Mike Maniscalco

Thanks, Jeff.

that if you put in the work and believe in what you're doing, it pays off.

And I know that's hokey, Jeff.

I really do.

But, you know, this is a team that when Rod Brendamore took over as the head coach eight years ago, when people were talking about, you know, the word culture gets thrown around a lot, he was talking about a work ethic and a standard of how you have to play and carry yourself.

And, you know, Aaron was talking about, you know, Bobby Gill.

And, you know, it's caring about others and putting that kind of feeling into

in the room, and that's what this team is.

If you look at how this team acts off of the ice and interacts with each other, they're close.

You know, there's that.

And again, you don't have to love everybody in order to win, but it certainly helps when you're willing to, you know, all right, for this guy, I'm going to lay down in front of the shot or I'm going to do this or, you know, I don't feel great today, but I'm going to find a B game to get to.

And the lesson for I think everybody who's out there is, you know, just because you don't win the whole thing

doesn't mean that you're not doing good things and building your way to getting that way.

And, you know, honestly, for this run, for the eight years, you got to take a look at the teams that knocked Carolina out of the playoffs, Jeff.

They went to the Stanley Cup final, right?

Or they went to the conference final.

It's not like they were getting beat in the first round.

So for me, that's the lesson, that if you stick with it and you believe in what you're doing, it pays off.

And this group, I hate using the word deserved.

I really do.