The Sometimes-Kraken Defenseman Talks About "Staying Ready"
Jaycob Megna
- Defense
- 6'6", 220 lbs., Age 30, 5 NHL Seasons
- 2022-23: 54 Games (48 w/San Jose), 1 Goal, 11 Assists, +3
February 5 Trade To Kraken : "From the second I got here, it's a pretty special group. Obviously, I didn't see what was going on last year. But to be as good and as close of a group as they were Year 2, it was pretty impressive. It was a group that got along and it's a group that played for each other.
"For a tight group, they were super inclusive. I think they probably hadto go through that with each other last year. It was one of those things where they knew what it was like to be the new guy and have that many new guys around. So it definitely made it easier."
Appeared In 6 Games For Seattle: "I don't think really that opportunity was there this year with them being the team that they were. They kind of had their guys rolling. Personally, for me to come in and earn a spot and to be playing every night is something that I'm looking forward to.
"Every day you get to play in the NHL is a blessing, and I don't take it for granted. It's taken a lot for me to get here, and I'm just thankful every day that I am here. It was an adjustment, personally, but it's something where you just got to keep working. You don't know when your opportunity is going to come."
"Every day you get to play in the NHL is a blessing, and I don't take it for granted. It's taken a lot for me to get here, and I'm just thankful every day that I am here."
Summer Prep: "You're trying to get better every summer; skating, working with the puck. Being a bigger guy, just using my body and learning different ways to be effective defensively.
"I have two little girls, and they do a pretty good job of keeping my day full and keeping my mind off of my job sometimes. So I'm sure they'll play a big role this summer in that, and I'll be chasing them around as much as possible."
Working With Assistant Coaches: "Larks (Jay Leach), even Stevie (Steve Briere), the goalie coach, and just all those guys, just trying to stay ready, and the guys with the strength staff, too, just putting in work every day and make sure you're still getting better even if you're not playing at night.
"It's not the easiest job, but they've all been great with just helping you work on things and staying ready in case that something does happen."