LOS ANGELES — Cody McLeod is reminiscent of so many young, first-time NHL players before him. Start with the fact the Avalanche rookie has several front teeth missing.
Then there is McLeod’s humble, polite off-ice nature. Those are other ways to describe a quiet and seemingly shy person, but who wouldn’t be during his first day of being in a real NHL dressing room before a regular-season NHL game?
“I’m just kind of taking it all in right now,” said McLeod, 23, a left wing who was summoned Sunday by the Avs from Lake Erie of the AHL.
Though McLeod did not play Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings and has yet to play an NHL game, he considers himself lucky to be living life in the big time of hockey. He hopes that can last awhile with the Avs. But being a call-up because of injuries to others, he is realistic.
“I just want to make the most of the time I have, and hopefully I can stick around,” said McLeod, a native of Binscarth, Manitoba. “It’s great to be here. We were in Winnipeg for a game Sunday when I got the call, and now I’m here. I’m excited.”
Footnotes.
There are several hard rock fans among the Avalanche, but nobody was too happy with the fact that Van Halen was slated to play tonight at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., where the Avs play Wednesday. Said one Avs player: “Oh, that’ll make the ice even better there.” The Honda Center is notorious for having some of the worst ice in the league. Avs forward Ben Guite, on his new Fu Manchu look: “It’s something I usually grow once a year. But I have to shave it off eventually, or my wife won’t kiss me.” At least one Avs player, Ryan Smyth, plans to spend today’s off day Christmas shopping. Avs goalie Jose Theodore broke two sticks during Monday’s skatearound. “There goes about $400 retail,” said an Avs equipment staff member.
