July 16--If ex-Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad is a marked man the next time he steps onto the United Center ice, he has a good idea who will be gunning for him.
"I think Shawsy for sure," Saad said about feisty right wing Andrew Shaw during an interview Thursday on "The Spiegel and Goff Show" on WSCR-AM 670. "I played against him in juniors, even scrimmage and practice, things like that. He's a guy that likes to compete, he's fun to battle with. So we'll battle out there and smile at the end of the day."
Saad sounded at times as though he were smiling through the shock of being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the end of June when contract negotiations hit a wall.
"Tough time, for sure, emotional, but it's part of the business," Saad told hosts Matt Spiegel and Jason Goff. "It's tough with the capped salaries the NHL is doing, it's tough to keep everyone especially when you have championship teams like we did in Chicago, so you see more guys get traded or leaving as well and it's just part of the business. It's tough, it's sad, it's emotional, especially when you win championships you have a lot of relationships in the city, but it is what it is."
At the time of the interview Thursday, Saad said he had spent just a day in his adopted new town.
"I'm obviously going to learn more when I come back for the season. It's definitely a smaller city," he said. "I'm from Pittsburgh so I'm pretty familiar and used to that type of style of living. ... (Columbus has) come a long way with restaurants and things like that. I still haven't been all the way around but I've enjoyed my time so far."
Later in the show, Goff noted Saad's attempts to remain upbeat: "Now correct me if I'm wrong, it still sounds like your world got turned upside down and you're still trying to grasp what this next act in your career, what your next part of your life is going to be about. When do you think some of that stuff will subside for you?"
Saad reminded that the trade is still fresh. "And now, visiting the town (Columbus), it's becoming more real. I'm having my Cup party in a few weeks here (in Chicago) -- that's another time to celebrate and let go finally. I'm moving forward to a new team, excited, it's a new chapter, so I'm really looking forward to getting in the (Blue Jackets locker) room with the guys and meeting more guys and getting on the ice with them, that's when all the fun starts."
Still, Saad said he's looking forward to Oct. 17, when he and the Blue Jackets face his former teammates at the United Center.
"Nobody's listening, you can tell us the truth," Goff said, "when you face off against the Blackhawks this season, you're going to try to put your foot in their (rear), aren't you?"
Said laughed. "It's definitely a day that's marked in my calendar and I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and playing in that building."
plthompson@tribpub.com
