setting the league’s all-time record for wins (603) and shutouts (111) along the way.
“Every single team is going to have their superstars, I don’t really look at that,” said Seguin when asked about facing Brodeur in the Bruins’ next game on Saturday. “Obviously, I’m always going to be a hockey fan, but I’m still here. This is my job now. I’m not going to over-respect too many people with the opposition. If you give people too much respect, they’ll take your game right away from you.”
Seguin, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, has steadily gained confidence over the course of his first pro training camp and his first two regular-season games last weekend in Prague.
“I think with every game, every practice, just every single day in the professional hockey lifestyle you’re going to get more comfortable and confident,” said Seguin. “That’s how I feel day by day.”
Seguin admitted some early jitters against Phoenix last weekend, but also stated it wasn’t as bad as his first exhibition game in Montreal last month.
“I think I was more nervous going into that first actual preseason game against Montreal than I was for my first NHL game for whatever reason,” said Seguin. “It was kind of the same game, but the pace was a lot different [in the regular season]. It really took one period to adapt, but I feel pretty comfortable out there now.”
Helping the 18-year-old feel comfortable was the fact that he needed just two games to score his first goal. And he did it in highlight-reel fashion, collecting a long outlet pass from Michael Ryder and breaking in alone on Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov for the final score in Sunday’s 3-0 win.
It was a spectacular goal, as he lifted a backhander over Bryzgalov while crashing through the crease, but for Seguin the style points were secondary. His first NHL tally would have been special no matter how he scored it.
“Your first NHL goal, whatever way it happens, it’s going to be memorable,” said Seguin. “Ryder made a great pass. I couldn’t have done it without that.”
Seguin didn’t have his family on hand to share in the celebration in Prague, but did stay in touch with his parents. They exchanged texts after the game, as Seguin noted it would have been “a pretty pricey call” from the Czech Republic to Brampton, Ontario.
It was probably just as well to stick to texting for the sake of Seguin’s hearing.
“I think my mom was screaming probably,” said Seguin of the reaction to his goal back home.
