Q and A with Henry Thrun: New Maple Leaf on Sharks commerce, dodging Ducks, Harvard life

The 24-year-old had been affected person sufficient to handpick his first NHL group, a luxurious afforded few, and immediately the San Jose Sharks didn’t need him anymore.

They’d reasonably energetic and skilled fourth-line ahead Ryan Reaves at age 38.

As stunned as Thrun was to seek out himself scrapping for an NHL spot on a deeper Toronto Maple Leafs defence, he was additionally “ecstatic” to be becoming a member of a corporation driving a nine-year playoff streak.

More persistence has been demanded of the Southborough, Mass., native after going from a 60-game NHLer in San Jose final season to failing to make Toronto’s minimize out of coaching camp. 

The pending RFA has put up 9 factors by way of 19 video games with the AHL Marlies, and coach Craig Berube appreciates Thrun’s means to play the proper facet as a lefty.

With fellow left shot Dakota Mermis falling to a knee damage that can sideline him for a month, Thrun was referred to as up and appears to make his Maple Leafs debut on Thursday in opposition to the Sharks.

“Great kid. Coachable,” says former coach Ryan Warsofsky. “Plays a easy, regular hockey sport. Knows what he’s. Can transfer pucks. Defends with objective. Extremely pushed to get higher. 

“You know, when I look back at Henry, he took care of his body, his nutrition. He was a young kid, but he picked up very quickly, if he wanted to play in this league, the things you needed to do. So, happy got called up. He deserved it.” 

In dialog with A-Z Eventz, Thrun discusses his earliest experiences with hockey, life at Harvard, why he didn’t signal with the group that drafted him, and the problem of cracking the Maple Leafs.

(The following interview has been frivolously edited for brevity and readability.)

A-Z Eventz: You began skating at age 6. Were you a defenceman immediately?

HENRY THRUN: I performed D. I performed goalie. I went by way of each place. I used to be a full-time defenceman by 13 or 14. I used to be kinda informed the place to go and simply went with it. Our youth group was all about having enjoyable and type of flowing round. There wasn’t an excessive amount of construction, too many guidelines. Eventually I received to highschool and discovered what I’m going to be. I landed on defence.

SN: Were you fast to pinch and be part of the push?

HT: Yeah, I’ve all the time loved the offensive facet of the sport, one thing I take satisfaction in to contribute on.

SN: I learn you had been raised by a household of New York Rangers followers. 

HT: No. People have requested me that earlier than. I don’t know the place that began from. My dad is from Buffalo, so he was all the time a Sabres fan. Supports each Buffalo sport. And my mother simply cheers for whoever I’m enjoying for, principally. If something, my dad tried leaning us towards the Sabres, however none of us actually bit on it.

SN: Did you watch a lot hockey as a child?

HT: Plenty of hockey, a whole lot of sports activities generally. Played three sports activities up till I used to be 16, so I used to be all the time energetic. Hockey was on lots. Plenty of baseball. Played a whole lot of lacrosse in highschool, so I used to be everywhere till age 16.

SN: At what level did you notice, OK, I’m ok to make a profession out of this factor?

HT: Right round 16, once I made the NTDP (USA Hockey National Team Development Program). Up till that time, I used to be enjoying soccer till November, hockey from November until March, then lacrosse by way of the spring. I all the time preferred hockey the very best and knew it was one thing I used to be fairly good at, and I used to be lucky to be recruited at a younger age. Once I made the NTP, I knew. OK, this can be a distinctive scenario.

SN: What’s your opinion on children enjoying a number of sports activities? 

HT: It’s a tough dilemma proper now with youth hockey. I used to be lucky sufficient that I grew up within the time of enjoying a whole lot of sports activities, however there have been additionally assets for hockey if I wished to place somewhat extra time into that. And I used to be lucky sufficient that my mother and father would assist me out with that. But it’s powerful. I go searching. Younger children now are extra expert than ever, and I skate with some youthful guys in the course of the summer time and see the expertise. Just the pure talent — they received that from all these hours put in. It’s spectacular. But on the similar time, you surprise if there’s a burnout charge, or perhaps a hockey IQ charge that they don’t carry from enjoying different sports activities. So, I don’t have the reply for you. I’m all for taking part in a number of sports activities till 14, 15, 16. Until that time, free-for-all. Go play the whole lot you may.

SN: Do you continue to play different sports activities?

HT: Plenty of tennis. Play a whole lot of golf. Those are the primary ones I stick with now.

HT: I all the time wished to go to highschool in Boston. When I checked out faculties, I fell in love with Harvard and the teaching workers. Incredible athletic program. Great college, clearly. So, it was a terrific match, and I actually liked it.

SN: What do folks on the skin not learn about Harvard? 

HT: The finest method to describe it’s, everybody is basically good at one thing. You meet actually distinctive folks. Whether it’s somebody who’s an All-American baseball participant, or somebody who’s beginning their very own firm, or somebody who’s working a political marketing campaign, or somebody who’s the very best vocalist within the nation — everyone seems to be unbelievable at one thing. Which is fairly cool to see. Everyone’s received their very own hustle and area of interest. So, you meet a whole lot of attention-grabbing folks. 

SN: How troublesome was it to finish your diploma — a double main in economics and psychology — whereas attempting to make the NHL?

HT: It’s a dedication, going to highschool there — however hockey got here first. I didn’t need college to come back in the best way of hockey; I all the time wished my thoughts on hockey. And I attempted to do the whole lot I might, each time-wise and energy-wise. Thankfully, I used to be in a position to achieve college on high of that. (Academics) is an enormous a part of life there; it has the very best status for a motive. It’s a problem, and also you gotta be capable to get by way of the teachers. But there’s a whole lot of assist in place. Whether it’s your teammates or academics or counsellors, there’s a whole lot of methods they can assist you. 

SN: Were you considering a backup profession whereas finding out and enjoying?

HT: No. No Plan B. That’s not the best way to do it.

SN: You get drafted by Anaheim in 2019 however by no means signal with the Ducks. Why not? Why wait and switch free agent out of the NCAA?

HT: The administration I used to be drafted by (led by Bob Murray) had all turned over, and the brand new group got here in. I really am an enormous fan of Pat Verbeek and the brand new workers there. But I simply felt that I wished one other 12 months at college. I talked to Pat about it. We went forwards and backwards, they usually had a terrific setup there for me. An “A” setup. They had a terrific workers, growth was there, a whole lot of good prospects who had been intriguing. They had been going by way of a rebuild. But I knew, going again to highschool, I’d have the chance to take a look at different groups. And for me, San Jose was an A-plus in comparison with an A. Having the possibility to decide on precisely the place I wished to start out my profession was distinctive. That’s to not say that I didn’t like Anaheim. I actually preferred it, they usually know that. But I actually liked San Jose as a chance.

SN: From the skin, we see your age and see the place the Sharks are of their aggressive cycle, and we think about your prime and San Jose’s competition window will align. So, why didn’t it work out?

HT: Yeah. I don’t know. I imply, I’m comfortable to be right here. I’m excited to be a part of a profitable group. Everyone performs to win. And I used to be in a position to possibly skip forward a pair years in my profession and get to a profitable group fairly early on, which is thrilling. So, once I came upon the place I used to be getting traded to, I used to be actually excited. The very first thing I thought of was being a part of a bunch that has a profitable tradition and a whole lot of custom and a whole lot of success. So, I really feel actually lucky. 

SN: The Leafs introduced again all high six defencemen from final season. You had been probably the most important low season addition to the blueline. How do you view the problem of taking a veteran’s spot?

HT: It’s a superb problem, proper? The group had a whole lot of success within the common season final 12 months and made beneficial properties within the playoffs, finally falling wanting the ultimate purpose. But I simply present a puck-moving means, somebody that provides offence from the blueline, and the physicality side as nicely. I really feel I can play up a lineup, transfer pucks to the top-end guys. Or, if I have to play decrease and play a extra bodily, easy sport, I can do this as nicely. I’m simply attempting to supply a whole lot of versatility and play the very best I can, then see how issues shake out.