Even if it's just a show for the media, Derek Stepan is saying all the right things.
In being traded from the New York Rangers to the Arizona Coyotes in June, he moved to a team which hasn't finished better than 24th in the past three seasons.
Stepan, however, isn't ready to accept lower standards.
"I think you're going to see more success in Arizona beginning this season and into the future," Stepan said, according to Jessi Pierce of NHL.com.
The Coyotes acquired the 27-year-old Stepan along with goaltender Antti Raanta in exchange for young defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Stepan, who has quietly posted four consecutive seasons of at least 53 points, was often overshadowed under the bright lights of New York City. Now, he'll move into the spotlight with his move to the desert, as he becomes the leader of a Coyotes team which has an average age of just 23.
According to Stepan, it's all the same.
"It's definitely a new experience, but something that certainly doesn't worry me. I've been in a leadership role in New York and I'll just transfer into a new one in Arizona. I couldn't be more excited," he said.
Stepan pointed out how Coyotes winger Jamie McGinn (28) is the only forward on the team older than him. Stepan's most common 5-on-5 linemates with the Rangers last season were Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider, ages 29 and 25, respectively; still old by Coyotes standards.
"We have a young team with a lot of potential, but that's what's so exciting," Stepan said. "It's a new chapter for me and I look forward to being a part of building on something in Arizona."
While his role will expand, Stepan notes it won't change his style of play.
"Playing in the big moments at the right time and doing the right things with and without the puck, all of those things stay the same," he said.
Stepan's has no shortage of big moments in his career, qualifying for the playoffs in each of his seven seasons. He earned a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and two additional trips to the Eastern Conference Final.
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.