EP.145 - From Prospects to Pros with Glen Murray - Up My Hockey with Jason Podollan

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I would say the American League for me.
I still think it's a greatdevelopment league to.
If you're going to be part ofour NHL team, it's a great
development league to be there.
Are there players that shouldstay in college and are not
ready for America?
Of course, there are noquestion about it.
But if you're telling me how toanswer now, I'd say the
American League.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
That was 1,000 NHL gamer, glenn Murray, who is also
the director of playerdevelopment and player personnel
for the Los Angeles Kings, andyou are listening to the Up my
Hockey podcast with JasonPadolan.
Welcome to Up my Hockey withJason Padolan, where we

(00:48):
deconstruct the NHL journey,discuss what it takes to make it
and have a few laughs along theway.
I'm your host, jason Padolan, a31st overall draft pick who
played 41 NHL games but thoughthe was destined for a thousand.
Learn from my story and thoseof my guests.
This is a hockey podcast aboutreaching your potential.
Hey there, welcome to, orwelcome back to, the Up my

(01:12):
Hockey podcast with JasonPadolan.
I am your host, jason Padolan,and you are here for episode one
, four, five, almost going tohit that one and a half century
mark soon.
Absolutely crazy.
Never thought we'd be here, butwe are.
And what a great guest todayfor episode 145.
Glenn Murray and I crossed pathswith the Los Angeles Kings back

(01:35):
in 1998 when I got traded tothe Kings 1998-99.
And he was good to me then andhe was good enough to come on
the podcast today.
Glenn is from Nova Scotia, wentto the Sudbury Wolves of the
OHL for his junior major juniordays, was drafted from Sudbury

(01:58):
to the Boston Bruins in thefirst round, 18th overall, and
he went on to play for theBoston Bruins in his first year
Split time between theProvidence to play for the
Boston Bruins in his first year,split time between the
Providence Bruins and the BostonBruins and continued, never
looked back, continued on with acareer that did not touch the
minors again.
He was a solidified as an NHLerfor all 1009 games that he

(02:21):
played their regular seasongames, tack on another 94
playoff games and we are talkingover 1,100 NHL games.
What an honor, what a career.
Like I said, started withBoston, got traded to Pittsburgh
where he was able to play withMario Lemieux and Yarmir Yager

(02:42):
and Ron Francis and one of thejuggernaut teams of the 90s.
Got traded from there to LosAngeles where he spent six
seasons before being traded backto the Boston Bruins to finish
his career for his last sixseasons.
Glenn, in his heyday, was a44-goal scorer, 48 assists, 92
points in 82 games as an NHLer.

(03:03):
So he was a very, very solidplayer for a long time, scored
over 20 goals numerous occasionsand now is still playing oh no,
I shouldn't say playing is nowstill involved with the game
with the Los Angeles Kings as adirector of player personnel and
also director of playerdevelopment.

(03:23):
So this is a great conversation.
We talk about his time in theNHL, some of the lessons that he
learned player personnel andalso director of player
development.
So this is a great conversationwe talk about you know his time
in the NHL, some of the lessonsthat he learned and also what
is he doing now to help playersbecome NHLers.
One of the words he uses againand again is patience.
What a great lesson here fortoday's podcast, for all you
players out there listening andall you parents having patient
with the development processSuch a key piece.

(03:46):
We also talk about a scenariowhere he was dealing with a
coach who was hard on him andhow that moment in time was one
of the biggest compellingfactors in his career, and
hopefully that's going to beanother lesson for you guys to
watch out for about.
Maybe there's somethinghappening with you right now in
a scenario where a coach feelslike they're being hard on you

(04:08):
or maybe potentially beingunfair.
Can you use that in thecapacity that I'm sure it's
meant to be right now andallowing you to be better,
allowing you to learn pieces ofthe game that maybe you need to
learn, or growing personalattributes within yourself that
you need to have to become thebest player that you can be.
So lots of great lessons hereagain to be able to talk to

(04:30):
somebody that has theirfingerprints all over the Los
Angeles Kings and theirdevelopment model.
To have somebody on the programthat was able to play a
thousand games themselves,firsthand knowledge of what it
takes to be a player and nowdeveloping players into NHL
players A real special guest forus to have here.
So, without further ado, I willpass over to you my

(04:51):
conversation with Glenn Murray.
Okay, here we are, episode 145with old teammate Glenn Murray.
Thanks for coming on theprogram, mr Murray.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
No thanks for having me, of course, anytime.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
I appreciate it.
Yeah, it was wild connectingwith somebody back in your
hometown that knew you andanyways, and here we are, so
really, really great that we canchat so many connections like,
as far as your history, whatyou're doing now.
I think it's going to be agreat conversation for my

(05:28):
audience and maybe we'll startback, muzz, if you don't mind,
like back where you grew up inHalifax and, being from Nova
Scotia, was there many guyscoming out of Nova Scotia and
the Maritimes at that time to beNHLers?

Speaker 1 (05:40):
No, I don't think.
Not a lot.
I mean it was.
That's the 80s we're talkingabout Nowadays it's the three of
the best players in the leagueare from Nova Scotia, which is
great.
But you know, growing up inNova Scotia was the Quebec
League just kind of started withthe Maritime Division.
Mike McPhee, cam Russell werethe two of the players at Alma
Guinness, three of the playersthat I remember when I was

(06:01):
growing up in Nova Scotia.
Obviously I've met them alongthe way and great people and I'm
sure your next question leadinginto the would be the next
three guys from Nova Scotia?
Probably three, it's, you know,obviously McDavid and that and
a few other players, butMarshawn, crosby and McKinnon
are pretty special.

Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, no for sure.
I was just wondering, like whatit was like as far as from you
know, your connection to thegame, the NHL game, and when the
dream for you was like NHL like, and that seemed like a real
thing that you could, mightmaybe have a grasp on.

Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah, I think everyone dreams of it.
Right, they're playing growingup in Canada and but it kind of
seemed like far away becausethere's no NHL team in Nova
Scotia.
I never I didn't get to see itin an NHL building until I
actually played in one down theroad.
Really, yeah, nowadays everyonegets to go into the buildings,

(07:00):
but I was you know, being anhour from Halifax no NHL teams.
you know I was that's not whatwe did.
Just, you never saw, you neverwent to nhl cities and in my
family we didn't travel a lot,right?
So yeah, um, yeah, my firstgame was when I went into it,
when I played in a building.
So that was a little differentnowadays because kids are, you

(07:20):
know, they always remember theirfirst game, when, if they play
in the nhl, they always remembertheir first game when their
parents used to take them togames.
But, you know, the dream wasalways there and probably didn't
really kind of like, oh, maybeI could do this until I get
drafted by the Sudbury Wolvesand the OHL was different than
back in the 80s when, you know,I literally got a piece of paper
in the mail and I had to checkoff which league that, uh, we

(07:44):
wanted to go to, in themaritimes, because there was no
teams in the quebec league.
So, you know, I picked the ohland it drafted by sudbury, and
then probably my second year,maybe you know it kind of said
well, maybe I can do this, uh,for you know, and I'm kind of,
you know, getting better,improving, but uh, yeah, it was
around that time and then I waslike you know, you just kind of

(08:05):
you know everyone works hard.
You just had to kind of pushyourself and and uh, luckily I I
was in the right, uh, rightplaces where did you go?

Speaker 2 (08:14):
uh, where did you go on the ohl draft?

Speaker 1 (08:16):
I went uh third round I can't remember the number
anymore, but I went the thirdround in in uh sudbury played
there for three years.
Yeah that's, it was a littleculture shock.
It was, you know, I think, upnorth.
I thought it was somewhere thatI'd never seen before.
It was because it was snowingthere in October and it was like

(08:38):
we got a big snowstorm.
I'll never forget it 15, 16years old moving away from home
and geez, there was a snowfallbefore Halloween.
But I was lucky.
I loved it there.
I still go visit there.
I still keep in touch with myBillet family.

Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, that's a really impactful time.
I mean anyone that comes onthat does leave home to play
junior at 16, right, I mean youlook, do you have kids now?
Yeah, I do.
I have three kids, yeah, soit's a way different perspective
.
I don't know how it is for you,but I remember leaving at, you
know, 15 even, and not thinkingreally anything of it, to be
honest, like I was pumped to goand, you know, had a blast doing

(09:13):
it.
But now, through the eyes of afather and seeing my oldest is
15, got drafted by the Blazers,and just thinking that, you know
, potentially next year he couldbe out of the house, it's a
very different perspective.

Speaker 1 (09:24):
Oh, my goodness, very different, I think.
And and back then it was likeyou know, it was just that's
what.
Yeah, it was that's what youwas what we did, that's what you
did, I guess.
And and my parents were likeyou know, obviously they didn't
live in an ohl, it was far away,25 hour drive or something like
that, to sudbury or even more,and, uh, they came once a year,
that was it yeah, wow, so you'reon your own spreading your

(09:46):
wings.

Speaker 2 (09:47):
Uh, no, facetime back then you're not taking a look
at them all the time.
So, yeah, you're deaf.
Yeah, we were, you know, alittle more independent, I think
.
Uh, well, forced into it really, whether you were or not, you
kind of had to be.
Uh, when I looked at yourbirthday, this has been
something that's just in myecosystem that I've been looking
at, you know, being a novemberbirthday, uh, been looking at
the whl drafts and even the nhldraft.

(10:09):
I know it switches for the nhldraft if you're a late birthday
that you actually get an extrayear of eligibility.
Uh, how did that?
If you look back on yourself inthe, you know, youth realm,
were you an early grower likedid?
Did you?
Were you ever fighting theuphill battle because of the
late birthday?

Speaker 1 (10:25):
I honestly and it's funny, as someone asked me, that
last year or something, I haveno idea I, I mean, you don't, I
didn't even think about it.
Really I was, you know, whenyou're born, november, and no,
because it was just so differentthen.
And nowadays it's like youmentioned, it's like when was
your kid born or your latebirthday?
But when I was growing up, Idon't, I mean, I think I was a

(10:47):
late bloomer, I think, uh, youknow, getting drafted and then
going to the ohl and kind oftrying to adjust to living
moving away from home and youknow it was a really good league
and and stuff like that.
But I I don't even remember likeit took me a year and a half to
kind of like probably halfwaythrough my second year to in the
OHL, to kind of say, okay, Ican, I can handle this and I can

(11:10):
do this and and I can keep up.
But yeah, I would say it was alate bloomer for sure.

Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, so were you, cause you're six two and big big
guy six two.
I'm not big anymore, it's likeeveryone's 6'5", 6'6".

Speaker 1 (11:23):
I think I'm shrinking .
Actually, I think I have shrunkso.

Speaker 2 (11:26):
Fair enough.
But, like I remember, okay, soI'm a February birthday and I
remember that I definitely hadan advantage from a physical
standpoint as a young guy.
Right, I did grow and I grewrelatively early.
So I was bigger than everybody,naturally, just stronger than
everybody, you know.
So then it makes the game alittle bit easier at that youth
level.
Like, do you remember beingbigger?
Like were you, were you biggereven though you were late

(11:47):
birthday?

Speaker 1 (11:48):
I was taller I was, I was tall, but I was really like
geez, I bet you, I was draftedto ohl, I think, 160, 160, six,
I was probably like six, one,then maybe six feet, like one.
I did take a growth spurt Iguess a late growth spurt, while
I was in junior and thenfinally put on some weight, like

(12:09):
put on you know, you see kidsall the time, they, oh, they can
carry 20 pounds and I couldcarry it easily because I was
taller.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
And I didn't.

Speaker 1 (12:17):
I never worked out.
Before my first year junior, Ididn't even know what really
kind of working out was.
And then, until I started doingthat stuff consistently,
nowadays kind of working out was.
And then until I started doingthat stuff, uh, consistently
nowadays kids.
It feels like these kids areworking out at 12, 13 years old
and they have personal trainersand we don't have to get into
that, but I know it's crazy.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
Well, yeah, I said, I said to the last guest, I
interviewed brad lukowicz, but II did some research in the whl
draft, which is obviously notthe nhl draft, but still, and
because it happens at 14, uh,for the WHL draft, like that's,
that's a big maturity window,right, like as far as puberty
and everything else goes, and,and it's wild Cause, when I took

(12:54):
the birthdays of of that draft,um, 25% of the draft was from
the second quarter of the year,25% of the draft was taken in
the third quarter of the year,but then the two ends of the
first quarter and the fourthquarter is where the percentages
shift.
So only 10% of the draft inboth years was from the last
quarter of the year.
So 10%, and that whole 15% thatwas missed went to the first

(13:18):
for the first three months,right?
So 40% of the kids that went inthe draft was from the first
quarter of the year, and I meanto me, I thought that was really
interesting from a scoutingstandpoint.
It may be interesting to you,right, because there shouldn't
be less talent available in thelast quarter of the year, like
these kids just haven't grown orhaven't had the chance to
develop, in my opinion right,like that's.
That's sort of thedifferentiator and, um,

(13:39):
obviously it's tough becausesometimes as a late, as a late
birthday, you haven't had thechance to grow, so maybe you're
not in the right league even atthat point because you're not
getting spotted.
And then there's, like there'sa lot of I don't know what.
It's a deterrent, I guess, forthose kids and they feel left
behind, they feel like they'renot quite there.
I guess my message is just likethis is a real thing, right,
especially in hockey, where it'sit's a big physical sport and

(14:02):
everyone grows at a differentrate.
So, my goodness, if they canjust hang on there and get to
that NHL spot, it actually forthe first time in their lives,
it becomes an advantage.
Now you become the oldest onein the draft and not the
youngest one.

Speaker 1 (14:19):
And all those points are.
It's so true.
And the hardest thing is to bepatient with these kids.
It is, I'm telling you are getlike all these jimmy's no good
or whoever's no good, they justslough them off.
Be patient.
If you see something in them,just be so patient.
And it's hard because you knowlike teams want to whl teams are
trying to get the best players.

(14:39):
They want to win, and I get it.
I understand that.
But you have to be patient whenyou're trying to develop these
kids.
And you see it, you see it, Isee it, the whole hockey world
sees it and sometimes it turnsout and obviously it's not going
to work out 100% of the time.
But being patient, it's hard,it's very hard.

Speaker 2 (14:59):
It's very hard.
It's hard with your owndevelopment too.
It's one of the messages that Ihave, just with kids is like,
especially in this day and ageand maybe you've seen it for the
time that you've been, you know, in your position but that that
instant gratification of youknow they're so used to having
everything like right now, likewe want it yesterday, let alone
today, and we start talkingabout developing and thinking
about what you're going to looklike six months down the road.

(15:20):
My gosh, that's an eternity,right, but really like that is
the way we got to start thinking.
And when it comes to themindset aspect of like what are
you doing today?
So a year from now we're goingto be in a different spot, you
know, yeah, I think that it's.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
I love that because you know certain guys just need
to play.
Like you said it earlier, theyneed to play in the right league
.
So it's okay if, if, if,so-and-so plays in a double a
and and gets the reps that heneeds to play, because you know,
sometimes they play in thewrong league and they play two
shifts in period, or if theyplay six chefs, six of the whole

(15:55):
game, or they don't play a game.
So it's, it's.
How do you develop if you'renot playing?
And I get, I understand thatthe developing is, you know,
practicing and getting reps andtouching the puck, but you also
need to play the game to develop.
And sometimes it's, it's hardbecause the parents are in such
a rush, and not this, I don'twant to say parents, but

(16:16):
sometimes kids are in such arush that they, they just give
them time.
Give them time and and and it'll.
You know, you know I go back topatients all the time, but it's
, it's, uh, you know, it's in.
What you said earlier isgratifying, like when we have a
player here that we drafted andyou know it's taken a few years
and and he maybe had an injuryor something.

(16:37):
Then when he finally plays inthe nhl, they, they.
You know I don't go out, wedon't go out and kind of like,
talk to them after we do talk tothem, but they come to you.
They come to you and they knowhow much time we put in with
them when we drafted them, whenwe visited them in the WHL, the
OHL Europe or wherever it may becollege.
And it makes you feel good whenyou helped out a certain kid

(17:02):
and maybe it's just a tinylittle thing but to make it, you
know, live out their dreams.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yeah, 100% Shifting gears.
I mean I wanted to get into theplayer development stuff, but I
think, since we're on thistopic, I think it's an
interesting question becauseit's something that I know, that
I've seen, or at least I thinkI've seen it play out from an
organizational level.
But that idea that you said,especially with the high picks,
where I think organizationswould like them to be in the NHL

(17:32):
, you know, for obvious reasonsbecause they're a high pick, but
then sometimes they aren'tquite ready, you know, and so
then they're not getting thereps that they need.
And then it's like where thereis their assignment on that team
.
So there's like that juggleright, like should they be
somewhere else getting the reps,should they be up in the big

(17:53):
club and kind of sowing theiroats there?
And it seems like, uh, you know,like the top, the top top guys
sort of get that route.
You know they're usuallythey're put in the nhl.
We're seeing with psychovskyand maybe even a little bit with
Byfield right, like someone isout a little bit now coming into
the player, whereas some otherguys maybe, if it's a second
rounder, like let's justrecognize, we're going to do
this in the AHL, that's wherethis is going to happen.
So I think there's such aninteresting dynamic when it

(18:15):
comes to those like what thoseinternal discussions must be
like right, like what, and everyand, like you said earlier,
every kid is different.

Speaker 1 (18:24):
There's no question about it.
Yes, you're going to haveplayers that dive right into the
nhl and they can figure it out.
That takes them a few monthsand they they no problem.
But how many of those guys?
There's not many and it'sreally as a group we kind of
discuss it and you know, bifo isa great example, you know,
during covid.
So all those covid years and he,he went to the minors and

(18:44):
played and he doesn't know ityet, maybe he does now, but it
helped him tremendously, ithelped him a lot.
And playing those certainamount of games I don't know the
exact number that he played inthe minors and now he's kind of
like last year, he's kind oftaken off and kind of getting
he's becoming a better player.
He has, he's having player.
He has he having a little bitof a rough start this year, but
that's okay, that's how that'show it works.

(19:04):
But those days and reps in theminors gave him a little
confidence and gave him a littlebit of a okay, this is the pro
game and it's in the americanleague is hard and then for
those guys.
And then, like you said, thesecond was.
It seems like we're second,third, fourth, whatever round it
is, after the first rounders.
Why don't we become so muchmore patient with those players?

(19:25):
And I get it because, like yousaid, the first rounders we need
them in our lineup.
We need a young player on ourteam.
We need him to contribute.
So there's all kinds ofdifferent scenarios that each
player is talked about, and it'stalked about at length.
I mean hours and days and allthis stuff.
But we try to make you know theright decision for each player

(19:48):
and it's sometimes it doesn'twork out.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's never always going to work
out, I just find it's.
I find it fascinating, withinorganizations too, like the
different approaches.
And then you then you have thelens of yourself at least for me
too right, like how that washandled in certain places.
You know what you were expectedto do in the AHL to earn the
promotion and then what you wereexpected to potentially do in
the NHL when you were there toearn the ability to stay there.

(20:13):
And then you can see indifferent organizations, well,
maybe that same expectationisn't there, right, like maybe
you don't have to produce inyour first 10, 15, 20 games like
this is a little bit of aslower indoctrination into the
league, right, where some peopleyou're supposed to expect it to
get it right now, or elseyou're back to the minors again.
It's like you know, I mean likeit's very different across the
board but how different playersare treated and and the runway

(20:35):
and the opportunity that they'regiven oh, no question, and I
think a lot of has to do withplayers understanding.

Speaker 1 (20:41):
So when they turn pro and they're coming to our team
and it doesn't take long forthem to understand, oh, this is
actually really hard.
This is like uh, this is, theseguys are good.
Well, yeah, this is the nhlbest league in the world and I
can't make that lineup.
And they're like oh, americanleague, I go to the american
league.
The american league is very goodand it's hard and it's

(21:03):
obviously different and it's alittle bit more kind of like not
this, I don't want to saydisorganized, but sometimes, you
know, it's players trying todevelop into the NHL players and
and it's a hard league and it'sa hard league and there's
veteran guys on each team thatare not going to give you the
job because it's theirlivelihood.
They've been playing for 8, 10,12, 15 years and they're still

(21:25):
trying to live out their dreamto play in the NHL.
Yes, they've had a little tasteand when you're 19, 20, 21,
however old, that you come andturn pro, it's hard.
You're living on your own,you're paying your own bills.
It's all kinds of differentthings that happen and these
players and their agents,obviously that we try to help

(21:46):
them with it and understand it,but it's hard.

Speaker 2 (21:50):
It's really hard.
It's really hard.
I think that is the biggestthing.
You know, one of the one of thethings I do now I mean you're
in player developments, you'reworking with junior guys too but
like talking with that juniorlevel is that you don't know
what.
You don't know right, likefirst of all, and so just trying
to fill them in on the idea ofwhat it is to be a pro because,

(22:11):
like you said, everyone's a hardworker.
Now, right, everyone is doingthe things, but until you've
seen the standard and untilyou've seen the game, it's
really hard to understand whatis expected.
And the AHL is kind of lookeddown upon by a lot of these guys
and it's like you're going tobe doing very well if you can
play there one and two, if youcan produce there, like good on

(22:31):
you, because it's not an easyleague to do that in.
And then there's obviously thenext step to the NHL.
So you know, maybe back to you,like I love the fact that you
were in the AHL.
I mean, some guys that went andplayed a thousand games like
yourself, like amazing career,never had that taste of that,
never had that experience ofwhat that was looking like, what

(22:52):
was that like?
I mean, you produced right offthe bat 30 goals in 48 games as
a young man is a hell of a startto your pro career.
What is your first memory orhow do you recall that
adjustment of coming andstepping out of junior and going
into the NHL?
I'm sorry, the AHL withProvidence.

Speaker 1 (23:07):
Yeah, I think the big .
The first thing I remember isgetting called up at the end of
my junior season and I think itwas the strike night too, and I
came up to play like four orfive games in the NHL.

Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, and had three goals, by the way, everybody
listening Three goals in fivegames.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
That.
Five games.
That must have helped a lot.
Like that helped me a lot.
And then, coming back, I thinkit helped two ways.
Two ways.
It kind of I think I thought Icould, I could make it the next
year.
So coming in I thought I maybehad a spot.
But it's the boston bruins andthey're, you know, they're going
to make sure their team is good.
So I came back and and thenkind of made the team but didn't
make the team, went to theminors and I was kind of back
and forth that whole yearbecause I think I don't know how

(23:46):
many games I played that yearbut it was going back and forth
the Mass Pike down to Providencebecause it's only about an hour
away.
But at the time obviously Ididn't think it was helping me.
But now that you look back andyou kind of like, even during my
career, 100% it helped me to beable to play a thousand games
and no question about it.
And it's different now.

(24:06):
A lot of players.
There are players that play inthe American league and play a
thousand games.
I don't think there's.
There are very many of them,but it it just helped me
understand like this You've gotto it's every day.
You're a pro player, you're,you're NHL player or American
league player, pro hockey player.
You need to take your.
It's a job, but you're, you're,you're living out your dreams.
But every day, every day, everyday, you got to come to work

(24:30):
and, like you said earlier,everyone works hard, but you got
to be dedicated to off ice, onice, you know, making sure you
get your rest, eating proper.
All these things come into.
Come into what you have to bedoing to be able to be
successful come into what youhave to be doing to be able to
be successful.

Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yeah, and the stark difference between the AHL and
the NHL I think is an awesomeplace to start from, just from a
human standpoint, and I thinkjust from a humble standpoint
and a gratitude standpoint whenwe look at it from a mindset
perspective, because you go fromordering pizza on the bus in
the AHL and probably not anymore, but I mean back when we were
in the AHL, that's what it waslike to the NHL and it's a stark

(25:09):
reality change.
And so, just with a phone call,you're experiencing these,
these two different lifestyles,right, and they're both hard.
You know they're both, they'reboth pros and it's just.
It's that fine line of hey, howcan I become an NHL player?
And I think that you, havingthat experience, you must have
valued your time in the NHL,probably from that day forward,
even that much more.

Speaker 1 (25:31):
Oh, 1,000%.
Even back then in the early 90sit was still like you said
pizza on the bus or maybe a suband going to the NHL where you
get a huge buffet and you geteverything.
And I try to.
You know sometimes what we tryto instill here and people will
probably say it like you knowyou get a talented player that's
in the American League and thatyou kind of see them kind of

(25:53):
not working hard.
So we always try to say to themlisten, once you get that
little taste, don't let thattaste go away, because you know
you either want to, you want tomake 80,000 in the American
League and the talent you haveyou can make $8 million.
So come to work every day, workhard, get a little taste.

(26:17):
It's not like they practiceforever.
It's hard to instill that andshow them that, listen, you have
enough talent.
We've seen that in where youplayed in junior or college.
Bring that mentality to the NHLand grab one of those jobs that
the that the NHL playershaven't.
Play hard every day and becommitted to your, to your craft
.
And some guys don't get it andsome guys do and they have great
careers yeah.

Speaker 2 (26:43):
Take a short break from the conversation with glenn
murray to say thank you toeveryone who has responded to my
call for ambassadors oraffiliate coaches.
Up my hockey is growing.
It has gotten to a spot where Ican't serve anybody else and I
need people to help uh, get theword out of mindset and how it

(27:04):
helps performance to the hockeycommunity at large.
And that means people ingeographic areas various
geographic areas who are networkconnected, who are potentially
working with athletes alreadyand want to see their coaching
grow, want to see the kids thatthey're working with have their
opportunities grow andpotentially grow together with

(27:28):
me and a growing brand.
So Up my Hockey, as you know ifyou've been here for any length
of time at all is a personaldevelopment mechanism for hockey
players to use mindset to bethe best players that they can
be.
Now, if that is something thatyou think sounds great and you
are also passionate about, thenperhaps you can be an ambassador

(27:49):
or you could be an affiliatecoach.
It's a pretty simple process.
You would email me.
You recognize that.
Hey, this sounds like somethingI'm interested in.
This sounds like something thatexcites me.
Let's see what it's all about.
We get on a call and I let youknow the steps of becoming an
ambassador or an affiliate coach, and we go from there.

(28:10):
So pretty simple, pretty simpleprocess.
All I want from you at thispoint is a passion to help and
the knowledge that mindset doesmake a difference.
If you can check both thoseboxes, you're off to the races.
So, yes, looking for Up myHockey soldiers grateful to
anyone who's reached out already.
If this is something that youthink might suit you, by all

(28:33):
means reach out to me on mywebsite, upmyhockeycom, or jason
at upmyhockeycom, with a directemail, and I look forward to
talking with you.
Now let's get back to theconversation with Glenn Murray.
You said yourself and I thinkthat that's such an interesting

(28:55):
place, maybe, to pause and yousaid during your time when you
were there, you didn't realizeit at the time and you didn't
want to be there, but lookingback it helped you.
Now, for you, it didn't holdyou back because you ended up
going to the NHL, but you'vejust said on the other side of
it, you see guys right now thatare resistant to where they are

(29:19):
and of course, they don't wantto be in the AHL.
Right, we want to be in thebest league in the world, maybe
we even believe we're supposedto be where's.
How do we, how do we get thatmindset to shift, to play where
your skates are and to reallydive in and commit to that spot
and be the best player where you?

Speaker 1 (29:29):
can be.
Yeah, that's a.
That's a tough one, because assoon as you can get them to
believe in you like say for mystaff and our staff that we are
actually looking out for yourbest interests, we want you in
the NHL.
We're not the coaches, we don'tgive you ice time, but we're
going to help you as much as wecan in everyday life and turning

(29:51):
pro and being in the AmericanLeague to get you to that next
level.
Once that player believes youthat we are actually looking out
for their best interest, youget them and they kind of like
they, they, you almost kind oflike.
They're like okay, I got younow and it's happened, it'll
happen this year, it'll happennext year, it happens all the
time and as long as you.

(30:12):
That's why development staffsand all the NHL teams are very I
think it's very important.
You know we first get a firstintroduction.
I don't want to kind of get allover the place, but our first
introduction is at the draft.
So you get to meet them andyou're trying to build that
relationship so they understandwhen they do turn pro, they
believe us that we are lookingout for their best interest.
We want to try to help them,you know, establish themselves

(30:35):
as a NHL player or get to theNHL and and really it makes us
it's sad, it, it, it.
We get great pleasure ofactually helping those kids get
to the NHL, like they, untilthey understand that I know I'm
repeating myself, but once youget them, it's, it's, it's gold.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
I do believe that that is the key, and you haven't
used the word, but trust comesto mind, right, like that.
They trust you and the process,and if they don't trust the
process or don't trust you, thenthere's a little bit of an
isolationist aspect that comeson it.
They have to take care of me,right, and when we're taking
care of me, things can get alittle bit discombobulated there

(31:21):
.
So I believe you're probablybuilding that relationship, like
you said, day one, right?
So the idea is investing theplayer that they trust you.
How, how else do you go aboutthat like other than facetime?
How do you and by facetime Imean like talking to them,
communicating?

Speaker 1 (31:34):
okay, well, we're lucky.
Like I said, we're lucky herein LA that we've got a great
staff and Sean O'Donnell, mattGreen, kind of make sure we look
after the defense and MikeDonnelly and Jared Stoll and
myself and a couple otherplayers will look after the
forwards per se.
So that relationship day one,you introduce yourself that's
why we're always at the draftand we introduce them.
If you introduce yourself wherethat's why we're always at the

(31:55):
draft and we introduce them Ifthey're there we kind of start
that relationship and I trulybelieve.
And then you kind of try to get.
You know they're playing in theOHL or Western league or Europe
or the Liga league and Swedenor wherever it may be, and you
kind of get them.
You kind of start to go visitthem, watch them play.
And yes, obviously we watchthem play, but and yes,
obviously we watched them play.
But the most important thing iscreating that relationship off

(32:16):
the ice and them understandinglike we came all this way.
We want to come all this waybecause we want to create this
relationship with you.
So when you do eventually cometo us, when you do sign a
contract and you do come to theAmerican league or the LA Kings
that that relationship is thereand they see that how much we
care about them, because we, youknow, we have players all over

(32:39):
North America and Europe andwe're lucky enough, one of the
teams and I'm sure there's lotsof teams that do it but they go
visit our players when they play, take them for dinner, whatever
it may be in a certain city,and that creates that
relationship and trust that theyfeel like, okay, these guys
really care about us.

Speaker 2 (33:01):
And I think investing in them individually whether
that be FaceTime, meals,discussions, but also in their
game, I think would probably besomething that would support
them in feeling that they'reinvesting in me and my best
interest, which is somethingthat I don't know how you felt
about it, but like somethingthat I didn't feel as a player,

(33:22):
like I was.
I thought I was just playingand I was trying to produce and
if I produce, then I was goingto get an opportunity, but it
wasn't like hey man, like we gotto work on X, y, z to help you
round out your game to the nextlevel.
I want you to work on this inthe gym.
I want you to work on this as askill set.
I think the game, from adevelopment aspect, has
dramatically evolved since the90s.
Is there individualized gameplans for these guys coming up

(33:45):
for you?

Speaker 1 (33:46):
100% how we want them to be able to play as an LA
team.
But we have to be.
You know, you kind of toe theline a little bit because
they're still with that certainteam and you know we always talk
to the coach.
We always, wherever our playeris, we always, you know, text or
email or phone the coach ofthat team, say we're coming in
to visit, can we?
You know we'd like to talk tothem.

(34:06):
Or, and you know, all theseplayers have video coaches and
personal trainers and all thisstuff.
So we, we definitely will goover their game, no question,
question.
But we have nothing.
We will not talk about systemsat all.
We'll talk about wall play andmaybe hitting the net and
different things like that, butwe will never, ever talk because

(34:27):
we're not their coaches.
Right, we're player developmentcoaches but we're trying to
help them for defensemen goingback for retrieval or making
that first pass, and never, everdo we talk about systems
because we have no control oftheir ice time and we don't know
exactly you know what they'replaying, what their coaches have
planned.
We always tell them make sureyou listen to your coaches, but

(34:48):
make sure these wall plays andface-offs and all these things
are very important.
All these things are veryimportant and you know, once we
try to introduce it at ourdevelopment camps in the summer,
just saying this is what welike to do, this is how we want
to play in LA.
But you always make sure thatyou have to listen to your
coaches.
Wherever you're playing nextyear, always listen to your
coaches and the systems, becauseyou know there's a fine line,

(35:10):
as I'm sure you know that.
You know you don't want tocross that line.
We're here to help you any waywe can and the dealings I've had
with coaches around NorthAmerica and Europe they've been
fantastic.
They love you know.
Sometimes they let us come onthe ice to work on a face-off.
Or the defensemen Matt Greenand Sean O'Donnell will work on
retrievals and going back forpucks and you know just

(35:33):
different things like that.
But you create thatrelationship with the player but
also with their coaches andtheir, their agents and stuff
like that.
It's not just you think it'sjust one-on-one, but it's
there's.

Speaker 2 (35:43):
There's a lot of other you know, and their
parents do and their family, sothere's a lot of yeah, no, for
sure, there's a lot I hear thatnow from more than from more
than one person that there is somany voices sometimes for these
players right now, and one islike can we get a consistent
message and who are they goingto listen to if it's not
consistent?

Speaker 1 (36:03):
Yeah, because there is a lot I don't like.
You know, when we were comingthrough, we didn't have all that
kind of thing going on.
We had an agent and yourparents and that was it and and
these guys have their.
They have their skating coaches, they have their personal, they
have their nutritionists, theyhave their.
You know, they have all thesesorts of things.
So they have a lot of thingskind of coming at them all at

(36:26):
once.
And we try to kind of simplifyit a little bit, just uh, for
the on ice part and andunderstanding what, uh, what it
takes to be an LA King.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
This may be a note to everyone listening out there
and I don't want people to missit.
So here we are, talking toGlenn Murray, director of Player
Development of the Los AngelesKings, who has drafted a player,
and you have spoken verycarefully about how you will
talk to a player and not want tostep on the team's toes or the
coach's toes with what themessage is being delivered.
That is key for the player andI'm going to put it in

(36:56):
perspective, because the playerwhat I just said you can't have
two different messages.
It makes it impossible for theplayer to please Glenn Murray
and also please his coach, wherehis feet are the ground and
that's a team where he's tryingto win.
Now, as a parent, maybe you canexpand on this, glenn.
Like telling your playerwhether you're in Bantam or
Peewee or wherever, somethingthat is not what the coach is

(37:17):
asking is the exact samescenario.
So you have to be very carefulwhen you're talking with your
player about what it is you wantthem to do, because they want
mom and dad to be happy, butthey also want the coach to be
happy, and if there's twodifferent messages, the player
loses every single time.
So be very careful of yourmessaging.
The player loses every singletime.
So be very careful of yourmessaging.
I don't know, have you seenthat maybe even at your level,

(37:38):
with an 18, 19-year-old, wheresomebody's still involved, that
is maybe not giving the messagethat you want given, oh of
course, of course that's thesame.

Speaker 1 (37:47):
You'd think it would go away after Pee Wee, bantam or
Midget, but it's there.
And it's a fine line too.
You have to, you know.
I mean it's the parent and youkind of try to create that
relationship with the parent toa certain extent, and you're
right.
You're right.
When the parents are given onething and the coach wants to do

(38:08):
another thing, it's hard forthat player to be successful in
a system not a system, I don'twant to say system, but on a
team.
On a team when everyone's kindof doing what's best for the
team.
And then if you have a certainparent and it happens, and I
think the part of it is theparents aren't educated on,
maybe they've never been on ateam or whatever.

(38:31):
But you need everyone to kind oflike play as a team for all the
kids to be successful, you know, to go on and move on to the
next level.
And it's hard, I get it.
They pay a lot of money to playPee-wee, bantam, midget, and I
understand that.
You know it's hard because theywant Jimmy to play, like every
second shift and every powerplay and every penalty kill.

(38:51):
Well, the coach will, you know,the coach will you know, the
coach will, will, just not willdecide on that, but jimmy will
decide for himself if he'splaying in that team system and
that's where you'll besuccessful, because you know
it's hard when you, if you getto the next level, if you played
or you're an individual playeryes, there's superstars all
around, there's certain guys,but if you're an individual

(39:13):
player, all growing up, you'llit'll be tough to play in a team
yeah, no, I agree.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
The the player identity is is an interesting
topic for me and and maybe wecan start back with with you and
stepping from, like, let's say,the ahl where you were 30, 30
goals and 48 point and 48 games,to an nhl season where it's 18
and 81, or the next year afterthat, five and 35, right, like

(39:40):
you're not playing top three,top six minutes.
You're probably not on the powerplay, recognizing that.
So I guess my question for theplayer is like one we evolve
through player identity.
We can fulfill a different rolein a team and then we come to
pro, and then we need toprobably can fulfill a different
role in a team and then we cometo pro, and then we need to
probably start in a differentspot.
The majority of people need tostart in a different spot doing

(40:02):
different things.
How, how much of a problem isthat for players you see coming
up thinking maybe they need tobe one thing or they can only be
one thing, but yet you'reasking them to be something else
that maybe they're not quitecomfortable with or haven't been
asked to do before?

Speaker 1 (40:15):
Yeah, that's a great question too, because that's
where our scopes come in andthey're amazing because there
are players that have comethrough our system or whatever
other teams that have gotten 100points in junior no problem,
can do it, no problem.
Then they turn pro and they goto the American League and they

(40:36):
get 30 points or 25 points, andso our scopes really try to
identify those players that youknow.
The best example I think I cangive is obviously everyone knows
Patrice Bergeron.
I was lucky enough to play withhim in his first two years in
the league, or two or threeyears in the league.
He came out of the QuebecLeague, I think, I don't know

(40:59):
exactly.
I think he was like an 80-pointguy in the Quebec League.
So you think that's good, butit's not.
You know like all those bestplayers would get like 100
points, 130 points, 140 points.
And look at the player.
He was because he did thethings the right way in the
quebec league and when he turnedpro he understood what he had
to do defensively and inunderstanding how to play he

(41:22):
wasn't worrying about getting 80points or 50 points or 60, he
was.
Just he understood how to playthe game the right way, because
everyone, not everyone there'splayers still out there that
that were playing junior, that150 points or 160 points or
whatever it may be, and have ahard time adjusting to, only,
like you said, coming into theAmerican League and well, it's

(41:43):
the coach's fault I don't getenough ice time and they get 20
points.
But those players that kind ofplay the right way, that in the
system for the team defensivelyare the guys that are there are
going to make it yeah, yeah,being versatile enough to
understand that there is valueoutside of the score sheet.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
I mean, not everyone wants to be on the score sheet.
I know you did, I know I did.
That was the way we identifieda lot.
But at that pro levelespecially and this is the thing
that I'm trying to emphasize islike when you're stepping in to
a new environment right, whenyou're stepping into a higher
league, a higher level there'sthis many guys that can step in
on that top three unit that arejust kind of christened with the
idea that you're going to beour guy.

(42:28):
The everyone else needs to liketake somebody's job, be reliable
, be trustworthy, you know, notmiss their guy in the back check
, like the little things thatmaybe they've never even thought
about doing before now becomeparamount to whether they're
going to get another shift anduh, and finding the value of
that early like and you usingPatrice Bergeron is such a great
example Like not everyone ismature enough mentally to

(42:51):
understand what they need to dophysically on the ice, yeah,
Like it's okay to be the bestpenalty killer in the league,
the block a shot to get the puckout when you're stuck in your
own zone for a minute and a half, to be great on the wall like
wingers.

Speaker 1 (43:05):
Be the best ball player you can be.
You know what.
Be the best centerman.
The coach, if you are the bestcenterman, the coach is going to
put you out there 100%.
We see it in the NHL all thetime.
You can call it watching a game.
Okay, they're going to sendso-and-so out.
You're going to get on the ice.
So be elite at what?
Maybe you're not going to getthe 25, 30 goals, because how

(43:26):
many guys score that many in theNHL nowadays?
You know there's a few 50-goalscorers, but not many.
Be elite at blocking a shot orgetting the puck out, like we
just went over, or being thebest penalty killer, because
teams, all teams, need that too.
The best teams have those guysthat are on the team.

(43:47):
And yeah, you want to score andyou do that.
You'll get on the ice more.
The coach will trust you.
Make sure the coach trusts youto do this certain thing that is
going to help the team.
Those are important jobs.
You said it earlier, there'sonly a certain amount of players
that can play in the top six orthe top line or that first
power play.

(44:08):
There's a whole other teamconcept that you have to be able
to.
Those players are valuable too.
Very valuable, very valuable.

Speaker 2 (44:18):
When it comes to you and your ascension into the NHL
and starting off as a solidBoston Bruin, your third year
just sticks out statisticallyfrom the idea of having five
goals in 35 games and sevenpoints.
Do you remember that year?
Was there some turmoil going on, some adversity that you had to
fight through, as far asmentally was concerned, I think
that was the lockout year.

Speaker 1 (44:37):
We only played 48 games.
I can't exactly remember, Idon't know exactly.
I think I had the one coachthat I had, as I remember it and
this probably helped me too wasBrian Sutter, and he was hard
on me and probably what I neededto be able to.
I think that year year when Ilook back on it and that year
was probably the most importantyear for me, even though

(44:58):
statistically it wasn't verygood.
But Brian Sutter kind ofinstilled in me that you know
you're going to be done playingif you don't kind of dig in more
work, harder more, do this anddo that and those things.

(45:19):
And you know, then I got tradedaway and went to other teams and
that's part of the.
You know that's part of it.
But I always look back on thatand he was hard on me, no
question about it, probably thehardest coach I've ever had and
to this day I you know we haddaryl here and he knows that I
had brian in the back.
They remember everything andand I run into brian I haven't
run into him a few years, but atthe first time I ran into him,
after I left him, he wascoaching in calgary and he gave
me a big hug and and I thankedhim for teaching me those things
back then that he probablynever really realized.
But that year helped meprobably the most to be able to

(45:42):
say, okay, I gotta do this, thisand this to be able to stay in
this league.
And and I was lucky enough toplay you know 10 more years
after that or something when yousay hard on on on me.

Speaker 2 (45:52):
Can you like just talk to the players out there,
because not everyone's going tohave a Brian Sutter and I have
no idea his approach, but a lotof times being able to receive
information, feedback, criticalinformation or critical feedback
it can be delivered a lot ofdifferent ways and for players
to hear it and absorb it and useit is really, really critical

(46:14):
for their own development.
And sometimes we don't get themessage delivered the way we
want to have it delivered, right, but so like, maybe go back to
that and how is he deliveringthat message, how did you
receive it and how did you useit?

Speaker 1 (46:26):
You know, I think it was hard.
He was just hard on me Everysingle play.
He was trying to instill in methat every single play is
important, every single play.
And we just went over itface-off, getting the puck out.
You know, winning, say, yourcenterman doesn't win that
face-off, but winning the loosepuck, not losing your D-man in
your defensive zone, like allthese little things.

(46:48):
And it was an everyday thing,no question.
But at the time it was hardgoing through it and this and
that you know, like when we'dskate.
There's one story that I alwaystell when we skate it's at the
old garden.
Thank god it was a littlesmaller building, but whenever
we would get skated hard, youknow what they used to call it.
Yeah, it was always, we'regoing to stay here until me.

(47:09):
He would say my nickname andsay muz is till muz start
skating hard.
So those were the the things.
But it was like okay, and I, heand I did skate harder and I
was still skating as hard as Icould.
But he instilled in me and theguys came over to me.
I don't know if he was doing iton purpose, but you know, the
players would come over to meand, good, great job, but I was
going as hard as I could and Ithink it kind of just maybe I

(47:32):
was, you know, pissed or thisand that but after you look back
at it he really did instill inme, not that I didn't have the
work ethic, but even more so tobe able to play 1,000 games.
And he, yeah, it was.
I took it in a way that youknow you got to work harder, but
everyone works hard, but youhave to work smarter and make

(47:54):
sure all these little things arevery, very important to to get
to have a career in the nhl.
Yeah it's.

Speaker 2 (48:03):
It's the event.
I just had a coaching call lastnight with with some players
that I'm working with and wewere talking about the event
like whatever the event is, andso for you in that moment it's
like the coach singing you outin front of everybody as being
the guy that needs to workharder.

Speaker 1 (48:15):
That can be perceived a massive amount of ways from
the player that that's gettingtalked to right 100%, and I was
fortunate enough that I wasbrought up the right way, that I
took it the right way and madeand said you know, whatever, and
I used that as motivation andyou know what I have to.
I'm using this and now that Ithink back at it, maybe at the

(48:42):
time, but I still used it to beable to play, you know, a
thousand games or continue mycareer and and, uh, I always
remember that, but it's, you'reright, every player or kid or
whoever could take it adifferent way.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
Yeah, and they do I think it's the story that we
want to tell ourselves.
So, no, you didn't want to givebrian sutter a hug for after it
and saying, hey, thanks formaking me stronger, but you used
.
It's the story that we want totell ourselves.
So, no, you didn't want to giveBrian Sutter a hug for after it
and saying, hey, thanks formaking me stronger, but you used
it in a way that you use it asfire, use it as fuel.
Maybe it was even you versushim.
I'll show you like, however youused it, you used it to your
advantage and not to become avictim, and I think that's like.
The thing that I like talkingto players about is like it's

(49:11):
the event is the event.
How are you going to use thatevent to make it a powerful
story for you and yourdevelopment, right?
Either you can be the victim oryou can be empowered in that
situation, and I think thatthere's so many moments as a
hockey player, right, likethere's so many moments where
you can be the victim or you canbe empowered, and the more you
can put yourself in thatposition of confidence

(49:32):
empowerment, my gosh like thebetter your chances are.

Speaker 1 (49:35):
Oh, no question about it.
And like one thing I forgot tosay, there is one I'll never
forget it.
When he was coaching Calgaryand I was in LA or Pittsburgh I
can't remember what team, Ithink it was Pittsburgh I got
traded there for a couple ofyears and he came and told the
trainer Brian's out there to sayhi to you, the coach Brian that
I had.
So it was like we had this kindof like weird relationship in a

(49:58):
sense that he knew that he hadpushed me and helped me become
to keep playing in the leagueand to have a long career.
That's awesome.

Speaker 2 (50:08):
One of the connections I didn't know that
you had just doing a little bitof research there when I was
with the Kings and Stumple wasthere and you were there that
you guys got drafted by Bostonlike first round, second round,
played together in Boston, endedup being in LA together.
Kind of a weird connection thatdoesn't happen all the time.

Speaker 1 (50:24):
No, like very rare, like we played in in in that
team in Providence that we hadMichael Connell was our coach
and he coached and GM inProvidence and we both played in
the minors together and then weboth came kind of, came up
together and then we both gottraded together to LA.
So it was kind of like, yeah,it was a weird relationship and
weird it doesn't very happenvery often but uh, we did have a

(50:45):
we close relationship and hewas a hell of a player too and
he played a long time and and uh, he's a good, good man yeah,
that's pretty wild.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
Um, he sent you growing up together from two
different areas of the world andhaving those NHL careers.
You were line mates for a fairportion of it, were you not?

Speaker 1 (51:03):
Yeah, in Boston we were at the beginning kind of
like, yes, we were line mateshere in LA a little bit, but we
started in the minors in theProvidence together.
We kind of had that bond downthere where he knew.
So we kind of had that you knowbond down there when he knew
where I was kind of going to go.
We had that you know playingtogether.

Speaker 2 (51:20):
So yeah, Just going to take a short break from the
conversation with Glenn Murrayto chat about the UMH 68, the Up
, my Hockey 68.
It is my showcase brand that Ihave started here in British

(51:40):
Columbia for the minor Bantamand major Peewee age groups,
which has been so exciting tosee take off and so exciting to
see the smiles on the faces ofthe players and the parents who
have been involved.
And the idea of the brand is tobring hockey together for a
weekend of education,development and competition in a

(52:02):
best-on-best style competition.
So we search for the top 68players in the age group, we
send out invitations and invitethem to come to the location of
choice and we have workshops.
We have a player banquet.
We have lots of hockey,full-length games with two ice

(52:23):
cleans in between or with twoice cleans during the game.
We have NHL alumni coaches,people who are knowledgeable and
experienced in the game thatwant to give back to the players
.
We have, like I said, workshopsfor parents and players.
So you will be put on a team ifyou are lucky enough to be
invited with other players inyour province, many of whom

(52:47):
you've never played with orpotentially even against, and
for four days you will becomefriends and you will be battling
together and you will belearning together and you will
be developing together.
And that's one of the bestthings I believe hockey can
provide is the people that comealong with it, and exposing
younger players to environmentslike this, it really prepares

(53:09):
them for what's to come.
You are going to be in dressingrooms and you are going to be
uncomfortable when you first getthere and you are going to have
to figure out ways to play yourbest hockey and um and yeah.
So it's about the journey Uhthe up my hockey 68, the UMH 68
really is a encompasseseverything.
Up my hockey is about.
It's about trying to be yourbest.

(53:30):
It's about being your best inthe biggest moments.
It's about the development pathand what hockey has to offer
you as a holistic person, and wedevelop the person behind the
hockey player, and there's lotsof smiles and there's lots of
fun to be had.
We treat the players like pros.
The dressing rooms are dialedin.
The experience for them isreally special and unique and

(53:54):
it's really been somethingthat's been blowing up.
And it's been blowing up in thesense that, hey, yes, we are
expanding, I will be in Alberta.
Canmore has just been confirmedfor the Alberta 2012s.
Martinsville in Saskatchewanhas been confirmed for the 2012s
in Saskatchewan, and BrandonManitoba will be hosting a 2011

(54:16):
event, which can all be foundout on my website.
So, if you are listening tothis, if you are in Western
Canada I'm speaking to myWestern Canada listeners and you
have somebody in that age groupby all means check out the Up
my Hockey website.
Check out the UMH 68Invitational.
Get your, your name, on thewatch list.
That means that, hey, webelieve that we are in the top

(54:37):
68.
We would like to come to thisevent.
You can also make referrals forother players with the watch
list and, yeah, get the word outthere because we are coming in
2025.
Super exciting time for Up myHockey and the Up my Hockey 68.
It is a one-of competition and,uh, really excited to bring it

(54:57):
to a province near you.
So, get the word out.
Uh, check out the website forthe watch list and, uh, and yeah
, there'll be more to come.
Now let's go back to theconversation with Glenn Murray.
I would be an idiot if I didn'task you about Pittsburgh, just
because Mario Lemieux was alwaysmy guy and you had a chance to

(55:19):
play with him and also JaramirJagr, and I've heard two
different stories about thoseguys, like as far as Jagr's
approach to the break those twodown for me as far as the
differences, not necessarily onthe ice, but their approach to

(55:41):
the game away from the rink.

Speaker 1 (55:43):
Yeah, I think it was.
Obviously I was there for twoyears.
So I got the two greatindividuals Like you know, I've
seen Mario since the past fewyears and this and that and Yogs
, two special players, likeelite, top players that have
ever played the game, noquestion about it.
Well, they could do some thingsthat, yeah, you just knew like,

(56:06):
it's just totally different.
Like Mario was like Yogg's waslike he had to have all these
other distractions to come andplay.
Great, it was the weirdestthing.
But then certain times orcertain games, y was like if you
, if he was there early, if hewas focused and had all the in,
all his certain stuff done early, he was going to have a big

(56:28):
night.
It was, it was, it was insane,it was incredible to see and
witness what he could do on theice when he was motivated and
that one year that I was there,I, he, had 140 points or Mario
had 100 and whatever amount ofpoints, and they were probably
when they were on their game.
It would be tough, they're sobig, like I mean, mario was 6'5

(56:49):
or 6'6 and Yogg was 6'4 and 230and can hold on to the puck back
then and it was somethingspecial to see how they you know
I was at that game.
I was still on the team whenMerrill got five goals.
That one game, all differentways.

Speaker 2 (57:07):
Short-handed power play.

Speaker 1 (57:09):
I was there for that one and it was a hell of a team.
The year that Florida beat usin seven, I think, and Colorado
won the cup that year in 98, Ithink it was.
I can't remember the year thatpits are florida beat us in
seven, I think, uh, and coloradowon the cup that year in uh 98,
I think it was.
I can't remember the year.
But they, we had a team, but wehad a.
You know, it happens we ronniefrancis, got hurt in that.
In that, against florida, wehad an unbelievable team, like I

(57:31):
mean unbelievable team.
We had a few injuries, not thatwe would have beat colorado.
I think we would have giventhem a good series, but these
two guys, something special,something special.

Speaker 2 (57:44):
Yeah, that was my first year pro and I just got
called up from Spokane, so I wasactually on the ice with
Florida in Pittsburgh when wewell, we I wasn't playing but I
was in a T-shirt, so I got tosee that right Like firsthand
and that was ridiculous just forme being such an eye.
I mean, mario was my idol andto be around it that close and

(58:06):
then to see what Beezer did,that series and everything else
was crazy.

Speaker 1 (58:12):
He could do things that were like for six foot five
, six foot six, and what hedidn't get, I don't think he got
enough credit for he got a lotof credit because he's one of
the best players ever is.
He could skate.
Yeah, he could skate when hecould fly and man.
Think about that now.
Like I mean, he was justincredible, incredible.

Speaker 2 (58:31):
And as far as just I got the points up now.
So Mario had 161 that year.
He scored 69 goals.
Jagger had 62 goals and 149points.

Speaker 1 (58:42):
So a 69 goal scorer and a 62 goal scorer on the on
the same team it was every night, you know, and teams couldn't
stop, they couldn't, theycouldn't stop and the power play
was like.
You know, all the hockey worldtalks about power play nowadays.
We should just call them up andsay what did you guys do?
That's all you have to do, like, like, I mean, it was amazing,
it was amazing.

Speaker 2 (58:59):
But as far as like so I heard I mean everyone's heard
the stories or maybe noteverybody, but I have of you
know Jager having his own key tothe rink and he would be
skating.
You know when the lights wereoff and you know doing all these
crazy workouts.
And Mario, you know whether itbe injuries or whatever.
Mario, you know, whether it beinjuries or whatever, sounded
like he wasn't too involved in aweight room.
Or you know working on things away that maybe he was one of

(59:21):
those truly natural kind ofprodigy types, which is
different, I mean, and we cantalk about talent versus effort
and stuff but were theirapproaches to their own personal
game a little different?

Speaker 1 (59:34):
Yeah, well, what I saw in Pittsburgh when I was
there for just two years andMario just had come back from an
injury and that but he secretlydid workouts.
They quietly didn't want notfor everyone to see, and
everyone.
The stories are all true aboutYogs, like he works on his game.
He's at the rink all the timeand I think he got to do that
more and more as he got olderbecause he was, you know, he

(01:00:03):
wanted to do that he could.
He was always doing like, maybebefore a warm-up he would do
put like five plates on eachside and do like squats, like or
leg press.
It was like craziest things,like you see.
And some days game was at seven.
He'd show up at like 5, 45 andget on and score three that
night.
So there was all kinds ofdifferent scenarios and and uh,
but he they were, they had adifferent approach, but I think
mario was just so talented andbut he did what I saw.

(01:00:23):
He did do his secret workouts.
He was uh that he didn't, witha lot of people not around,
maybe before or whatever it wasand and uh, but it was uh, it
was different.
It was different back then, forsure.

Speaker 2 (01:00:37):
Yeah, two of the games best.
What an awesome opportunity tosee that firsthand and to play
with them.
I'm sure it was a special timefor you.
Looking back on your own career.
I mean, we crossed paths in LAand there were some really good
players on that team, you know,who are now still part of the
organization, probably the twobiggest names in Robitaille and
Blake and the positions thatthey have.
But I names of in Robitailleand Blake and in the positions

(01:00:59):
that they have, uh.
But I want to.
I want to fast forward a bit toyour you know your best
statistical year the 44 goals,the 92 points over a point.
A game in Boston playing withJoe Thornton.
Uh, I think you were on hisline for most of that season,
correct, yep yeah, for most ofthe.

Speaker 1 (01:01:15):
I mean, you know, I know what you're going to ask
you like how, how well I thinkyou deal.
You play with a player likethat that likes to pass the puck
, and yeah, yes, so I play withhim most of the time.
And Mike Knubel, that was theother player.

Speaker 2 (01:01:26):
Right?
Was that the biggest like sofor you, for your evolution?
I mean you're 10 years into theleague.
I mean you've definitely, youdefinitely had strong seasons
outside of that season, you know, but hadn't touched 30 goals
yet until you got back to Boston.
You know that's a little bit ofa long runway right To get to
that.
To get to that spot, you wereobviously getting better, I
would assume, right Throughoutyour career, and then and then

(01:01:48):
this and then this kind ofbreakthrough happens.
What was the culmination of allthat, in your opinion?

Speaker 1 (01:01:53):
I just think it's just playing with a guy, with a
player.
We had this connection, and notthat I didn't have with other
centermen, but there was thisconnection that he loved to pass
the puck, I loved to kind offind open spots and him and I
just had a connection.
And the perfect other part tothe whole thing was Mike Knoebel
was incredible.

(01:02:13):
He big body, we were all bigguys.
I think I was the smallest onthe line.
So if I was six three andbecause canoobles like six four
and two thirty and joe joe's,like you know, six five and two
thirty and I think I was likesix three, then I was six three,
like two ten or something.
So I was the smallest player,smallest guy in that line.

(01:02:34):
But I just think it was aconnection that we had and uh,
still, you know it was at joe'sthing uh, last weekend or two
weekends ago now, his jerseyretirement in san jose and it
was awesome.
He is uh looking forward toseeing him go in the hall of
fame uh, hopefully I think it'snext year and uh, just a great
human, we have a greatrelationship and just a just a

(01:02:55):
real good person and I think wehad typical, uh similar, uh,
personalities and ittransitioned to on the ice and
and uh, you know he was youngerand I was a little older, but he
uh, yeah, it was just one ofthose things.
Right, that's awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:03:09):
Maybe you can speak to that, because I mean, I shook
Joe's hand.
I've never met him before, butfrom what I've heard of him he
is one of those guys that seemsto make everybody better around
him and we can't really givethat honor to everybody.
You know, it's not everyone islike that.
Uh, how can you speak to that?
The idea of not only being areally good player but having

(01:03:29):
that extra element that you arean elite player.
But by being elite you aremaking others be their best as
well, which I think is such anawesome compliment to be able to
give somebody 100%.

Speaker 1 (01:03:41):
If you ask anyone that played with Joe.
This guy loved the game.
He loved his teammates, thetrainers, everyone.
Whatever team he was on, hetreated everyone the same and if
not even better than certainplayers, but he was a fantastic
teammate.
He is a fantastic teammate.
You ask all these players thatwent to his jersey retirement?

(01:04:03):
There was like geez.
There was 30, 40 guys thatshowed up and that came to the
ceremony and he's just anunbelievable teammate, probably
one of the best teammates thatanyone could kind of play with.
And personable, knew about yourfamily, knew about your kids,
knew about whoever it was in, ineveryone it's right from the
trainers to the stick guide toeveryone.

(01:04:25):
There wasn't a person that heleft out, ever, ever and uh, it
goes to show you what kind ofperson he is and he's, he's,
he's pretty special.

Speaker 2 (01:04:34):
So there's the aspect , and one of the things that I
talk with my players about and Ithink it's a really strong
message is the idea of I meanyou talked about the on ice
portion, so he there was achemistry there that he was
making you better by allowingyou to have the puck right.
He'd get it to you in spotswhere you were at your best
being able to shoot it.
Now I also believe and you'vespoken to it already, but I'd

(01:04:55):
like to expound on it the ideaof making people better inside
the locker room and duringpractice and how making people
feel comfortable, making peoplefeel good about themselves, is
another layer to that.
Can you speak to that?
How you can make someone betteraway from the rink?

Speaker 1 (01:05:12):
100%.
Players know first of all whenthings are going on.
So, say, the coach is hard on aplayer or whoever it may be, a
coach would be hard on Jimmythat day.
You know that player, theleader of the team should make
sure that you go talk to Jimmyor talk to that kid and make
them say, hey, good job, todaythe coach was yeah, the coach
was on you, but you work throughit and you battle through it

(01:05:33):
and you're going to get yourtime.
You're going to play more,you're going to do this and that
and maybe I mean I know we'renot talking about Pee Wee Banner
but maybe take that person outfor dinner or for lunch or
something to make sure that hefeels a big part of the team,
because it goes a long way whensomeone sees what was happening

(01:05:53):
with that player that day.
The coach might be on thatplayer for maybe a week or a
couple days.
Make sure what was happeningwith that player that day.
The coach might be on thatplayer for maybe a week or a
couple of days.
Make sure he still feels partof that team and go out of your
way to make sure you know let's,let's go for lunch, let's go
have a beer or whatever it maybe, to understand that we care
about you, we, we, we, we see ithappening, we know the coach is
hurting, but we care about you.
So we're a team here.

(01:06:14):
Make sure that kid or thatplayer knows that he's still a
big part of that team.

Speaker 2 (01:06:19):
I like that.
Yeah, we care about you.
And the way I break it downsometimes is that there's the
hockey player and then there'sthe human.
So if you take care of thehuman being behind the hockey
player, usually the hockeyplayer is going to be better.
So if you feel cared for, ifyou feel valued, if you feel
that someone gives a shit, thechances of you being able to
bring your best on the icewhether it be a practice or or
whatever minutes you bring tothe game, are drastically

(01:06:41):
increased, in my opinion.
And that starts I guess that'san organizational kind of
approach too.
You know, when it, when itstarts at the top that you feel
cared about all the way down andthen your leaders are the guys
that are also taking care ofthese, of these younger guys, it
becomes a much more accessibleplace to be in, cause we can all
remember what it's like to walkinto an nhl locker room as a 19
or 20 year old.
If you're lucky enough to dothat, it's.

(01:07:01):
It's an uncomfortable place tobe, or can be right like you
have veteran guys you've seenthem on your wall, you have
hockey cards of them, like allthis stuff going on and if you
don't feel a part of it, you'renot going to be able to play
your best.
So I do think that's aninteresting piece when it comes
to culture, when some teams getit right and the Bruins have
been lauded for it forever withthe older guys taking care of
the younger guys.
When it comes to the LA Kingsand I apologize that I don't

(01:07:24):
follow you guys that much, buthow do you guys handle that Is
there an expectation on yourveteran leaderships to do these
types of things, or do you justhope that it happens?

Speaker 1 (01:07:34):
We're very lucky here .
We have anze kopitar and drewdowdy that have been here for a
long time and really, rob.
We don't really have to saymuch to them because they've
been around so long.
They they see it, they feel it.
They've been through everythingand they feel it seal it.
If they see something, what wejust talked about, they will
reel it in and bring in incopies.

(01:07:54):
I mean, he's one of the bestleaders in in the game and and
drew's just really special withthe players and and making sure
they feel comfortable and partof the team and we're we're very
lucky, very lucky, right, yeah,because that is where it starts
, right.

Speaker 2 (01:08:10):
if, if the leaders have their own type of group or
if they have their own way ofoperating and they they aren't
including everybody like that is, that's a tough place to be in
and I guess that's a tough placeto change too.
So I think that the leadershipcomponent is is a very, very big
piece of that developmentalpuzzle too, you know 1000%.

Speaker 1 (01:08:29):
And they're these younger players, the by fields
and Laferriere's, and these guysare watching the Clarks Brent
Clarks are watching this.
They don guys are watching theclerics brand clerics are
watching this.
They don't realize it yet, butwhen they, when they finally do,
whenever they decide to stopplaying kokutara and dowdy,
they've been instilled in thisleadership and making sure these
guys are, are part of the teamand they they will hopefully

(01:08:51):
those place, name those playersbecause they're young players,
but they will take that over.
Yeah, and that's what you wantand you, you look at Boston and
Bergeron and Chara and Marshawn.
These guys have that.
They've been doing it for years.

Speaker 2 (01:09:04):
Yeah, you mentioned the name and maybe we'll.
Uh, I think we should talkabout him Brant Clark, and I
don't know how many people arewatching the LA Kings all the
time, but I think this player islike way off the radar for how
special he is.
Like he looks really reallygood to me.
Yeah, Go ahead.

Speaker 1 (01:09:22):
No, sorry, he's, he's .
He's a quick, he's so smart.
It's amazing how smart he isand he has a great teacher and
our coaches, staff and our MattGreen and Sean O'Donnell helped
you know behind the scenes.
The sky's the limit for thisguy.

Speaker 2 (01:09:40):
Yeah, at what point were you there when he got
drafted originally?

Speaker 1 (01:09:46):
Yeah, it was COVID, we were doing a Zoom draft.
It was a Zoom draft.

Speaker 2 (01:09:50):
Oh, okay, I'll never forget it.

Speaker 1 (01:09:52):
I'll never forget it.
And then he went to you knowBarry Colts and had an
unbelievable year last year andhe's got elite hockey mind and
it's taken a little bit ofadjustment.
You know we're lucky enough.
I don't want to get on atangent, but he's playing with
Joel Edmondson.
We signed him this offseason.
Joel Edmondson's beenunbelievable for him.

(01:10:12):
What an unbelievable veterandefenseman and guy that's been
around and awesome, awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:10:22):
That's super important for sure for these
younger guys and getting them ina comfortable spot that they
feel taken care of on the icetoo.
And I mean he was an eighthoverall guy, so it's not like he
wasn't expected.
I mean he was an elite talentbut it's just like even what he
did in the AHL right, likealmost a point of game there.
And now he's stepping into theNHL game and like to me like
he's one of those guys that froman optic standpoint he just

(01:10:42):
looks different, you know, likethe way, the way he's joining
the rush, he's doing the smallthings really well and I just
think that you got a reallyspecial one there that that
might be on more of a publicradar here in not too long.

Speaker 1 (01:10:54):
Yep, no, I agree with you.
He, he, he spent that time andthat's what we talked about
earlier in the in this callabout the American league.
And, and when he plays histhousandth game or all these
games that he's going to play inthe NHL, he'll look back on
that year that he spent an extralittle time in the American
league.
That helped him for sure.
Not now, but eventually he will.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:11:13):
Is there anyone else you want to give a shout out to,
Maybe more in the system?
You know anyone that's makingpeople smile in the LA Kings
organization?
No, I think just one or.

Speaker 1 (01:11:23):
Liam Greentree has been with Windsor Spitfires.
He's having a great year thisyear.
Cohen, zemer and Prince Georgehe's having a great year this
year and all those guys are, butwe're looking forward to
getting some more.
You know they're still earlierand they're still playing junior
, but we're looking forward togetting them turning them into
LA Kings eventually down theroad here.
That's awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:11:42):
Do you have any last thoughts?
Maybe we'll just.
I mean something that shook thejunior hockey world and nobody
really knows exactly how it'sgoing to pan out as far as what
it's going to do to the CHL,what it's going to do to the BC
Junior League, the ncaa, butthis, this recent rule change
that now allows chl players toreceive scholarships and go the
ncaa route uh, any projectionsof what you think this, this is

(01:12:03):
going to mean for, for yourplayers or for hockey?

Speaker 1 (01:12:06):
players in general.
I, I don't know really.
I, I, we haven't.
I haven't got a grasp on it yet.
I don't know exactly how it's.
You know, I can hear, I hearall rumblings about players from
junior already committing to goto play college next year and
wherever it may be.
I don't know how it's going toplay out.
I honestly don't know exactly.
I'm hoping that they've lookedit over and it's going to be

(01:12:28):
good for the players and goodfor hockey.
I don't know exactly yet, I'mnot really sure.

Speaker 2 (01:12:34):
Maybe I'll ask this just a little different way.
So, if you had your choice,would you rather have a guy in
your system, like in ontario,being a 20 year old there under
your watch that signed a procontract, or would you rather
have them in the ncaa and maybehaving a little bit longer
pathway and is not necessarilyunder your control?

Speaker 1 (01:12:57):
Depends on the player , but if I had to give an answer
right now, I would say theAmerican League for me, I still
think it's a great developmentleague.
If you're going to be part ofour NHL team, it's a great
development league to be there.
Are there players that shouldstay in college and are not

(01:13:19):
ready for America?
Of course, there are noquestion about it, but if you're
telling me how to answer now,it's in America.

Speaker 2 (01:13:24):
Yeah, fair enough, and that's going to be the
interesting one.
I haven't read between thelines on that, but the way the
contracts work, obviously, ifyou sign a guy that's committed
to NCAA, that there's a longertime for them to be able to sign
and they can't actually havesigned.
So that's going to be yeah,yeah.
But anyways, well, I asked youfor an hour and you and you were

(01:13:45):
gracious enough to to providethat, Glenn, so thanks so much
for being here.
Is there any last words for anyparents or players out there
that that want to put on an NHLJersey one day?

Speaker 1 (01:13:55):
No, I just think kids nowadays, parents and coaches
be patient, Be patient.
It's hard, Certain players willtake.
Every player is different.
Not every player is a McDavidor a Crosby.
Be patient.

Speaker 2 (01:14:10):
Yeah, I like that.
Play the long game and enjoywhat you're doing.
It becomes a lot easier to bepatient for everyone out there
if you are enjoying where you'redoing.
It becomes a lot easier to bepatient for everyone out there.
If you are enjoying whereyou're at, try and fall in love
with where you're at anddominate where you're at.
I mean, those are the twothings for me.
You know, if you, if you're, ifyou're playing where your
skates are and if you'recommitted to that team and that
environment, being the bestplayer, you can be there and

(01:14:31):
we're not worried about lookingahead uh, nine millions down the
road.
Usually your experience isbetter too as a player, which is
like so, so important becausethat passion you can't replace
passion with anything.
So find a way to fall in lovewith where you're at and then
the game is going to take youwherever you need to go.
So thank you very much, mrMurray, for being here.

(01:14:52):
Congratulations on a fantasticcareer and awesome to see you
guys doing well there with LAand putting a really, really
competitive team on the ice gameafter game.
Thanks very much, jason.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for listening to myconversation with Glenn Murray.

(01:15:14):
I really enjoyed thatconversation.
A good old maritimer who hasdone great things in the hockey
world, a thousand gamer himself,and has continued to stay a
part of the Los Angeles Kingsorganization and that great
development staff that they havethere.
The Kings are recognized forbeing able to bring players
along, help them through, helpthem become the best players

(01:15:34):
that they can be.
So they are doing somethingright over there in Los Angeles.
So lots of lessons from today.
I'm happy that you were able tolisten to them.
I'm happy you were able toshare all the stories here at
UpMyHockey.
Whether you're a first timelistener or you're a repeat
listener, it has been fantasticto be able to grow the podcast
with you and hopefully there'smany episodes to come.

(01:15:55):
So until next time, play hardand keep your head up.

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EP.145 - From Prospects to Pros with Glen Murray

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}EP.145 - From Prospects to Pros with Glen Murray