Then there?s Garth, of course, who drafted me, and, man ? you know what: I could really just say I owe Garth everything, and leave it there. But one specific thing that I always think of, when I look back on what Garth did for me during my time here, is the way that he always made sure I got to be one of the boys. He knew I was in a unique situation, with these big-time expectations and this bright spotlight. But Garth just always made sure, you know, even with those things just being a fact of life for me, that I still got to grow up at a normal pace. That I still got to become comfortable in my own skin, and mature in my own way. And that?s just the kind of thing that, honestly ? that?s bigger than hockey to me, bigger than this business. Garth ? I mean, the guy had a teenage kid?s entire future in his hands, pure and simple. And he took such great care of me.
I?ll never forget it.