LAS VEGAS -- Now in his fifth NHL city, spanning a 14-year career, veteran forward Brandon Saad has always made sure of one thing in every city he's played.
Of Syrian descent, the 32-year-old - who signed a one-year contract with the Golden Knights worth an average annual value of $1,500,000 on Jan. 31 - wants to know where the best Lebanese food can be found.
"Obviously, my aunts and grandma and mom all cook it, and it's something I fell in love with early and that I've loved for a long time," Saad said during a conversation with The Hockey News. "Everywhere I've played, regardless of cooking it, we always try to find a good restaurant that has it or kind of community to feel that kind of sense of home."
Like many other Middle Easterners that enjoy the decadent flavors of Lebanon and Syria, Saad said his favorite dish is Kibbeh, a popular meat dish generally made with lean ground lamb and bulgur wheat.
Kibbeh is considered to be a national dish of Lebanon and Syria, and thankfully for the newest Knight, his wife, Alysa Wozniak, learned to make authentic dishes from his family matriarchs.
Now, Saad said, he's ready to find Las Vegas' best-known spots for authentic recipes of his heritage.
As part of our "SAY WHAT?!" series, here is a little more with Brandon Saad:
THN: What it's been like since you've arrived?
BS: It's been a whirlwind. But now that we're settled, it's been a lot of fun.
THN: There are plenty of families on this team, so home games must have quite a family night in the family room.
BS: I think it's amazing. Anytime you have other kids on the team it makes your kids feel right at home. So, for them to come in and get to play in the hockey room and get to experience that, it's been really nice.
THN: What's been one of the biggest things that you've come to appreciate being part of this organization?
BS: I think there's a lot of good things. I think the first off is the living. You don't know too much about it, but it's been great living, great weather, so it's nice for your family to be outside. And then how well you're treated as an organization. You hear things about that too, but until you experience it, it's really nice. First class.
THN: This team took the league by storm, and it became one of the most hated franchises. Is it weird to be here?
BS: I think anytime people are having success, you kind of want to knock them down a peg, and you kind of start that hatred for them. But it's an organization that's always trying to win, and that's why they're in it every year with the moves they make, with the guys they have. So it's nice to be on this part of it.
THN: Who was your closest ally before you got here, who did you have a close relationship with?
BS: I didn't know too many guys, but I played with Barbie (Ivan Barbashev) in St Louis right before he came here. Played with (William (Karlsson) as well, but that was in Columbus over 10 years ago. So Barbie, I talked to him a little bit about the organization and how it was and he had all great things to say, so that was good to hear.
THN: Have you found a favorite restaurant in town?
BS: At home, not too much yet. It's kind of been moving in a whirlwind with the family getting settled. But I know there's a lot of good food, even from playing here on the road. So I'm looking forward to getting to some more restaurants.
THN: Who have you learned is the biggest class clown?
BS: I don't know about class clown, but I like (Jack) Eichel. Loose personality. He likes to have fun. He likes to keep it loose, even though he's ultra-competitive. So I like that. He's a great leader.
THN: Who is the one guy you can expect to be pranked by?
BS: Maybe Petro (Alex Pietrangelo)? I think Petro might. I haven't seen too much, but he kind of has that fun personality, and he's been around a while.
THN: And since you've gotten here, who have you grown close with?
BS: "You know, I think it's been a feeler. Now, I think Stoney (Mark Stone) has been great, when I first met them in New York, to kind of get me out and getting dinners with him. So that's been nice. But, yeah, just getting a feel for the guys, it's been good to connect."
Stone said he didn't know much about Saad before he arrived, other than times he's played against him, but said he's the prototypical pro.
"Takes care of himself, there's a reason why he's played 900 and something games in such a short period of time," Stone said. "Skates well. Keeps himself in tremendous shape. He just comes in here, does his work, and goes home and gets ready for the next day that's what good professionals do."