Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

RANKIN INLET - Jordin Tootoo of Rankin Inlet has seen plenty of changes in the NHL since his rookie year with the Nashville Predators in 2003-2004.

Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators always spends plenty of time with local hockey fans when he returns to Rankin for a bit of his summer vacation. - photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo

Tootoo said one of the biggest changes to the game since the 2004-2005 lockout and the salary-cap era that followed is the number of young players who now occupy spots on NHL rosters.

He said his ability to play different roles during an NHL season has helped him adapt to the changing times.

"I can play when things get rough and, when called upon to produce offensively, I know deep-down inside I have the ability to do that too," said Tootoo.

"That comes with playing more minutes, maturing as a player and being more comfortable out there.

"I've been trying to expand my game a little over the past few years and become more of an effective player."

Tootoo said there's more parity than ever in the league and every game is important in the standings.

He said with so few points separating teams in the regular season, you have to be ready to play every night or valuable points slip away.

"It's really a battle now, night in and night out.

"My first year in the league, we were almost always guaranteed a win in games against teams in our division.

"That's no longer the case for any team, which provides a lot more excitement for the league.

"Back in the day, guys would come to camp and try to get in shape, but if you don't show up in shape now, there's a lot of guys ready to take your place and it becomes a real battle to crack the lineup for almost anybody."

Tootoo said the return of the NHL to Winnipeg is great for the city.

He said it will be like playing at home for him when Nashville comes to visit.

"There's a lot of fans of mine around that area and I'm excited to see what the turnout is going to be like for every game.

"The return of the NHL is long overdue and you can tell by the success of the Manitoba Moose how much the fan base loves its hockey.

"I'm looking forward to my first game there."

Tootoo said he's often asked if he has any desire to play for Winnipeg one day.

He said his heart is in Nashville, and he's enjoying himself and taking it one game at a time, but he would have no problem playing in any city.

"I can only speak for myself, but having the chance to play for any NHL team is a great opportunity.

"Maybe some guys are being picky about where they play, but I just want to play the game and wherever it takes me, so be it."

Tootoo said good hockey players can adapt to any rule change.

But, he said, the way the game is called today is a tough situation for guys whose careers are dependant upon its physical side.

"It's definitely taking guys' jobs away, but, at the end of the day, you have to adjust to the situation.

"Being physical will always be the foundation of my game, but, fortunately, I have different elements I can bring.

"You mature as a player as the years go on and you become more comfortable with your abilities.

"I feel I've taken it to a different level during the past couple of years, and I'm looking forward to setting career highs in points this year and going from there."

Nashville gave Vancouver all it could handle in their series with the same style of physical play the Bruins used in the final.

Tootoo said that shows the physical aspect still has a place in today's game.

"A lot of guys have a certain role to play in today's game and, if you want to stay in the league, you have to adjust to the role you're given.

"There's no possible way to take the physicality right out of the game because teams have rivalries, many of the fans enjoy it and things can get pretty emotional out there during a playoff series.

"Everyone knows some guys in the league don't play as well in the rough going, and taking that aspect out of the game will take jobs away from guys who are effective in shutting them down and that's not what we want.

"I think most players want to keep guys in the league who deserve to be there."

Tootoo fought a tough battle off the ice, as well as on, this past season.

He said there's ups and downs as you go through life and sometimes you have to re-evaluate your situation.

"Everyone knows what I went through this year when I had to figure a few things out in my life.

"When you take care of business off the ice and make sure you're healthy and comfortable in your own skin, it pays dividends.

"I felt tremendous during the last two months of the season and when your mind is clear out there, things just seem to slow down more.

"That's where my game really picked up and gave me more opportunities to play to my strengths, and I'm looking forward to carrying that into next season."

We welcome your opinions. Click to e-mail a letter to the editor.