Max Gardiner Interview
As posted over on the other web-based blog I write for, St. Louis Game Time, here is my interview with Blues prospect Max Gardiner ;
I’ve been chatting with Max Gardiner online and I figured why not let the fans know a bit more about what the Blues got with their 74th pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
St. Louis Game Time : Going into the season at Minnetonka, what were your expectations going into the season.
Max Gardiner : I was expecting to be a top guy and a guy that was going to help lead the team. I was also expecting a state championship, which we fell just short of.
Max Gardiner adds size, skill, and a power forward game to the Blues prospect pool.
STLGT : Was it this season that it hit you that you could actually be drafted into the NHL or was it before?
MG : Well, I saw my brother go through the process and that’s when i made it a goal of mine. I had a few interviews before the season and figured I probably had a chance at getting drafted.
STLGT : How do you feel about how your season went at Minnetonka? What are your highs and lows?
MG : I felt good about how I played up until I broke my wrist. That was definitely a low of my season. It was tough sitting out those 8 games. I also had mono when i got hurt so that was tough. I felt good when I came back and winning the section tournament was an all time high for me. Losing the state championship game was definitely tough too.
STLGT : Headed into the draft, what were the feelings you had when you sat there and waited for your named to be called?
MG : I was pretty nervous but i knew that it was all out of my control at that point so i just tried to sit there and relax and take in the great experience.
STLGT : When the Blues called your name in the third round, what were the emotions going through you at the time?
MG : It was pretty amazing. It felt great to be selected by a great organization that already has some very good Minnesota kids in the lineup.
STLGT : Standing at 6’3″, 180lbs, you’re a fairly big boy. How do you use that size to your advantage?
MG : I try to use my body to my advantage when im protecting the puck and driving the net. I am also trying to become a little more physical which will help having the size that I have.
STLGT : You’ve committed to the Golden Gophers next season, what was the decision behind that?
MG : I grew up watching the Gophers and always dreamed of being a Gopher. They have a great program there and I’m really excited to be a part of the tradition there.
STLGT : I have to ask this to most of the players I interview, if you weren’t playing hockey, what would you be doing?
MG : I would probably try to play golf as much as I could. I love to play golf in my free time and would still want to be involved in sports.
I thank Max for taking the time out to answer these questions. He helped give the fans a better look inside the life of an NHL prospect. Here is to hoping that Max can develop as well as our other Minnesota boys have as well.. Oh, and as a North Dakota fan, I’ll put my pride aside and root for Max, as long as he’s not playing the Sioux.
