#pat brisson

wait is this true pat brisson following will? evil things happening on instagram….

Malkin feeling more at home in U.S.

Robert Dvorchak | Pittsburgh Post Gazette | August 21, 2006

His hockey sticks and equipment are borrowed, and southern California is a long way geographically and culturally from Magnitogorsk, but the big kid in the No. 77 green practice jersey looks and feels right at home on the ice.

"I feel happy I have a chance to skate right now. It will definitely help me get adjusted and be prepared for the season," Evgeni Malkin said through an interpreter after a morning skate yesterday at the Los Angeles Kings' suburban practice rink.

Some legal issues and technicalities still confront Malkin in his long journey to join the Penguins as the most highly touted talent entering the NHL this season. But if hockey fans in Pittsburgh are concerned that Malkin's mind might be wandering a bit because of the bewildering events of the past two weeks, he remains centered on what brought him to America.

"It definitely was not an easy period to go through. But I'm doing my best to stay focused on my goal, stay focused on practice. I'm sure I'll be ready for the season," Malkin said.

That goal is what made him skip out on a one-year contract he had just signed two weeks ago with his hometown team in the Russian Super League, to leave his parents behind for the time being to journey to a country in which he knows little about the language and customs.

"I wanted to live in America. I want to play in the NHL. This is my dream," Malkin said. "My only motive was to play in the NHL. I was open about my desire to come here and play."

A common first impression about Malkin, chosen second overall behind Alexander Ovechkin in the 2004 entry draft, is his size. He's 6 feet 4, 205 pounds with room to fill out, and he stands out even if he's just lingering on the boards.

Skating with a dozen or so NHL players getting ready for their team's training camps, Malkin was easy to follow during the rink-long rushes and informal scrimmage. Granted, the impromptu workout wasn't done at NHL speed or with NHL checking, but Malkin flashed enough skills to impress some professional players.

"To see someone with that size with the hockey sense and the soft hands and some of the passes he makes, he obviously has a lot of skill," Anaheim defenseman Sean O'Donnell said.

"At his age, with his size and the talent he's got, I can't see why he wouldn't be a heck of a player for many years in the league. He moves well, has good hands, has good puck sense. You don't need anything else to play in the league. He's obviously going to be a great player, and we'll see how things turn out."

While several Russian players did what Malkin did to leave the homeland behind for the stardom and financial rewards of the NHL, North American players marvel at how Malkin left his team under a veil of secrecy and was stashed away in a Helsinki apartment until he obtained a visa to enter the United States last week.

"He's gone through a lot," O'Donnell said. "Most people don't have to have a gut-check or a character-check like he's had at a young age."

But every player can relate to having the rink serve as an escape from the outside world.

"You get on the ice, and it's your own kind of meditation place," O'Donnell said. "Once you're on the ice, it doesn't matter what's going on with your family or whatever. You're there to focus. Right now, it seems like it's where he's the happiest."

Kip Brennan, a winger with the Dallas Stars, hung out with Malkin and some other players over the weekend and participated in yesterday's practice.

"There's definitely a language barrier," Brennan said. "It's got to be tough for him. It's a long way from home. But you grow up fast when you play hockey. He's going to get along just fine. He's coming in with a great attitude and he's working hard. He's a great skater. He's got great hands. He sees the ice really well."

The plan for Malkin and his handler, agent Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey in Santa Monica, Calif., is to spend the rest of this week working out in California before heading to Pittsburgh early next week. By that time, his two-week notice of his desire to leave his Russian club will have passed. Russian law allows an employee, even an athlete under contract, to leave his job by giving written notice.

"We're taking it one step at a time," Brisson said. "There are still some things that need to be worked out. But we'll be there."

The issue of a contract with the Penguins will hardly be a stumbling block. Under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, the maximum entry level salary is $984,200, but incentives are negotiable. Malkin will likely sign a three-year deal that provides an additional $2.8 million in bonuses for such things as games played, finishing in the top 10 in goals and assists and winning a major award such as the Calder Trophy for the league's top rookie.

Malkin's limited knowledge of Pittsburgh comes from Sergei Gonchar, a Penguins defenseman who was his teammate on the Russian Olympic team last winter. But he certainly knows about fellow center Sidney Crosby and the legacy of Mario Lemieux.

"He told me there are a lot of young players, and that Pittsburgh is a friendly place," Malkin said.

He's also adjusting rapidly to his first week of freedom. He spent a day at the beach Sunday and has done some sight-seeing in L.A., which prompted an easy laugh, a sure sign that he's becoming more comfortable.

"The city is so unusually beautiful. It's amazing. Sometimes I don't feel like playing hockey," he said, chuckling.

Plenty of Southern California sunshine was beaming through one window at the Toyota Sports Center yesterday as Malkin and a new batch of friends went through their drills.

Among the NHL players participating were Glen Murray of the Bruins, Brad North and Mathieu Schneider of the Red Wings, Chris Drury of the Sabres and Sean Avery of the Kings.

One person impressed by Malkin was 16-year-old goalie Todd Matthews, who minded one of the nets and saw a lot of practice pucks.

"He can do what he wants with the puck," Matthews said. "It's not about how hard he shoots. He can control it."

Kids in Trees

Hughes, the defending Norris Trophy winner and one of the front-runners again this season, agonized over his decision on whether to once again wear red, white and blue for his first best-on-best tournament with his younger brother, Jack.

But the Vancouver Canucks captain, who looked to be in discomfort during a skate Saturday morning as he tried to test the injury that has kept him out of four games, ultimately decided it would be most appropriate to rest and heal during the 4 Nations break so he can get healthy for the Canucks’ stretch drive. With the Calgary Flames starting to fade and the Canucks 6-1-1 in their past eight, the Canucks are now three points up on the Flames for the final wild-card spot.

“I’d say it was probably the hardest decision that Quinn’s ever had to make,” Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, told The Athletic. “He was looking forward to representing his country along with his brother, Jack. But at the same time, he’s been carrying an injury that could continue to linger and perhaps make it worse while he also hasn’t played in a few weeks. He did everything he could in his recovery to be ready.

“The decision not to play the tournament was finally made (Sunday) after a long marathon of conversations. He was completely devastated.”

This is obviously a huge blow for the U.S. as Hughes would have been its No. 1 defenseman and likely quarterbacked the No. 1 power play. Hughes, 25, is second amongst NHL defensemen with 59 points and 22 power-play points. He leads the Canucks in scoring by 24 points.

Devils star Jack Hughes was obviously disappointed but said, “It’s hockey at the end of day. People get injured all the time, and I was looking forward to spending time with him, but it’s all good, and hopefully he heals up and is ready to go for a big second half with Vancouver.

“He wants to be a part of this. He was really excited to come with this group and put the USA jersey back on. So it’s frustrating. But if you’re injured, you’re injured.”

Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson, a 2022 Olympian who came awfully close to making the initial roster in December before the United States brass chose Noah Hanifin, replaced Quinn Hughes on the roster. He stuck around Florida, where the Sens last played, and waited well into Sunday until finally being given the word that Hughes was officially out. Sanderson, asked Saturday by GM Bill Guerin to be on call just in case, canceled a tropical vacation and flew to Montreal.

Brady Tkachuk, Sanderson’s teammate with the Sens, called him “one of the best defensemen in the league” and said it was a well-deserved honor. Sanderson looks like he’ll start the 4 Nations as the United States’ seventh defenseman, with anticipated seventh defenseman Noah Hanifin elevated to the third pair with Brock Faber.

“Quinn’s such a special player,” Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “It’s really unfortunate that he was unable to go. And I know he’s at home and he wanted to be here. It’s hard on him, but he’s looking after his body, and he’s just unable to go. So it’s just an unfortunate situation, and you’re going to look at guys like Zach Werenski to step up. But we’re going to miss (Hughes’) offensive abilities and how he moves the puck.”

Hughes has medaled in four international tournaments. He won silver in the 2019 World Junior Championship, bronze in the 2018 World Junior Championship and World Championship and gold in the 2017 World Under-18 Championship.

Jack said when the decision was finally made, Quinn texted him, “Sorry. I was so pumped,” and Jack texted him back, “We’re both gonna play a long time.”

The good news is the NHL is committed to the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics, and the hope is there will be World Cups into the future starting in 2028. Jack Hughes recalled that last year, the Hughes bros also couldn’t play together during All-Star weekend because he was hurt.

found this online! a super interesting interview with pat brisson from last november, he gives some information on briss from 41:05 to around 43:43