PITTSBURGH _ Last summer felt like an eternity for Brandon Saad.
Maybe longer.
The Blue Jackets acquired Saad in a June 30, 2015 blockbuster trade after he played 65 playoff games the previous three years and won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks.
But Columbus missed the postseason in Saad's first year, delaying the entire point of the transaction.
"It's a newer franchise, and they haven't had a lot of experience with winning in the playoffs," Saad, a Pine, Pa. native, said. "I've been fortunate to play with some good teams and players. That's something that I want to bring coming in, whether it's with the young guys or the older guys. We have a good leadership group in here. I'm happy to be a part of it."
And now, finally, Saad will. The Penguins took a 1-0 series lead over the Blue Jackets after a 3-1 win Wednesday night.
Coach John Tortorella talked Wednesday following morning skate about Saad's impact on his team, how he needs to transfer some of what he learned in Chicago to a younger Columbus team and not "lie in the weeds" when it comes to leadership.
"He has a couple of rings in his pocket," Tortorella said. "He's played with his prior team with some pretty good people, an organization that knows how to win. He needs to give some of that back to us.
"He was being tutored by (Marian) Hossa, (Duncan) Keith, (Jonathan) Toews ... he needs to be that guy for us. Not lie in the weeds, but he needs to be that guy for us with some of our youth."
Saad produced 24 goals and 53 points in 82 games this season for Columbus, the same number of points but seven fewer goals than he had last season.
That's all well and good, but Saad is the Blue Jackets' highest-paid player because he has the unique ability to elevate his game in the playoffs.
During his final 42 playoff games with Chicago, Saad had 14 goals and 27 points, eight and 11 when the Blackhawks won it all in 2015.
"A big body playing both ends of the ice ... that tends to be playoff hockey, where it's more of a grinding game," Saad said. "You don't get as many chances. You have to work hard to get to the blue, things like that. That seems to be my game. That fits well in the playoffs."
Tortorella said Saad's game has been a bit off in recent weeks, the same for several Columbus players. But he also think there's a change that's about to occur in Saad, one we've seen several times over a couple postseason runs.
"I just sense _ I've seen it _ I know he can raise his level," Tortorella said. "It's going to be very important for us if we're going to compete in this series."
This one will certainly feel different for Saad, a hometown boy who attended several games when the Penguins won their third Stanley Cup.
Still, he wouldn't have it any other way. He routinely complimented the Penguins and their fans, reiterating how lively he expects PPG Paints Arena to be.
Saad said he'll also enjoy reconnecting with family and friends, even though his free time figures to be fairly scarce in this series.
"You get more calls and texts, things like that," Saad said. "Otherwise, for me, it's exciting. I like to see family and friends after the game or the off day. It's going to be a lot of fun."
There are those who have it and those who don't.
That was Tortorella's take when asked whether there's anything additional he can do this time of year to get a player going.
And he sure doesn't expect to have to go that route with Saad.
"If I have to try and prod that out of a player tight now, on this stage, we got the wrong guy," Tortorella said. "I don't think that's going to be a problem for 'Saader'. I think he's been waiting for the situation to start happening the real stuff here. I look forward to see how he plays."
