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When the Colorado Avalanche traded for Rocco Grimaldi this past summer, the reaction centered almost entirely around them sending fun-loving goaltender Reto Berra the other way. Berra was a lightning rod of criticism despite his predominantly impressive numbers throughout his Colorado tenure and it seemed as if Grimaldi had simply been forgotten about along the way.
As he enters his first preseason game tonight in an attempt to make the Avalanche opening night roster, Grimaldi is perfectly fine with the lack of attention. In his eyes, it means no expectations, something the organization has not placed upon his shoulders thus far.
“There’s really no expectations for me,” Grimaldi said. “I’m kind of under the radar, which is awesome. In Florida, I was kind of a possibility “could he make the team?” prospect and here, I’m kind of just here, so, I like the underdog story. I’ve kind of had that my whole life so it’s good.”
When Grimaldi talks about being an underdog story, he’s referring his uphill climb through the hockey ranks despite his growth spurt stopping him at just 5’6″, 172 pounds. Despite the extreme lack of size, Grimaldi has been productive everywhere he’s been. Despite his success, he’s had a hard time in the past resisting the temptation to check in on what others were saying about him. This year, he’s determined to let the chips fall where they may.
“This is the best I’ve ever felt physically and mentally,” Grimaldi told BSN Denver. “My first couple of years I was too worried about too many things I couldn’t control and this year I feel more calm and more mature. I’m just focusing on myself and the game that I play and not worried about what people are saying or doing around me, just focusing on me and working as hard as I can and listening to the coaches and learning as well.”
For a person like Grimaldi, who is active on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, the voices on the outside occasionally became too important to him.
“There’s a lot of times you see stuff online or you hear voices about you and about your game and you start worrying about things or someone’s doing better than you and it becomes a one-on-one it’s you versus him,” Grimaldi intimated. “That’s all good and fun with competition and stuff like that but for me I felt like I got too into stuff like that at times in Florida. Now it’s just I’m focused on myself and not worried about what those around me are doing. The more I stay focused on me and how I perform, the better I’m going to play.”
With a fresh perspective, increased maturity, and a new opportunity with an organization that isn’t placing any pressure on him, Grimaldi is off to a great start with a very strong showing at training camp and earning praise from many in attendance. It was the first step in accomplishing his primary goal for this upcoming year.
“To play in the NHL and to be an impact player,” Grimaldi stated. “Like I said earlier, I’m feeling better mentally, which is good for me. I think that’s the start of things. Just going out here and playing my game and not worrying about things I can’t control is the biggest things. I’m feeling really good right now.”
His primary position as a right wing fits Colorado’s biggest positional weakness in terms of depth and should provide him an opportunity to win over his new front office. With 27 games of NHL experience under his belt, he still has much to learn but he’s taken his time in the NHL and already put it to good use, having spent the summer training to better fit the identity of his new club.
“They’re a fast team and that’s one of my best assets, playing with speed and playing fast,” Grimaldi said of the Avalanche. “I’ve worked a lot on getting even faster this summer, a lot more explosive like that. Worked a lot with my trainers and coaches and I feel that I’m better for that NHL pace on a consistent basis every night. I feel like I play with smarts and skill and whatever they want me to play if I make the team, whether that’s a skill game or a grinding game, I can be an agitator and kind of annoying as well.”
That versatility should serve him well as the preseason goes on because the coaches are giving everyone a clean slate to earn what they’re given. For Grimaldi, he’s hoping to make the leap to permanent NHL player. Given his history, it’s hard to count him out.
