Rangers winger Carl Hagelin took a timeout before today’s season-opener for some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What was that Stanley Cup run like last year?
A: A lot of fun. First time being in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Obviously got suspended there for three games [for elbowing Ottawa’s David Alfredsson in Game 2 of the first-round series], which is the first time in my life I had to rest from games because of suspension.
Q: What was that like for you?
A: I think you’re more nervous when you watch a game from up top than you are when you play.
Q: What are some adjectives you would use to describe Rangers fans?
A: Supportive … dedicated … crazy at times … hungry … and thirsty.
Q: Hungry ***** and ***** thirsty … is that good?
A: I think so, if you go to the game, you might as well eat, right?
Q: But they’re also hungry for a Cup.
A: Exactly.
Q: How hungry are you for a Cup?
A: Starving.
Q: How hungry is this team for a Cup?
A: Starving.
Q: Do you think last year’s playoff experience will help this team?
A: Absolutely. I think anytime you’re that close, you just want to get back on the ice the next year and learn from your mistakes and play better. It definitely helped us.
Q: Do you feel pressure because expectations are so high now?
A: There’s always pressure playing in the NHL. You want to play your best game every game. Expectations are always gonna be there, it’s just important that you know how to handle expectations.
Q: You think this team has a good handle on handling expectations?
A: Absolutely. Just being in New York, there’s gonna be a lot of outside sources that are gonna be all over you. … That’s a part of being a pro athlete. I think we do have a good coaching staff and good leaders on the team that would lead us the right way.
Q: Do you enjoy playing in this market?
A: Absolutely, yeah.
Q: Why?
A: I think, again, expectations. From playing at Michigan, you’re always expected to win. It’s the same here. Ranger fans, they’re expecting you to win, so you really want to show up every day.
Q: How would you describe the atmosphere at the Garden during the playoffs?
A: Electrified. That really helped the guys get the legs going. I remember the first game, it felt like you could skate forever.
Q: Describe Henrik Lundqvist.
A: The most competitive guy on the team, in terms of if you look at him after practice, he always wants to stay on and take penalty shots. Out of like 40 penalty shots, he saved 38 the last couple of days.
Q: Brad Richards.
A: Extremely smart hockey player. With an underrated shot. He likes to be in charge and make things happen on the ice.
Q: Ryan Callahan.
A: Probably the hardest worker on the team, and really puts his body on the line every night. It’s incredible to see him just play through everything. He blocks shots every night, and it’s pretty cool to see how he just continues doing it even though obviously those blocked shots are gonna hurt. It doesn’t faze him.
Q: Dan Girardi.
A: Same thing there. Extremely funny guy in the locker room, and then once the game starts, he puts his game face on, extremely steady defenseman who can make plays.
Q: Carl Hagelin.
A: A Swede … 24 years old … blond hair … blue eyes (smile).
Q: John Tortorella.
A: A coach that really gets the best out of his players. He’s on you no matter what your position is or how good you are. He’s gonna be on you if you’re doing something wrong, he’s gonna be on you if you’re doing something right. It’s easy to play for him in terms of you know what he expects from you, and if you do that, he’s happy.
Q: Rick Nash.
A: Extremely classy guy. And then on the ice, he’s a monster on the puck. I don’t think anyone can knock him off the puck and also he ‘s got some great skills too. He’s the complete package.
Q: Marian Gaborik.
A: Really humble, nice guy off the ice. He loves his fancy cars.
Q: Who’s faster, you or him?
A: Gaborik.
Q: Have you always been one of the fastest skaters?
A: As kid I was so short, it was tough for me to keep up with the taller guys. I always had quick feet, but I just didn’t have any power really as a kid.
Q: So how did that happen?
A: I grew a lot one summer, and I always been working hard, and I had a brother that was always pushing me.
Q: Do you think you need to be more selfish to be an offensive threat?
A: Yeah. I just think taking more shots once in a while when you get in the zone instead of trying to find a. pass.
Q: Was that frustrating going scoreless against the Devils in the playoffs?
A: I don’t know. I try not to think too much, though. If you get frustrated, you’re not gonna play great. I just try to keep focusing on what I did well and try to go from there.
Q: But you think the best is yet to come for you.
A : Yeah. I think I should get better every year.
Q: What kind of shape are you in?
A: Really good shape right now.
Q: Does the team look like it’s in decent shape?
A: Yeah, we do look good.
Q: Why do you wear No. 62?
A: I think that’s the number I was assigned in training camp already, even development camp. When I was in Hartford, I had 26. When I got called up, [Ruslan] Fedotenko had 26, so they just gave me 62. Started liking it.
Q: You know Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain.
A: Good guy. Good friend of mine.
Q: How did you get to know him?
A: He was friends with [Michael] Del Zotto and Prusty [Brandon Prust], and then he liked the fact that I had 62.
Q: You’re called Swagelin and Swags. … Define “swagger.”
A: I guess it’s some kind of confidence when you step on the ice or into a room I guess, I don’t know.
Q: Do you think you have it?
A: I hope I have it on the ice.
Q: What is your on-ice mindset?
A: I try not to get too frustrated on the ice. I guess that I’m pretty easygoing, and if I have a bad shift, I just try to come out and have a better one. So I think I’m pretty composed out there, try not to get into anything I’m not good at.
Q: Describe the first time you played at the Garden.
A: We played Philadelphia last year. We won 2-0, and got my first goal. Perfect first game — a win and a goal? Can’t complain.
Q: Tell me about the goal.
A: [Ryan] McDonagh threw the pick to the net, I got the rebound and then the goalie saved the rebound and then the puck bounced up in the air and then I batted it.
Q: Your went to your first Jets game in October. Who did you see?
A: San Francisco. The Jets didn’t touch the ball all game, it felt like. It was a great experience, and it was fun, but at the same time, it wasn’t a very good football game.
Q: What was it like losing the NCAA championship game at Michigan — a 3-2 overtime defeat to Minnesota-Duluth in 2011?
A: I think anytime you lose in overtime you’re just extremely exhausted, but at the same time, you’re really disappointed. That’s the tough part of college hockey, it’s one and done. If you lose one game, it ‘s over. So you know it’s gonna come down to one mistake or one bad play. I just remember you’re very sad, especially in the locker room. That’s when you really start getting very emotional.
Q: Why did you pick Michigan?
A: That school had so many good players coming through their program, very professional the way it was run. … You know if you graduate from Michigan as an athlete, you pretty much have a job right away. I just knew going there I would create a lot of great connections for the future if hockey didn’t work out.
Q: What were the Ohio State-Michigan football games like?
A: Incredible. First of all, just driving down Main Street during the day. Every house had a party. You could see students passed out on the lawn at 10 a.m. Then at the game, just 110,000 screaming Michigan fans. When I was there, the team wasn’t that good, but I still went to every game I could.
Q: Who’s funnier, Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler?
A: Oooooh. … I think I laugh more at Will Ferrell.
Q: Did you see “That’s My Boy”?
A: With Adam Sandler? Yeah. Funny.
Q: What did you think of Jets coach Rex Ryan?
A: He was good.
Q: Your tweet: “I’m a lover not a fighter but I’m also a fighter so don’t get any ideas.”
A: (Smile) Yeah, that’s from the Dos Equis commercial. That’s a good quote.
Q: Here’s another one: “You know how they say we only use 10 percent of our brain? I think we only use 10 percent of our hearts.”
A: That’s a “Wedding Crashers” quote. Just watching them pick up girls in that movie at different weddings. and using all these cheesy quotes, but they are hilarious.
Q: Another one: “I might be bad, but I’m perfectly good.”
A: Yeah, I guess that’s just from a Rihanna song.
Q: “Chernobyl Diaries.”
A: Good movie.
Q: One of your favorites?
A: No, not really. Sometimes I need to throw a scary movie in there in my life.
Q: Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi at the Garden on 12/12/12?
A: The two of ’em on stage at the same time was really cool.
Q: Sitting in the cockpit of a plane?
A: I know one of the pilots at SAS, and one of his buddies was flying me back. I was actually in there for start and landing in the cockpit.
Q: Favorite childhood memory?
A: Going to Hawaii when I was 8 with my family.
Q: Most meaningful hockey moment prior to the NHL?
A : Winning the CCHA championship one year in the playoffs there, but also playing the outdoor game at The Big House in front of 110,000 against Michigan State?
Q: Boyhood idol.
A: Peter Forsberg.
Q: Why?
A: I thought he was the best Swedish hockey player at the time. He made a lot of Swedes like the Avalanche.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Elvis; Einstein: Steve Jobs.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Remember the Titans.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: It’s a tie between Denzel Washington and Leo DiCaprio.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Angelina Jolie.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Salmon avocado roll.
Q: What drives you?
A: I think I always just want to get better at whatever I’m doing. … Always strive for excellence.
Q: Are you recognized in New York?
A: If the person is a Ranger fan, yeah. Yesterday I got stopped by some guy who said, “Go for the Cup this year Hags.”
Q: And most of the time they say things like that?
A: “Let’s do it this year.” But during the lockout, it was obviously, “Are we gonna have a season or not?”
Q: How would you sum up what it is like being a New York Ranger?
A: There’s no better place in the NHL. You get treated extremely professional, and you learn how to do things the right way. You feel like a family. It’s a great group of guys we have, and when you see your fellow teammate sacrifice his body for yourself, you want to do the same back.
Q: Can you envision what the city would be like winning a Stanley Cup in the spring?
A: I’ve just seen a lot of clips from ’94, and you can see the whole city going crazy. And you really get respected for the player you are and the person you are. I think it would be nothing less than that.
Q: Is this team a legitimate contender for the Cup?
A: I think we have all the components needed to win the Stanley Cup, and then it’s important just to get it all right at the right time, but we definitely have everything needed.