TORONTO -- One would think dropping 30 places in the standings would sink a man's spirits about as low they can get.
Not to mention missing out on what appears to be the Washington Capitals' most realistic chance at a Stanley Cup in the Alex Ovechkin era.
But cancel your pity parties for poor ol' Brooks Laich.
The 32-year-old native of Wawota, Saskatchewan, sounded like a man re-born, re-energized, absolutely stoked about the opportunity at hand with the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs.