MEtHOt wON’t BE DOING FOrMEr SENs tEAMMAtEs ANy FAvOurs
Nine months removed from a trip to the Eastern Conference final with the Ottawa Senators, life is so much different for Marc Methot.
The veteran defenceman — who spent five season with the Senators — has a new home in Dallas. He got married, had knee surgery that forced him to miss three months of the season and welcomed his first child Jack into the world with his wife Ellie.
The biggest adjustment is being a parent.
“He’s not sleeping a whole ton right now, so my wife’s taken over for the night shifts and she’s been doing a great job supporting that and knowing that I’ve got to be healthy and rested, but, man, what an experience,” Methot said Sunday at the Stars’ practice facility. “He’s a Texan now. He’s got his dual citizenship, so that’s pretty cool. Oh God, (fatherhood) is life changing. I never would have imagined how much work it was until you finally go through with it, but what an experience. It gives you new life and something to play for. Not that I need that, but it’s just added motivation every day I come to the rink. I love it. I love being able to go home to him.” As Methot prepares to face the Senators Monday for the first time since being picked in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights and dealt to the Stars, he knows this is going to be an emotional game. Methot, who was dealt to Ottawa in July, 2012 from the Columbus Blue Jackets, didn’t have this date circled, but was aware it was coming up.
“I knew that they ’ve been coming in and especially over the last two weeks,” Methot said. “You see it on the calendar and all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Oh God, I’m playing against my old team here coming up soon’. “That’s hard. I still remember my first game back when I played against Columbus after being traded to Ottawa. It’s not easy because you’re playing against guys that you know very well. I play hard, so it’s not like I’m going out there, handling the puck and not hitting guys. I’ve got to do my job.” Methot did spend time Sunday catching up with Senators captain Erik Karlsson. The duo spent five years as defensive partners and are good friends away from the rink. “I’m grabbing dinner with him (Sunday), so we’re going to have a little chat,” Methot said. “I talk to Erik lots. He’s a fantastic player and he can take care of himself. “We had a good thing going there for a number of years, but times change and not just with the Ottawa Senators, a lot of teams, and it was time to move on.” Making the move to Dallas worked out well, but getting here was difficult. General manager Pierre Dorion didn’t want to lose Methot, but the club’s hands were tied when veteran defenceman Dion Phaneuf refused to waive his no-move clause ahead of the expansion draft.
The Knights told Methot they weren’t going to keep him, which is why he got flipped to Dallas in exchange for goalie prospect Dylan Ferguson and a 2020 secondround pick. Methot has played mostly with Stephen Johns and the two are comfortable together. “It was difficult at first and you feel all kinds of mixed emotions,” Methot said. “I had a good idea it was going to happen, especially when I found out I was left unprotected. At that point, the only thing I could control was my (10-team) no-trade list and trying to get myself to a good team that would be a playoff contender.”
The Methots will return to Ottawa in the summer. They have a home in the city and a cottage, plus he and Ellie will hold a celebration of their marriage with family and friends after holding a small ceremony in Dallas.
Methot never would have predicted the Senators falling so far, so fast after last spring ’s success and he knows this season has been tough.
“It’s crazy. I keep tabs a little bit,” said Methot.
“It’s tough. I feel for the fans more than anybody because I know how passionate they are and all my friends are back there and they ’re all still Sens fans. It’s a tough situation for everybody back there, but what can you do?” Methot is right at home in his new NHL home.
I play hard, so it’s not like I’m going out there, handling the puck and not hitting guys. I’ve got to do my job.