Brennan Vogt
Tyson Jost became a fan favorite when he was an Avalanche player. He didn’t score many goals, but he became one of the best penalty killers on the team. Drafted 10th overall in 2016, Jost was a highly-touted player out of Canada and the University of North Dakota. He was thought to be an offensive spark that the Avalanche could use in coming years, but it turned out that his real game was much different. Last year, on March 15th, right as the trade deadline fast approached, Jost was traded for Nico Sturm. He would have to watch all his friends win the Stanley Cup without him in June. We got a chance to talk to Tyson Jost today after the morning skate about his thoughts on Colorado and playing in Buffalo.
He was asked how different it is playing an official game for the first time in Colorado:
“Oh yeah it’s different I mean just the ride from the airport and all that stuff the guys outside and yeah I guess just kind of being like staying overnight just a little bit different. I had that one game and preseason with Minny. You’re in and out so it’s nice to be back. I definitely miss the city and the mountains and the views and all that stuff, but it’s good to see the guys and yeah, it’s a little weird, but that’s cool to do,” he said.
It was well known that Jost and J.T. Compher were best buddies, so we asked he went out with anyone from the Avalanche last night:
“I went to Gucci with Comph. Even in Minny, probably 10 guys or so going out to dinner. So yeah, it’s just good to see everyone. We’ve been in touch. Yeah, just texting and FaceTiming the whole time,” Jost said.
Jost has seen an increased role in Buffalo with more minutes than he was playing in Colorado:
“It’s been awesome. I mean, the guys are great. The coaching staff is unbelievable. Just their communication and just the way they play it how they want to play. It honestly reminds me a lot of when I first came to Colorado here and I mean we’re an up-and-coming team and we’re young so it kind of has that same feel when I was first here in Colorado and I think just the one nice thing is just the guys. Everyone’s around the same age because we’re a young team so it’s fun coming to the locker room. Everyone wants to get better and has been great. So have fun loving it so far,” he said.
I asked asked him what he brings from Colorado and Minnesota to Buffalo as in terms of experience:
“Oh yeah, just trying to be a leader I guess. I went through a lot of I guess similar kind of experiences and whatnot. But young guys too. So I was in a lot of their positions when they first came into the league and whatnot and it’s just cool to see how hungry they are to get better. Everybody wants to be out there early and staying out late afterwards and shooting pucks and that’s what Comph, MacKinnon and myself. We all do and we were kind of making that push and on the upward trend, so it’s definitely cool. Everybody has that hunger and desire to get better. And that’s something that I kind of bring I’m still trying to reach my full potential here and want to get better every single day”
Jost sees the Avalanche as a building block in his career at this point. They gave him the experience, so now he can bring it to other teams and be the leader there. You can’t buy experience, you have to live it. Jost has done that.
The full interview is below!