Page 8 of Play Along With Me
"The side of not being a dick to your neighbors," I say. "Bold stance, I know."
Mike and Ryan exchange glances that suggest they're reconsidering whether they want to be associated with Collin at all, which, frankly, makes me like them more.
"Anyway," Mike says, clearly trying to get us back on track. "Collin mentioned you've been putting up some impressive numbers in Providence."
And just like that, we're back to business. As much as Audrey's takedown of Collin was entertaining, I didn't come here for the floor show. I came here because I'm twenty-seven, playing in a league I've outgrown, living with a roommate who thinks mold is a natural refrigerator cleaner, and driving a car that makes suspicious noises on cold mornings.
"Yeah," I say, shifting into professional mode. "Three seasons with a save percentage over .920, GAA under 2.5. Led the team to the conference finals last year."
"Impressive," Ryan nods. "You know what we look for in goalies we represent?"
I shake my head. Here it comes—the sales pitch. But if it gets me closer to the NHL, I'll listen to whatever corporate BS they want to throw at me.
"Consistency, marketability, and hunger," Ryan continues. "From what Collin's told us, you've got all three."
For once, I'm grateful for Collin's big mouth.
"I've been working on my game since I was five years old," I tell them. "Everything else in my life has taken a backseat to hockey. I'm not just looking for a shot—I'm ready to make the most of it."
It's my standard line, the one I've given to every scout, coach, and agent I've ever met. But it has the benefit of being true.
Mike leans forward. "The thing is, Jake, we've got a particular interest in your situation. I don't know if Collinmentioned it, but we just signed Tom Kelly from the Saints' goaltending staff."
My ears perk up. Kelly is the Saints' goalie coach—the guy who has direct input on who gets called up from Providence.
"He didn't mention that," I say, shooting Collin a look.
"Just finalized last week," Ryan jumps in. "And with Warszawski's groin injury lingering longer than expected, they're looking at options for a reliable backup to Ambroz."
Adam Ambroz is the Saints' starter, a Finnish goaltender who's been solid but played too many games last season. Tony Warszawski is their backup who went down with a groin injury in training camp—supposedly minor, but goalies and groin injuries are notoriously unpredictable.
"They called up Evander," I point out. Vance Evander, our starting goalie in Providence, got the call two weeks ago when Warszawski went down.
"Evander's struggling," Mike says bluntly. "0.873 save percentage in his first three appearances. Word is management's not impressed."
This is news to me, but not surprising. Evander's great against AHL talent, but he gets rattled easily. The jump to the NHL speed is significant—guys shoot harder, move faster, and execute plays with precision that you just don't see in the minors.
"So where do I fit in?" I ask, trying to keep my voice neutral despite the hope bubbling in my chest.
Ryan pulls out his phone. "The Saints have a three-game homestand next week. We think we could get you a look—not a full call-up yet, but a practice with the big club. Let Kelly and the coaching staff see what you can do up close."
I've had practices with the Saints before—usually in training camp, occasionally when injuries hit. But they've never led to anything. Just a day or two of skating with the pros before being sent back down, like a kid getting a tour of the cockpit before returning to economy class.
"No offense," I say carefully, "but I've done the practice thing before. What makes this different?"
Mike and Ryan exchange glances.
"Look," Mike says. "We'll be straight with you. Kelly thinks the Saints need to get younger in net. Ambroz is 36, Warszawski is 34. The organization needs to start thinking about the future."
"And your numbers in Providence are better than Evander's," Ryan adds. "Consistently better. He got the first shot because he's been there longer, but it's about results."
This all sounds promising, but I've learned the hard way not to count on anything in hockey until the contract's signed.
"So what exactly are you offering?" I ask.
"Let us represent you," Ryan says simply. "We'll get you that practice opportunity next week. If you impress—and we think you will—we push for a legitimate call-up. With Warszawski's timeline uncertain, there's a real opportunity here."
I lean back, considering. I already have an agent—a decent guy named Dave who handles a lot of AHL players. He's fine, but his NHL connections are limited. These guys seem to have a direct line to the Saints' decision-makers.
