Only Nathan MacKinnon scored more goals than you this season, but you led in game-winning goals. Do you feel like a true superstar now, Cole?
"No, not really. It's just been one year. I think there's stuff to build on, off that. As a team, overall, we like how our season went. Obviously, with a tough division and tough opponents every night. But, this is the time of the year when we want to accomplish the real goals."
At 173 centimetres, you're one of the smallest players in the NHL. Does it help that your coach, Martin St. Louis, is probably the best smaller-statured player in history?
"Yeah, obviously, what he's done in his career is unbelievable. His knowledge and experience that he brings to us every day are something like no other. I think everyone benefits from having a guy like that, who's gone through everything.
"Just his brain, and how smart he is - he makes the whole game a little bit simpler and easier. He always gets us fired up but helps us handle our emotions a bit better, too."
Tampa Bay are one of the best teams. How did you manage to knock them out in the first round of the playoffs?
"I think that's just the way our team's been built over the last couple of years. We've had a lot of down times against those guys in the last couple of years, and they're a team we've been chasing. Obviously, it feels good to beat them in a seven-game series; every team's hungry the next year for more.
"I like where we're at. Obviously, it was a big series win, but we've moved on to this team (Buffalo) now, and we've just got to keep it going."
Was it obvious during the series how special these games were for your coach, facing his former club? And have you ever seen such emotions from a coach as he showed in the locker room after Game 7?
"They were awesome. Obviously, there are ties with playing there for him, but I know we all wanted that victory too. Just those types of emotions at the time of year, it really truly means so much to everybody."
What does goaltender Jakub Dobes bring to the team? What kind of player is he on the ice and in the locker room?
"Good laughs, and wins as of late. I think, obviously, he's been great all season. He's a great guy to be around, and truly he works his 'everything' off (laughs)."
One of the players Montreal will be building around in the coming years is Juraj Slafkovsky. How do you rate him?
"He's been spectacular! I think what he does on both sides of the puck every night is probably underrated. As a team, I don't think we're anywhere near where we're at without him."
