Tomas Zaborsky signed his first professional hockey contract with the NY Rangers on Monday. He will start the season playing in Hartford with the Wolf Pack. Zaborsky was good enough to spend a few minutes this morning with Howlings before heading off to his workout and answered a couple of questions.
When asked how he would describe his game to Rangers and Wolf Pack fans alike, Zaborsky said, "First, I was really happy to sign with the Rangers. Well, my game style is to always try to work really hard. I think I am a technical, smart and skill player, but I can also play a physical hockey game too. I think I have good hockey sense and I think I read situations on the ice well. But in the AHL or NHL you have to play a better level of hockey. This is what the coaches need of you, so I will always try to do my best for the team where I'm playing."
As far as his goals for next season, Zaborsky was equally direct. "In order to reach my goals for next season I've already started now. I need to have a really good summer and to be in great shape for camp in September. My personal goal is to stay in the AHL in Hartford and play there in first three lines and get BETTER and BETTER. I will be happy if I have a really good rookie season in Hartford. That's what I want from the new season."
Zaborsky also wanted to clear something up that has been reported wrong in the press. "Can you please do something for me? I'm reading on websites that everybody is saying that I am from Banska Bystrica in Slovakia, but I am from Trencin, Slovakia. Can you let people know please?"
We just did.
Look for Tomas, a really great young kid, to be an impact player in Hartford in the coming season.
(Zaborsky photo courtesy of ontariohockeyleague.com)
I agree Mitch, he sounds like he's going to be good prospect, and a really nice guy as well.Looks like he has his feet planted firmly on the ground and has set himself attainable goals for the new season.
Realistically he'll probably struggle a little initially with the physical and speed side of the AHL much as Artem did,before getting stronger as the season progresses, he however does have the benefit of playing previously in Canada as a junior rather than coming straight over from Europe.
Posted by: Jeremy | June 03, 2008 at 02:17 PM
FYI Mitch
The Blueshirt Bulletin and yours truly with Prospect Park have never ever listed Zaborsky as from anywhere to Trencin Slovakia.
We have had 2 profiles on Zaborsky over his 2 seasons with Saginaw of the in the Blueshirt Bulletin and our coverage of Zaborsky's efforts at Saginaw have been covered on a daily basis via Prospect Park including that Zaborsky was the 2nd leading scorer last season among all Ranger prospects.
The Ranger fans at Prospect Park voted Zaborsky being the Dean Prentice Prospect of the Month for December 2007. Prospect Park is also the site that gave Zaborsky the nickname of Zorro for his hard work and scoring skills.
It is nice to see others are finally catching up to what the subscribers of the Blueshirt Bulletin already knew about Zaborsky.
Posted by: Jess | June 04, 2008 at 01:42 AM
excuse me due to a typo the sentence should have read
The Blueshirt Bulletin and yours truly with Prospect Park have never ever listed Zaborsky as from anywhere BUT Trencin Slovakia.
Posted by: Jess | June 04, 2008 at 01:44 AM