Roommates help rookies adapt to life in the NHL

Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun was snoozing last Monday afternoon in St. Louis, taking a pregame nap like he usually does before leaving for the rink.

Or at least he was until he heard rap music by Drake spilling out from the bathroom where winger Lawson Crouse was in the shower.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Chychrun said, “because he’s been great all year and then out of nowhere he just starts blasting music.”

Crouse typically tries to time it so that when he wakes up from his nap, which is usually only 30 or 40 minutes, Chychrun – who likes to bank an hourand-a-half of rest – is also starting to stir.

“But there was that one time where I just was really tired so I napped early and then got up, and he was still sleeping,” Crouse said. “I guess I woke him up, and I guess he wasn’t too happy.”

Crouse and Chychrun are just one set of roommates on the road and with a sizable group of young players on the roster, the Coyotes have more than a few duos as the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement requires those on their entry-level contracts to share a room.

And while individual schedules may occasionally conflict, Arizona’s rookies have enjoyed the setup as it’s helped them get acclimated to life in the NHL.

“At the start, it was kind of nice because the first couple weeks of the season when you’re on the road, you don’t really know what kind of the guidelines are – how early to be at the rink on the road and stuff like that,” Crouse said. “It’s kind of nice to have two guys so we’re both on top of it. But it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve had our fun throughout the year, but we’ve also had our mix-ups.”

Chychrun hasn’t been the only one to have his sleep interrupted this season.

About midway through the schedule when the team was in Minnesota and off the next day, Crouse said Chychrun and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo were up late playing cards.

“I’m trying to get some sleep and go to bed early, and Chychrun and Tony are in my room,” Crouse said. “It’s literally probably 2:30, 3. I’m trying to sleep, and they’re playing cards and shuffling the deck.”

Overall, though, the two haven’t had much trouble figuring out how to coexist.

Whoever’s ready for the shower before the other gets first dibs. Each usually has his own sink in the bathroom, so there’s plenty of space to get ready.

When there’s an odd number of young players on a trip, a more senior one might snag his own room – like winger Anthony Duclair did on the last trip, which he prefers. But bunking with someone hasn’t been a problem, even though he suspects he doesn't sleep quietly.

“I probably snore,” he said. “(But) I haven’t heard anything from my roommates."

There also isn’t much of a debate over who controls the remote with many players on their cellphones or watching shows on their laptops. Winger Brendan Perlini, who is paired with center Christian Dvorak, is usually in charge of the TV in their room.

“I usually try and put on a good movie or try to find a funny show or something like that,” Perlini said. “It’s either that or we’re usually watching golf.”

Although they’re separated at bedtime into their own rooms, most of the rookies and sophomores are together the rest of their free time on the road.

“Since every guy that has a roommate is usually young, it’s kind of our crew,” Crouse said.

“So we’re always together or doing stuff together whether it’s playing cards or just hanging out, going to the mall or something. We’re always together.”

Spades and gin are the group’s favorite games, and captain Shane Doan has been known to stop by to join the competitions. Most times, everyone gathers in winger Max Domi’s room.

“Max doesn’t want to get out of his bed,” Chychrun said. “So we’ll usually migrate to Max so he doesn’t have to move too far.”

Although this has been their first year in the NHL, most rookies knew each other beforehand from camps or the Ontario Hockey League where the bulk played junior. And what’s helped them make this transition is having peers in the same situation.

“It makes it feel more comfortable because you can relate to those guys a little bit more than say a couple of the older guys with kids and family,” Crouse said.

The arrival of more youth this season hasn’t sparked on-ice success,

SUNDAY’S GAME

Flames to close out a Western Canada road trip 2-1 as they fell to the Oilers. Before that trip, Los Angeles had gone 2-3 in its previous five and is 4-5-1 in its past 10. The Kings are 21-14-2 on home ice. Center Jeff Carter continues to lead the team in goals (32) and points (62). Winger Jarome Iginla has a goal in each of his last three games.