A cheery Sergei Bobrovsky spoke with media following his second career Vezina Trophy, and he did not disappoint.
Three years older and wiser after winning his first honor as the NHL's best goaltender, the Columbus Blue Jackets star said it felt different this time around to hoist the trophy, while he won over Montreal's Carey Price and Washington's Braden Holtby.
"The first one, you're not really understanding what is happening and so on. This one, you get older, you get more mature and you more appreciate those moments in your life, and it feels special. ... There's a lot of great goaltenders in this league, and that thought makes it more special."
Bob attributed much of his success in 2016-17 to his health, having a good team standing tall in front of him, and having a great supporting cast in his family and friends.
"To have some success, there are so many things that have to come together. You have to be healthy, first. You need a good team in front of you, because without (the) team, it's nothing. And you have to have the right direction in your training and your recovery and your thinking. ... Lots of things come together, and that makes these moments very unique."
The Russian netminder also made sure to give credit to a Blue Jackets organization that has stuck with him as he battled injuries the past few seasons.
"The organization helped me a lot, so I really appreciate the opportunity and trust that they show in me. ... Especially the last three years, I went through injuries, through ups and downs, so I really thank them for giving me a chance and believing in me."
