Dallas Stars: Exit Day Interview With Mattias Janmark
The Dallas Stars held their exit interview day this past Friday in Frisco. Before heading out for the summer, we got a chance to catch up with forward Mattias Janmark. Catch the complete interview below.
It’s been three days since the Dallas Stars cleaned out their locker stalls and parted ways for the first time since October when the 2015-2016 regular season began.
This past Friday, the Stars hosted their yearly exit interview day. This gives the media one final chance to talk to players, coaches, and general manager before each goes to their own respective offseason dwelling spot.
You can catch some of the bigger names in the organization (Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jim Nill, etc.) on the Dallas Stars website with video-recorded interviews (there is also a post on Blackout Dallas with all the links stashed inside it. Just click here).
But we decided to get a little more intentional and talk to as many different players as we could in order to gain multiple different perspectives on the season and offseason as a whole, as well as personal outlooks from each different member of the team.
23-year old Mattias Janmark just finished his first season in the NHL, and it was a remarkable start to what promises to be a plentiful career. After being traded by the Detroit Red Wings to Dallas last season, Janmark scored his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot in his first NHL game in the season opener this year with the Dallas Stars. Since then, he’s continued his dominating play in the bottom six.
Janmark played in 73 games this season, scoring 15 goals and tallying 14 assists (15-14-29), along with a magnificent +12 rating in an average of 14:10 on the ice. He developed another hot streak in his first NHL postseason, playing in 12 of the 13 games and scoring two goals and notching three assists (2-3-5) in an average of 14:41 on the ice.
I got the chance to catch up with him on exit interview day about this past season, the offseason ahead, and his future with the team. You can read the interview below.
His thoughts on the team overall and his first season in Dallas
I think we’ve been on a mission all year. It felt like it was a great team and we have something going on here. Like I said, we’re on a mission. We came up short, but I feel like we had great success along the year and hopefully we can keep that mission going and hopefully get further next year.
Thoughts on his first year of NHL play
It’s been fun. To see where I’m at over here and that I made it over here, I’m happy with my season and I feel like I have even more to bring out. I feel like I can play in this league, and that’s a good feeling.
Playing with Jason Spezza and Valeri Nichushkin
It was fun. They are two great players. I played with a lot of great players this year, and with that line we got some good chemistry and it was just really fun to play with those guys.
The goal on starting next year (same as last year?)
Yeah, of course. Like I said, you want to have a good start because that is going to get you into position to win later on. So we want to have a fast start next year too, but it’s a long way there. So now everyone just has to get home, rest up and refocus for next year. We know that even though we had a fast start, we need to be better in the end. That’s the main goal, I think.
More stars: Stars' Exit Day Interview Coverage
Thoughts on his first year in Dallas area
It took me a while to settle in. It’s probably going to be easier next year because you know what to expect and you know you’re going to stay here. It’s been a lot of fun. I like the city, and the weather is nice and it’s a great place to live. I think it’s going to be easier to settle in next year.
Offseason plans
Not really. Just going back to Sweden mostly to hang out with friends that I haven’t seen in a long while. Just taking it easy back home.
Next: Should The Stars Keep Fiddler Around For Another Year?
Mattias Janmark is most assuredly a lock for the Dallas Stars’ NHL roster next season, which will also be the last year in his current deal before becoming an RFA. Something tells me the Stars will do all they can to keep him around for the long run.