Brayden McNabb has played in the NHL over parts of three seasons, but with only 18 games as a King, he hasn’t exactly reached corner stall status in the dressing room.
Tonight will be the 56th game of his career, and for the second consecutive game he’ll see the majority of his even strength minutes alongside Matt Greene as part of a defensive pair necessitated by Alec Martinez’s absence. McNabb ranks third on the team with 259 minutes and 39 seconds of total even strength ice time, the majority of which has been spent alongside either Drew Doughty or Greene.
Given that Greene is sturdy in his own zone and has a well established role as a stay-at-home defenseman, does that affect how McNabb utilizes his own diverse skill set?
“I mean, maybe a little,” McNabb said. “He’s a stay at home guy and a good shutdown guy. I think for me, it’s just getting more comfortable in the offensive zone. I think that’s going to continue to get better. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Said Greene: “I don’t think so. I think you have to have your own identity at this point in your career. I think he’s a guy who does a lot of things well. I think he’s doing a good job of getting up on the puck, getting up in the play, shooting pucks, being physical, being good in his own end. If he takes some comfort knowing I’m going to be back there most of the time, then that’s great. But I think he’s doing a really great job of developing. I just try to stay out of his way and let him do his thing. He’s been doing well.”
More important than the meshing of their skill sets is the calming influence a player like Greene, 31, has on McNabb, 23.
“I think Greener’s experience is key to any young player,” Darryl Sutter said. “It’s just like a young player playing with Robyn. It’s key. It’s not really bringing anything out of Brayden. Brayden has played well for us and he’s learning the game. It’s been a good opportunity for Brayden to play with guys like Drew and Greener.”
The defensive shortage has influenced McNabb’s surge in playing time. After logging 21:05 against Dallas, he saw the ice for 23:01 in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win over Anaheim.
“Obviously it’s great to play up those many minutes. I think it just comes with you have a good tempo when you play those minutes. I think it’s just…take care of your own end and everything will work out.”
Brayden McNabb, on how he can be more comfortable in the offensive zone:
Just making plays in the offensive zone. Knowing that I have more time than I usually think I do. That’s a big thing and just having patience and confidence out there. For me, it all starts in the D-zone. If I’m good in the D-zone, I can try to work things in the offensive zone.
Matt Greene, on his pairing with McNabb:
Just try to be ready for anything that’s getting thrown at us right now. I think Brayden has been playing very well. He’s easy to play with. He has been all year. He’s been playing well for us. Just keep going and you keep trying to have success.
Greene, on whether he offers encouragement to McNabb:
I just tell him to play his game, that’s it. He’s a good player, a physical guy who moves the puck well. I just tell him to keep playing, do what got him here. Keep that going, I think he’s done a good job of that. He’s going to be a great player for us.
Greene, on whether Saturday’s game was the team’s best performance of the season:
I think it was a good game. We needed the points and I think that’s more of our style. Limiting teams to not a lot of shots and not the run and gun game. We’ve got to keep that going. We’ve got build on that. There are still some things we have to do better. But in terms of that, that’s the style we want to play. We have to get better off of that.
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