Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) scores a goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Viktor Fasth (35) during the second period at the American Airlines Center on November, 25, 2014.Jerome Miron
His laughter lifted up from the ice, followed by a few words back and forth with teammates, as Tyler Seguin livened up a rare practice at the Air Canada Centre in front of family and friends.
In the Dallas Stars' dressing room, again, there were lots of smiles, even with his team mired in an ugly, month-long slump (5-8-1).
Again, the mirth was mostly because of Seguin.
"You going to come up to Brampton, bud?" Seguin joked with his linemate, Stars captain Jamie Benn, the quiet counterpart in what's become a close and productive friendship.
There are two stories you'll hear about Seguin if you ask around the league. One is about his past, as a young party animal who didn't fit in with a veteran Boston team, where he was one of the few single guys and got into trouble as a result.
He didn't fit in – not with his jokes, or the tattoos, or the swagger that some in his generation of players bring and that doesn't always dovetail with hockey culture.
But the other story is about Seguin in his new home in Dallas, where that same personality has thrived, helping bring the best out of Benn and some of his teammates.
Even in tough times.
As a group, the Stars are still trying to find their way. As of Monday, they were the reluctant owners of the fourth worst record in the Western Conference, on pace for 79 points and a surprise playoff miss.
Expectations had been much higher coming in, what with their strong showing a year ago and the off-season addition of Jason Spezza.
Reality has been harsh.
"A roller coaster," was how coach Lindy Ruff described the season so far as his team prepared to face the suddenly hot Maple Leafs.
The list of what's gone wrong is long. The goaltending has been suspect; the young blueline has had holes; the offence from everyone other than the big three has been MIA.
What's worked? In short, Tyler Seguin.
Seguin's 31 points in 24 games this year put him third in NHL scoring and on pace to break 100.
His 18 goals lead the entire league. In fact, since he landed in Dallas by way of Boston at the start of last season, the only player with more points is Sidney Crosby.
All this at 22 years old.
Seguin has also been inseparable from Benn on and off the ice, including filming a session of wild trick shots with a group known as Dude Perfect that generated nearly three millions views on YouTube this fall.
After trying unsuccessfully to blend in in Boston, Seguin has done the opposite in Dallas, letting it all hang out, for better or worse.
On Monday, for example, he launched his official website, complete with bare-chested glamour shots and inspirational sayings that immediately drew some criticism on social media (where Seguin has gotten into hot water in the past). The Stars website, meanwhile, is currently running a feature on his two Labrador puppies, who teammates say run his luxe home more than he does. Both pets have their own Twitter accounts, for some reason.
"They make a mess of that house," Benn said.
"My style is kind of going for it," Seguin told The Dallas Morning News, speaking about his extensive full-sleeve tattoos but making a comment that could well apply to the rest of his life. "Going all in."
To those who don't know him, it's all a bit ostentatious. To those who do, it's genuine. And if you look back at where the Stars are coming from – five consecutive seasons out of the playoffs – this was an organization that needed some flash, some levity and some star power.
More important, it needed talent, and by taking a chance on the curious kid from Brampton who was drafted second overall in 2010, general manager Jim Nill was able to rebuild his centre depth in a way not believed possible in an era when teams typically hold onto their top talents.
For all that hasn't gone their way this season, the deal that landed Seguin continues to pay off. "It's just experience in the league," Seguin said of his offensive outburst this year. "It's my fifth season now."
"I think the combination of him and Jamie, that relationship, makes him even more dangerous," Ruff explained. "You can't do it by yourself. Those two guys playing together really feed off each other."