Every day is a great day for hockey.
Since the beginning, I always loved the game. When you grow up in Montreal, one day you want to be a professional hockey player. When I was six or seven, I knew that was what I wanted.
I didn't speak English until I came to Pittsburgh.
I've gone through back surgery a couple times, and of course, my radiation treatments for six weeks got me to the point where I was not able to play at the level that I was accustomed to.
My body's feeling it a little bit. But one good thing, my back is in good shape, and that's my main concern. I know that my legs are going to take awhile to get back to where I was a few years ago, but as long as my back is solid, I feel that I can play many years.
A month before the season, I don't order fries with my club sandwich.
When someone screams at me to hurry up, I slow down.
The first few games that we played against some of the teams, the young guys, you know, want a stick sign or photo sign, and I think that they respect what I have achieved throughout my career.
A month before the season I stop putting ketchup on my french fries.
Depending on how we start the season, I can play center or wing... It doesn't matter to me.
Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be.
I think the lottery changed everything for us. Once we got Sidney, it helped us turn this franchise around overnight.
This is really a new NHL and it's built on speed and young guys.
I don't try to match wine with food, I just drink what I like. And I think a lot of people are going towards that now, which never used to be in the past.
Oh, I did stop smoking a long time ago.
My son, he is the reason I got involved. It's been a joy to be around him and teach him the stuff that I know, and to the other kids as well. When he started playing I wanted to be involved in his hockey career. It's a lot of fun for both of us.
I think the game has opened up, and that's why I decided to come back and try to be a part of it.
I'm sorry I didn't feel any better or play any better, but that's what happens at the end of careers.
Everybody I talked to - from my friends to my family and some of the players - really gave me a lot of support from the start. And that certainly made me feel good about trying to come back and be one of the best again.
I can no longer play at a level I was accustomed to in the past.
