The Carolina Hurricanes hosted their annual development camp last month with a couple dozen of their draftees in attendance.
Running the camp was new Chicago Wolves head coach Cam Abbott and following the first day of camp, he spoke with the media in attendance.
Here's what he had to say:
On joining the Hurricanes organization: I'm exceptionally excited. It's a dream come true. I think that the Carolina Hurricanes have been a fantastic organization to follow from abroad and as a big fan of Rod [Brind'Amour] and the team and how they play. Now I get to learn from him and import that style of play to Chicago and I know how exciting it can be and how exciting it can be to work with young players, so I'm thrilled.
On matching the style of play with the pro club: That will certainly be our focus from the start. I think there are small adjustments that you make as a coaching staff to help your team succeed and help the players develop. We'll find different areas that we'll need to adjust a little bit perhaps based on our lineup and whatnot, but otherwise that will be the plan.
On what the top things he wants players to leave with: I've tried to get to know each guy myself individually and I think that's probably the first thing. For them to focus on meeting new people and getting to know the organization as well as taking in as much information as they can. Staying true to what they are and what got them here as players. They should celebrate that they belong here and they should be excited about their future and to take those relationships with them this week and get excited about the future.
On if he feels his experience overseas can be useful in working to help the European prospects adapt easier: Certainly. I think in some ways, the X's and O's are overrated. It's all about the relationships and for sure helping the young guys and older guys. We're all new in a lot of ways coming into Chicago. There's only been a few players that have played there previously recently so it will be a great experience for all of us coming into that situation together. I get so much energy from helping young players and helping guys find their best selves and in Chicago, that's going to be about learning the game and how it needs to be played as a Carolina Hurricanes prospect and as a Chicago Wolves player. That's what I'm there for. To serve the guys and to serve the Chicago Wolves and to make sure I'm doing that to the best of my ability.
On the European prospects: Some of these guys are pretty reserved, pretty quiet. European guys have that tendency, but they certainly, the majority of them have been playing pro hockey and they're very capable young men. Very respectful and very talented. So I think the adjustment can often be extreme for some and to recognize that and see what they need help with to make sure there's a lot of support for them off the ice and in all the areas that come along with changing countries and going away from your support network. A lot of newness that becomes challenging and I know that very well. I've done that myself. Just to really dig into those relationships and hope I can, right from the start, be someone they can look towards for guidance and help.
On if he wants to one day coach in the NHL: I'd love to coach in the NHL. But it's always been my way of being where I'm not focused on any capacity other than what I'm excited about and that's right in front of me right now with the Chicago Wolves. It's a dream come true to coach in the AHL and to be part of this organization here. Just focus on that and tomorrow will take care of itself.
On conversations with Rod Brind'Amour: I've had some wonderful discussions with Rod already. I'm sure you all hold him very highly in regard and rightfully so. A hell of a hockey coach, a hell of a leader and just a fantastic person to get to learn from. So I'm grateful for that and I look forward to more time with him in the future.
On being in Chicago: I think they have one of the strongest, if not the strongest, fanbase in the AHL. I mean they're averaging whatever it is, 9,000+ a game and they've been a championship level team for a big part of the history of the organization. They've won five championships and are an established team in the city of Rosemont. I'm excited to learn more about the history and to celebrate that and to help protect that. I think it's important to honor how great they've been in the past. I'm not concerned about other sports franchises in the same city. It's a big city and they've obviously got a very loyal fanbase.
On how he would describe himself when coaching: As a coach, I think I've shown a huge capacity to grow over the last seven years. I started coaching professionally after just 16/17 months of coaching after I played and jumped into the top league in the Swedish Hockey League. So I've learned on the job and I would say that I'm a much different coach than I was maybe the first day I coached and I continue to grow. So I like to find the balance between the passion and the intensity and the enjoyment I bring to the work and also making sure that the guys understand how much fun it needs to be everyday and to lead by example and to lead my life as I ask players. To be healthy and completely committed and to care about each other and be consistent in what they do every day.
On his Swedish: It's amazing how many Swedes love to work on their English so I'd say I'm about 95% fluent, but don't quote me on that. I can converse with the guys in Swedish no problem.
On Felix Unger Sorum: First off, it's hard to single anyone out because there's a whole number of quality, talented kids in different aspects in the room at this camp, but Felix in particular played with the World Championship team with Team Sweden this past spring and he's a very talented young player that has a bright future. At the same time, he knows and is the first one to say there's a lot of things he needs to get better at to be the complete NHL player that he will be someday. So let's get into those details and keep getting better every single day.
On FUS' talent level: I coached against him in my previous job and one of his talents for sure is that vision and that playmaking ability and hockey sense that he does have and there's a whole lot of areas that I know as he improves in those other areas that that's going to be more obvious to us all how skilled and how smart of a player he is. Just make sure we can use those strengths and help pick up the other areas we need to improve on.