PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Forward Brock McGinn was on pace for a career-high in goals with Carolina last year. Don't worry, the new Pens grit and glue forward says he knows his role upon signing with Pittsburgh.
"My mindset is not going to change how I am going to play," McGinn said Monday. "I am not going to hope to score 40 goals, I know my expectations. I'm going to come out & bring energy for the guys & hopefully bring a Cup to the City of Pittsburgh."
McGinn is one of the best in the league in drawing penalties. He'll block a shot. Finish a check. Take the puck from you. He played part of the 2016-17 season with a separated shoulder because he didn't want to come out of the lineup.
"My style of play might frustrate some players on other teams where they are going to take some penalties on the play," McGinn said. "I'm going to go out there and hit between the lines and play a physical game. It might frustrate other teams where they might take penalties and give our team a power play and more chances to score."
All that being said, the 27-year-old, left-hand shooting McGinn says he's in the prime of his career. He has more to show that just all the intangibles and dirty work.
"A lot of time in Carolina, I never fully got the opportunity to show how offensive I can be," McGinn said. "It was more my defensive side of the game that was focused on. Last year I really went into it proving how offensive I can actually be in the NHL. Last year is a true testament of how I can play and how offensive I can be as long as my defensive and my full 200 foot-style game doesn't hinder from that."
McGinn said he enjoys having fun with his teammates in the locker room, maybe pulling a prank or two. The Ontario native recently engaged and said term on a contract was important to him. It's part of the reason he signed for four years, $11 million with the Pens.
"When it comes down to it, I didn't want to go anywhere where I didn't have a chance to win the Stanley Cup," McGinn said. "Everything is bright about the organization. There is nothing bad you can say about it. Every single year they have a chance."
