Monday, March 31, 2014
Photo
Former Phantom Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates while skating around the back of the net after teammate Sheldon Brookbank scored for the Blackhawks during the second period of Sunday’s game at Consol Energy Center.
PITTSBURGH
Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad has never encountered a moment too big.
As he skated off the ice at Consol Energy Center Sunday afternoon after the team’s morning skate, the former Mahoning Valley Phantom was met by a large gathering of media members waiting for him in the visiting locker room.
The 21-year old was back in his hometown of Pittsburgh preparing to play his first regular season NHL game in the city it all started.
“I’m excited,” said Saad, who was a second round draft pick by Chicago in 2011. “Getting a couple years in the league and getting to come back and play in front of family and friends is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Saad grew up in Gibsonia, Pa., and attended Pine-Richland High School. Since the Blackhawks play in the league’s Western Conference, he rarely gets a chance to return home during the season.
On Sunday, his friends and family took advantage of the rare opportunity to see him play. Saad said he was expecting to have about 40 people at the game.
But that doesn’t mean the Calder Memorial Trophy finalist from last year, the award that goes to the league’s top rookie, would feel any added pressure prior to the game.
“Feeling much more comfortable,” Saad said. “You always have those little nerves. I think the success we had made me much more confident and comfortable out there on the ice.”
Saad won his first Stanley Cup at the age of 20 last June. He had a goal and five assists during the Blackhawks’ postseason run.
“It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “Going through the things we went through last year and the success we had, being able to have those experiences and then come home and share them has been great.”
Saad even got a chance to enjoy a rare home-cooked meal on the team’s off day on Saturday.
“It worked out well,” he said with a smile.
“I got to go home and see some family and friends and just relax. It’s nice to be able to get away from the rink and then play here [on Sunday].”
The one face missing over the weekend was his older brother George, who also played hockey for the Phantoms and then at Penn State.
However, the Saad brothers see plenty of each other now that they’re roommates again. George moved to Chicago in January and it just so happened that the younger brother had some extra space.
“It’s been fun,” Brandon said. “He gets to see all the home games so he’s enjoying it.”
It’s been a whirlwind for Saad since he made his NHL debut in 2012 at the age of 18. He played in two regular season games that year for Chicago. He also earned a spot on the team’s playoff roster, and recorded his first career NHL point in a playoff game against the Phoenix Coyotes.
“Sometimes you have to sit back and think about how much you’ve accomplished and that you’re playing in the NHL,” said Saad, who’s played in 72 of the Blackhawks 75 games this season. “It’s a dream come true. I just enjoy the moment and keep having fun with it.”
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said he’s been most impressed by the consistency of the young hockey player’s game from the start. Quenneville had Saad playing on the team’s top line for much of last season en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
This year his role has changed slightly, but the production is still there. Saad has 19 goals and 25 assists to go along with an impressive plus-24 rating.
“He gives you a lot of flexibility,” Quenneville said. “In the puck area, Saader’s as good as there is.”
The kid his friends and family grew up watching at Pine-Richland and then in Youngstown had a different look Sunday night. He was wearing the wrong team’s sweater to most of Consol Energy Center.
He’s not worried about that. He’s too busy making a name for himself wherever he goes.
“I’m looking forward to see how it goes tonight,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.