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Academic Team. His most productive season was his junior year when he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award and garnered several FirstTeam All-American honors. Ironically, his NHL rights were traded twice during the season. The Dallas Stars, who selected him in the fi h round (138th overall pick) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, d alt him to the Anaheim Ducks, who traded him to the New Jersey Devils less than two months later. “That was crazy – I certainly didn’t expect it,” he said. “Thankfully, it didn’t affect me in any way directly, although subconsciously you wonder if there’s something wrong, and you wonder if a team really wants you. You battle with those two things in your head over and over again, and at the end of the day, you probably don’t fi d out the answer. “All you can do is control what you can as a hockey player, and that’s your performance.” McIntyre eventually began his pro career with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate in Lowell but was traded again, this time to Minnesota, with whom he would not only make his NHL debut, but would also score his fi st NHL goal. “The highlight wasn’t necessarily that fi st on the first floor of CityFlatsHotel
goal,” he said. “I got to play in Toronto, which was exciting and close enough that my family and a lot of friends from high school could watch. I also got to witness (Wild teammate) Matt Cullen’s 1,000th game, which was pretty cool to see and experience.” After two seasons in the Wild organization, McIntyre decided to pick up his stakes one more time this past summer. McIntyre admits that the adjustment has been more difficult than he expected. First off, there was the small matter of the weather. Living in Texas, he had forgotten what it was like to scrape ice and snow off h s car every day. He also struggled with his play a bit, fi ding his instincts didn’t always mesh with the systems played by the Griffins. “He’s still getting comfortable in the way we play,” Blashill said. “Now, with all the injuries and call ups, he’s getting more opportunities, and we think he’s beginning to show his true game.” Blashill salutes McIntyre’s professionalism and leadership. Those are things in which the 27-year-old center takes great pride. “Someday I would like to be a head coach at a Division I school,” said McIntyre, who majored cityflatshotel.com
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