Canadiens' Jordie Benn loves the feeling of brand-new skates
Jordie Benn was one of 15 players to take part in the Canadiens’ optional morning skate Saturday in Brossard before playing the Chicago Blackhawks at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).
What made the veteran defenceman want to take part?
“New skates,” Benn said. “I just put them on and tested them out and ready to go.”
Ready to go Saturday night? Using a new pair of skates in a game after only wearing them once?
“Oh, yeah,” Benn said. “I’m easy with skates. I don’t like when they break down. I’m usually two weeks and I’m out of them.”
A new pair of skates every two weeks? How many pairs does Benn go through during a season?
“What’s the math on every two weeks,” he said with a smile under his bushy beard. “I don’t know.”
Since the regular season lasts 27 weeks, that would mean 54 pairs of skates for Benn.
“I haven’t changed mine once this year,” defenceman Victor Mete said about his skates. “It kind of hurts my feet a little bit breaking them in, so I just try and stay in the same skates all year.”
What about Benn switching his skates every two weeks?
“That’s nuts,” Mete said.
Rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi said he’ll use two pairs of skates during the season.
“These are my second ones this season,” he said after the morning skate. I usually go with two pairs. After Christmas I change them. That’s pretty sick that (Benn’s) changing all the time.”
Benn uses mostly CCM equipment, but his skates are made by Bauer.
“My heart’s set on Bauer skates,” he said. “I’ve always worn them since I was a kid. I’ve never had problems. I hear all these guys have problems with their skates and taking months and months to break them in. I put them on and I love brand-new skates.”
Benn headed into Saturday night’s game against the Blackhawks with 5-14-19 totals in 70 games and had a plus-13 rating.