Page 14 of Her Goal
Now, I’m alone with Badaszek. In all my years of playing for the NHL, I’ve never been anywhere alone with the guy who makes or breaks my career, least of all in my own home.
“Nice place you’ve got here.” He tips his head toward the door. “We’re practically neighbors.”
I swallow thickly. “I made the purchase sight unseen.” However, the moment I pulled onto Bantam Lane, a memory surfaced. A hockey garden gnome-sized memory. I just didn’t expect to see it again.
My hands get clammy. Badaszek has to know.
“A risk taker?” His tone doesn’t reveal whether he’s impressed or thinks I’m foolish.
“I like to think I have a good sense for investment properties.”
A large man, and likely even more formidable in his day, Badaszek is all sharp edges. Being around ice and blades for decades will probably do that to a guy. His gaze softens as if he recognizes how uncomfortable I am, but nothing changes about the smirk he wears.
He says, “That was some welcome, huh?”
“Sure was.”
“It’s your first season with the team.”
“I haven’t represented yet. Haven’t given the guys a reason to welcome me.”
“You’ll have a chance.”
I nod slowly. “Thanks.”
“The guys trust my judgment when it comes to selecting new players.”
“I thought it was more of a stats thing.” And mine are not good lately. Instead of exponential growth with an eventual plateau with periodic gains, I started at a plateau and am gradually declining.
“There are a lot of factors that go into it. Mostly, I evaluate who will play welltogether.”
Ah, he’s giving me the whole there’s noIin team talk. I brace myself because I’ve heard it before and agree for the most part.
Instead, Badaszek says, “Historically, I’ve observed that you’re loyal to your team, but not a winner.”
I nearly choke on my own saliva. That’s one way to put it, pointedly, directly.Ouch.
He wags his hand in the air between us. “But I see an underdog story in the making, Roboveitchek.”
I’m not sure whether to be shocked that he pronounced my last name correctly—I’m justRobobecause no one wants to attempt all those vowels and consonants—or that he thinks of me as an underdog.
I want to be the top dog. But lately, I’m all bark and no saves. In other words, it was my fault the Rangers didn’t make it to the playoffs last year.
“As the goalie, it’s your job to make sure there is no daylight between the paint and the puck. No five-hole scores.”
I repeat, “No daylight. No five-hole scores.”
“Some people are solely looking out for their own career.”
This is another way of referring to self-absorbed players. I’ve been nominated as such.
Badaszek continues, “By default, that means they’ll throw their teammates under the Zamboni. Not the Knights. We’re a family.”
Don’t have one of those.
He winks. “Tonight was just the beginning.”
“You mean everyone will be back tomorrow?”
