Interview with Matt Bradley

On media day, this official beginning of full training camp, when incoming players received t-shirts which read “the future is now” and, on the back, “good is not good enough,” I spoke with one of the “glue guys” that provides the rugged foundation for our Washington Capitals: the buzzsaw that is Matt Bradley.

We spent a few minutes chatting about his style of game, his role, and his environmental stewardship efforts.

photo from www.nettavisen.no

You’ve had a really solid season last year and I’ve heard it been said about you that you’re a guy that thrives in an aggressive forechecking system, and systems that are more reactive and trapping aren’t so good for your game. Is that a fair assessment?

For sure. One of my strengths is my speed and ability to get in there on the forecheck. I really like the way [Coach] Bruce [Boudreau] works. He really wants us to pressure everywhere, he kind of lets you loose a little bit, but still within a system, and not have to hang back.

There was an interview with Mike Gartner when [the Capitals] announced the retirement of his number, where he said, about his speed on the ice, that it was about 70% nature and 30% preparation. What do you attribute your wheels to?

I think speed is definitely something that you’re lucky to have, but I agree with [Gartner] that working hard on your legs and core definitely helps, makes you faster.

But I think guys that are fast are kind of born with that, just like guys with good hands are born with good hands. You can definitely improve it but I think that, when it comes down to it, its either something that you have or don’t have.

AP photo, from newsday.com

You were second on the team in fighting majors last year. And [Donald] Brashear isn’t going to be here forever, and you got a three-year contract. Do you see yourself taking on a little bit more of that role?

No. I mean, I’m like a middle-weight. Brash is a super heavy-weight. I don’t want to be fighting the guys that he fights. I don’t mind fighting when I need to, but I definitely want to do more than just that in my game.

[Like, say, having tallied a career high SOG in 2007-08, and improved your +/- every season since the lockout? We'll take that too.]

I saw, a few weeks ago, you were doing the announcement for the Ocean Conservancy clean up. How’d you get involved with them?

[The team's charity coordinator] asked me what I was interested in. One of the things that I’m really passionate about is the environment. I’ve spoken at some schools, and the clean up thing was definitely a very good idea. Anytime that I can lend my hand in support for any environmental causes, I’ll definitely do that.

Anything else that you’re involved in currently?

Little stuff in the room. We’ve got the recycling bins. And this year we’re changing from water bottles, we’re going to get those reusable SIGG bottles, so we’ll all have those. You know, recycling’s good but its better to reuse. Hopefully, the boys don’t lose ‘em, and we can use those for the year.

I saw one of those earlier videos that the Caps did where you were driving a Prius, a few years ago.

I have a hybrid, but its not a Prius. I wish I bought the Prius. I have the Lexus hybrid which is not as good as the Prius, but is better than their gas model. My wife and I are kind of waiting for a full electric to come out before we get another car, so hopefully it’s not too far away.

Your teammates are driving all of these fancy, gas guzzling sports cars.

[Laughs] I can’t fault those guys for that. They worked hard to get where they are, and if its something they enjoy — me, personally, I love cars but, at this point, the environment is kind of trumping my car passion. But I’ll never say never. I could end up getting a nice car one day and so I don’t want to say anything bad about those guys.

Any personal goals for this season?

My personal goals are definitely tied in with team goals. We’d like to win the Cup this year, and we all believe that. Anything less than that will be unsatisfactory.