Defenseman, acquired earlier in the day Saturday, flew from Columbus to Dallas to be in lineup against Stars Saturday night instead of Sunday's home game against Rangers
Defenseman, acquired earlier in the day Saturday, flew from Columbus to Dallas to be in lineup against Stars Saturday night instead of Sunday's home game against Rangers
Cam Fowler wasn't about to waste any time.
He knew his time with the Anaheim Ducks was over after a trade Saturday morning to the St. Louis Blues, so why not hit the ground running -- or skating -- with his ew team immediately.
Fowler was with the Ducks in Columbus prepared to face the Blue Jackets on Saturday, and it would have been easy enough to just sit back for a moment, process that 14-plus years with the Ducks was done, recalibrate and get ready to go to battle with his new team on Sunday at home against the New York Rangers.
That was never in the cards.
Fowler hopped on a plane in Columbus, got down to Dallas mid-afternoon and with no practices, just a some hellos with coaches, trainers, teammates and general manager Doug Armstrong and other team personnel, it was time to get to work Saturday night.
"I think once something happens and it's official, I'm a part of this team now and I think the goal was to get me here as soon as I could and try to be available for the team," Fowler said. "That's really what my focus was. In talking with the coaching staff, they wanted me to come in, meet everyone. So there was urgency on my end to come here and be a part of the team and kind of get things going as fast as I could."
Fowler was paired with Justin Faulk, and not with Colton Parayko as coach Jim Montgomery indicated was the likely scenario in the morning skate but after playing the first 991 regular-season games with one franchise, the 33-year-old was ready to wear the Bluenote.
"That's our job at the end of the day, we show up and we go to work," Fowler said. "I know it's been a crazy day, but at the end of the day, I'm most comfortable when I'm on the ice. It's going to be a new challenge for me with a new team, but at the end of the day, that is my job. I'm here to play if that's what's needed."
Once Fowler, who had four assists in 17 games with the Ducks this season, gets through this weekend of games, he can then try and turn his attention on his family, including a pregnant wife and a 2 1/2-year-old.
"The way that the day's kind of unfolded, we kind of have to put that secondary right now," Fowler said. "And my wife too, she's just very supportive of focusing on getting through tonight and playing with these guys.
"... There's life decisions and things that come with something like this. We'll sort all of that out. I just want to spend time with my family and be around them as much as I can. Play tonight and then tomorrow too. Maybe talk with them on Monday and see what's best moving forward."
Fowler had a solid debut, playing 17:57 in the game, which is well below the minutes he normally gets. But for a first game, couldn't ask for more from a 2-1 overtime loss.
