Andrew Gordon is one of those recent late-round selections of George McPhee (#197 in 2004) that soon may be discussed in the bars and cafés in Caps country as a super under-the-radar find, logging quality minutes for the parent club and potting some timely goals. 

photo from washingtoncaps.com

photo from washingtoncaps.com

My friends at OFB have vociferously promoted him as an NHL talent, and I can’t say that I disagree, seeing how he performed at Hershey last season (58 GP, 16 / 32 / 48), and earning American League player of the week honors.

I had a chat with Andrew following today’s scrimmage:

Q:  You’re a veteran of this development camp now.  How does this camp compare to the last one?  What does camp mean to you this year?

A:  Its always an opportunity to come out and show the coaching staff, show the scouts, the general manager and the front office staff that you can play.  Its always an opportunity whenever you’re on the ice in front of all of these eyes.  Having a chance to be here every year makes me believe that I’m still fresh in everybody’s mind.

In past camps, we go on the ice, go home, take a nap for a couple of hours, come back to the rink.  This year its very structured.  Everything’s moving forward.  The boys are together all the time, learning all of the time.  These camps are very focused and structured, and very professional.  Its fun to be a part of.

Q:  So you’re coming off of a good rookie year.  Are you at all looking ahead to training camp here in September, thinking about the depth chart, wondering where you might fit in, and whether you’ve got an outside chance to make the team?

A:  I stopped looking at the depth chart six months ago when I realized that all of the European guys are right shots playing the left wing, and the left shots are playing the right wing, and moving to center.  They’re so skilled.  They can play any position, so, the depth chart is something that, as a player, you just can’t worry about.

But I had a good finish to the season last year.  I put myself in a good position to come to camp with some confidence, and we’ll see what happens from there.  Its very tough to make a team out of training camp, unless you’re Bäckström or somebody special like that.

I’m just going to come to camp in the best shape that I can, work hard, play my game, and hope for the best.  I have an opportunity once again here to go after a dream that we all have.  I’m just going to put myself in the best position that I can and let the coaches discuss and make decisions from there.

Q.  The scrimmage today — you played a lot with François Bouchard. I imagine that you’re pretty comfortable with you guys being linemates. Anyone else you’ve liked playing with here?

A. I really liked playing with Jake Hauswirth [who scored the shootout winner in today's scrimmage]. He’s a big body, makes simple plays, dumps the puck in, works hard in the corners. That’s my style of play.

I’ve known Bouchard, I’ve known his style of play for a few years. He and I get along well, on and off the ice. So its always fun to play with your buddies. Bouch is a guy that’s so skilled and so talented. If you get open, he’s going to find you. So its really nice to play with a guy who sees the ice that well.

He likes to play the right wing and so do I, so he had to make a transition for me, and I appreciated it.

Q. At least in the first period [of the scrimmage], you were on the power play and in front of the net. Is that a place that you’re comfortable with?

A. That’s my favorite spot on the power play. If I had my selection, I’d be there all of the time. Its easy to pick up some junk there, get some tips and stuff. And with the new rules, guys can’t be cross-checking you and beating you down too badly. Its not as tough a place to stand as it used to be about four or five years ago.

I’ve really taken a liking to it. I’ve sort of made it my second home. I like to hang around there as much as possible.

Q. One last tough question. You’re a Halifax native [Porters Lake, to be precise]. Halifax for a while has had a pretty good indie music scene. Any bands that you like to listen to that are local that you might say we ought to check out?

A. My two favorite local bands — one is the Joel Plaskett Emergency.  I went to see them with the Tragically Hip in Philly this past year and it was phenomenal.  Those guys are great.  And also, Matt Mays is another guy that I’m really familiar with.  Those two guys are probably my two favorites.  I mean, they’re the only guys that really come back to Halifax that often. 

Live concerts in small venues is something I’m going to like to check out when I get back home.

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Andrew also gave some high praise for Coach Boudreau (and who wouldn’t?!) and the organization in general.  You can listen to the whole interview here.