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First-round pick Connor McMichael is ‘really excited to be a Capital’

By Ian Oland

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June 22, 2019 12:28 am

The Washington Capitals selected London Knights center Connor McMichael with the 25th overall pick of the NHL Draft, Friday.

McMichael, wearing a Capitals Draft hat and a jersey over his dress shirt and tie, met with the media afterward. There was one theme that he hit over and over while answering questions.

“I’m really excited.”

“I’m really excited to be a Capital.”

“I’m really excited and it should be fun”

I’m really excited. I’m really happy to be headed into Washington.”

“I’m really excited to be a Capital.”

“I’m here and I’m really excited.”

“This is going to be my first time (going to DC) coming up (for Development Camp). I’m really excited about that.”

I like him already.

Video

Here is the transcript from McMichael’s meeting with media.

On where he thought he was going to be drafted:

Connor McMichael: “Yeah, I didn’t really know where I was going to end up. When I heard my name called, a lot of mixed emotions. Just hugging my parents and saying my last goodbye before I came down here. So far it’s been awesome. I don’t think the feeling has really sunk in yet, but I’m really excited.”

On how much he met with Capitals scouts:

Connor McMichael: “They were kind of a team that I talked to a lot during the year and I got good impressions from them. Obviously, when they went up to the stage I had a little bit of a feeling. It’s kind of tough to tell where you’ll end up but I’m really excited to be a Capital.”

How the London Knights got him to this point:

Connor McMichael: “London is really good with the young players. They take you along slowly. Mark [Hunter] and Dale [Hunter] are really great with that. I think just the confidence they just put into me really allowed me to play my own game out there. They work on a lot of things I need to work on before or after practice. They do that, especially with the young guys. They’ve been awesome. They allowed me to take strides this season.”

On how he’d describe himself as a player:

Connor McMichael: “I like to say I’m a two-way centerman. But when I have the puck on my stick in the O-Zone I’m always creating plays, always able to generate chances when it looks like there are no chances to be made. Also responsible in my own end.”

On what he’s working on as a player:

Connor McMichael: “I want to get stronger for sure, a little bit bigger. Probably work on my first couple of strides, I think. I’m a really good skater when I get going, but I want to be a little bit more explosive to get to the next level.”

On what NHL team he rooted for as a kid:

Connor McMichael: “I’m from Ajax just east of Toronto so I was a Leafs fan growing up. I watched a lot of them. But once I got older, I followed more players than just the Leafs. I’m able to take things from players’ games and put it into my own.”

His favorite players growing up:

Connor McMichael: “I really like Sean Monahan and Bo Horvath. Those are kind of good two-way centers. They’re really skilled.”

On his impressions of Washington:

Connor McMichael: “I know it’s an amazing place to play. Dale was there a few years ago and he’s told me a lot of things about it. I’m really excited and it should be fun.”

On his goals for next season:

Connor McMichael: “I kind of want to be the go-to guy in London. Going into the year, I want to hit +35 and hit 100 points. Those are some goals I’ve set.”

On being drafted:

Connor McMichael: “It’s awesome. I don’t think the feeling has sunk in just yet. I’m really excited. I’m really happy to be headed into Washington.”

On what he was feeling during the draft:

Connor McMichael: “As every pick went by, I was getting more worried, because obviously, you want to go as high as possible, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. I’m really excited to be a Capital.”

On what he did after arriving for the draft in Vancouver:

Connor McMichael: “I arrived Wednesday night. I went on walks, a little bit of sightseeing with my family. Today was one of the longest days of my life just really excited to get to the draft. Once it got going, I was a little nervous. But now I’m here and I’m really excited.”

Has he ever been to DC?

Connor McMichael: “This is going to be my first time coming up. I’m really excited about that.”

Who helped him get to this point?

Just my family and my close friends, especially my grandparents as well. Just driving me to rinks early in the morning and always been there for me so huge thanks for them.

Who was at the draft with him?

Connor McMichael: “I got a lot of people. I got my immediate family: my two younger brothers, my half brother, my half sister, my two parents, my grandparents, and some pretty close friends.”

Headline photo: @Capitals

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