Nathan Légaré had been having an uneventful Sunday morning so far. “I was at the flea market with my fiancée, it just went like that,” he says. Until he got a call from Erik Heasley.
Who is Erik Heasley? He is the Pittsburgh Penguins branch operations manager. In other words, not the type of guy to call players like that, period.
So when Légaré saw his number, “one Sunday morning in the middle of summer”, he suspected something. But certainly not that by hanging up, he would be a member of the organization of the Canadian.
“I would be lying if I said it’s not a mix of emotions, admitted the winger to La Presse, on the phone, a few minutes after the announcement of the transaction between the Canadian and the Penguins. You leave behind friends, memories… The organization of the Penguins has been incredible for me. They drafted me, they gave me my first chance. It’s a new start. »
Légaré did not expect to change address this summer, despite the turmoil at the head of Penguins hockey operations with the arrival of Kyle Dubas. “With the feedback I got, I didn’t expect it. Offensively, I did not have the same production as in the junior. But I had to adapt to play in the pro and I had finished the year well. We had injuries, so I played a bigger role.
“I saw the rumors about Erik Karlsson. Sometimes you can think you’ll be in the gossip. Journalists, fans throw names. But that’s never true until you get the call. »
Crossed at the National Bank Open, Penguins defender Pierre-Olivier Joseph was cheerful for his former teammate at Wilkes-Barre. “He’s a born scorer, we saw in the junior how dangerous he is in the slot. He has his physical side, speed and he can still bring a lot of it,” summed up Joseph.
Légaré, however, never repeated his offensive exploits of 2018-2019, the season that led to his draft. In 68 games with Baie-Comeau, he had 45 goals and 42 assists. Its production has dropped year on year since.
Logically, the 6′ and 205 lb athlete will first go to Laval, with a Habs school club that will be unrecognizable as the workforce has changed this summer. His offensive production has been modest so far in the AHL: 16 points in his first season, 19 last year, in 68 games, all on the wings. “I mostly played on the third and fourth lines, and a bit on the second power play,” he explained. He is still waiting to play his first game in the NHL.
Logistically, the time spent with the Rocket should make his life easier. “It’s funny to say, I bought myself a house this summer, not too far from Place Bell in Laval. I was planning to rent it to a Rocket player during the season. Eventually, I’ll stay in! I’m still on cloud nine. I’m going to have trouble sleeping tonight. »
