Kings vs. Kings quotes: Kempe, Forbort, Brodzinski

Adrian Kempe, on how he can build consistency in his game:
I think in my first year here last year I think that’s really important for me to get to know the game and how the game works here. I think that was a big lesson for me before I came into this season. I think I played a pretty well season last year and I know that I have to be more consistent. I learned that a lot from last season, I think that’s going to be a big part of my game this year to try to be more consistent and try to work on that. It’s hard to work on in the summer but I think that’s why last year was really important to me to be more consistent in the game and try to get to learn the game more here.

Kempe, on if his expectations are bigger for his second season:
Yeah, of course. After the first year when you get to know the game you get higher expectations of yourself and I think I could have been better. I think I played well last year but I have big expectations this year on myself. Hopefully I’m going to be more of a leader out there and be a better player.

Kempe, on if any of the older players have taken him under their wing:
All the guys are trying to [teach] the younger guys things before they come pro and all the NHL players are really good role models here. Everybody’s trying to talk to me and I try to talk to everybody too and get to learn how everything’s going here. The whole team is great in trying to help all the time.

Kempe, on having fellow Swede Moverare in the organization that has few Swedish players:
He’s a young guy too and it’s good for him too to probably have another Swedish guy too so he can talk to someone and those things. It’s fun that he’s in the organization now too. He’s a really good player and really skilled.

Kempe, on his physical game:
I think that’s a big part of my game that I have to improve too. I know I’m a big and strong player and I need to try to be more physical out there and I know when I’m physical and I’m skating and these things I know I’m playing really well. I just try to use my body a little bit more. [Reporter: Does that get you into the game more when it’s a physical game and you’re hitting guys?] Yes, sometimes it gets you going if you hit a guy and it gets the team going and everything like that. I just try to be better at that and I know that I can do a lot more.

Kempe, on playing with Tyler Toffoli and players of NHL caliber:
He’s a great player and one of the best snipers in the league. He’s a great player and I really appreciate playing with him. It’s easy to play with those guys. They know the game and just try to play your game and I just try to skate out there and make some opportunities for them … and they’re doing the same for me. All those players are really good. [Reporter: But the speed though, is it easier for you when you’re playing with players who play at a faster pace?] Sometimes it’s easier if you play with faster guys. It’s easier for you to get the game going and sometimes you might be taking a couple few strides too fast in the D zone and you get the play behind you. When you play with fast guys, as I said, it’s good for me and I just try to skate.

Derek Forbort, on the benefit of an intrasquad game:
It’s the first time a lot of guys have been back in a game situation, so it’s good to get out there, play one against the guys you know and get that compete level up again.

Forbort, on whether the chatter on the bench is like any other game:
No, I think that hatred’s not really there, but guys are competing against each other, guys are competing for jobs and guys are going hard against each other. There’s not really much chirping because you’re buddies, but guys go hard.

Forbort, on whether anybody in the dressing room talked about avoiding questionable hits, given Clarke MacArthur’s injury in Ottawa’s intrasquad game:
We all saw that. Guys were kind of talking about it, but there wasn’t like anything official really said about it. It’s too bad that happened.

Forbort, on his shot that Michael Mersch deflected past Jack Flinn for a goal:
If you know Merschy, you know where he’s going to be. He’s going to be camped out in front. I just wanted to get a shot through because I knew there was a good chance he was going to tip it. [Reporter: It was in the four-on-four play, so you sensed that open ice? It looked like you took a step forward.] It was nice to get that pass and not have anyone in front of you and just kind of lock down and get off a good shot.

Forbort, on what he uses this game as a springboard towards:
Just show my game. Show what I bring to the table, which is making simple plays and having a good stick defensively and just competing out there. That’s what I try to do.

Jonny Brodzinski, on getting back into a game-like atmosphere:
The whole summer was just the rehab process and then you wanted to get back on the ice but you’re playing against your teammates. This is a little different obviously because you’re playing against your teammates but it’s nice to get in the game format. [Reporter: Was there talk to keep things more mellow out there?] Right, it’s kind of an unwritten rule. There’s a line you can’t cross. Obviously you want to play hard but you’re not trying to take liberties out on the ice.

Brodzinski, on his goal and overall offensive performance:
Yeah, it was nice. Good play by Paul LaDue. I think he realized that they had a guy changing and just kind of threw it up, 2-on-1 and I don’t think the D challenged right away so I just took the shot and luckily it squeezed right through. [Reporter: How’s the hand feel?] A lot better now.