Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
HARTLEY: FLAMES SEEK INTERNAL MOTIVATION
On the rebuilding front, The Calgary Herald illustrates the Flames’ seismic shift in philosophy. An end to the procrastination. None of that achingly familiar “We’re only one player away from contending” or “the answer is in that room” nonsense.
“What we control,” coach Bob Hartley was saying the other day, “is what we do and our approach to the game. Our commitment to the game. The reasons why we’re in every day, whether we’re on the ice for practice or in the gym. That’s where we’re going to grow.
“I think give us good goaltending and we’ll surprise many people. And not to prove them wrong, to prove us right. That’s our goal. That’s where I’m trying to motivate those guys.
“Don’t go looking on the outside for motivation, whether it’s positive or negative. Get it right from the inside. Right from us. Prove us right. Prove ourselves right, prove Brian Burke right, prove Jay Feaster right, prove our fans right. Those guys are behind us. This community is behind us.
“Hey, let’s prove those guys right.”
BERGERON FEELS KESSEL HAS MATURED
The Toronto Sun writes that Patrice Bergeron, who stomped on the heart of every Leafs fan by completing the Bruins come-from-behind 5-4 win in Game 7, noticed just how much heart Phil Kessel and his Leafs played with in their seven-game marathon, even in defeat.
This was no longer the same Phil Kessel who spent three seasons with Bergeron’s Bruins from 2006-09. This was no longer the uber-talented kid who would sizzle one night, then fizzle the next.
Bergeron’s conclusion: The boy was now a man.
“You could see in that series how much Phil had matured,” Bergeron told the Sun in a phone interview on Tuesday. “You could see the improvement in his game and the way he plays.
“Back when we played together, you could tell how skilled the kid was. He had great speed and could really handle the puck. At the same time, he had a lot to learn.”
On the $64 million contract extension: “Good for Phil. Like I said, he’s matured a lot in Toronto. He has gotten better every year.”
CANUCKS’ SEDINS IMPRESS TORTORELLA
The Vancouver Province supposes new coach John Tortorella knew this much with the regular-season opener looming: The grind and pace he’s preaching to forge an identity for the Vancouver Canucks has been easier to achieve, because his best players have been his best pupils.
There’s no debate about the captaincy and how a pair of proven 33-year-old forwards in Henrik and Daniel Sedin will adapt to additional ice time, the penalty kill and even shot-blocking.
“They’ve impressed me from Day 1 — just how they handle themselves,” Tortorella said Tuesday. “We don’t want to get in the way of their creativity and what’s been good for me as a new coach is that they want it. They want to be complete players, and were pissed off they weren’t killing penalties. And they want to grind and show people they can do that also.
“That’s what they’re about. They’re always looking to get better.”
ALFREDSSON LOOKS TO COMPLEMENT RED WINGS
Michigan Live notes Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss, the newest Detroit Red Wings, expect to complement a skilled team, not carry it.
Alfredsson called it an exciting chapter to the end of his career.
“I’ve been in Ottawa my whole career, and looking at my situation, wanted to try something new and exciting, get to a team that plays an exciting style,” Alfredsson said. “I think I play a two-way game. I expect myself to contribute offensively and be a player that’s dependable in all situations. If I had to rate myself I’d say I’m not good at anything and I’m not bad at anything. I can do it all, but I’m not the best in the world at anything.”
Alfredsson knows many of the Red Wings’ Swedes and feels he knows what this organization is all about.
“It’s got a great tradition,” Alfredsson said. “I know they pride themselves and expect to do well every year. Then you look at the players and the style they play and that’s what made the decision really easy.”
GIROUX LEARNS FROM FLYERS’ STRUGGLES
Even though the Flyers failed to make the playoffs, coach Peter Laviolette tells the Philadelphia Inquirer he was impressed with Claude Giroux’s leadership during the lockout-shortened season.
“I think Claude did a terrific job last year as captain of this team in a tough situation,” Laviolette said. “It’s not easy when you’re not finding the success you want, especially in a city like Philadelphia where there’s an expectation to be successful. So for a young captain, sometimes that can be a stressful situation. I think he did an amazing job – and I’m not just saying that – with the way he handled himself and the way he handled this team. That’s growing leadership.”
The coach also noted, “I can tell you as a coach, you don’t just learn from the good times. Sometimes you learn a lot more from the bad times, and that’s when you really dig in and you have to work and have to figure [things out]. I think the same can be said for a captain, as well.”
STARS’ LEADERSHIP ROOTED IN ALBERTA FARMING
The Dallas Morning News points out new Stars general manager Jim Nill, 55, grew up on a small farm in Hanna, Alberta (pop. 2,673). New coach Lindy Ruff, 53, was throwing bales of hay to raise cattle 200 miles away in Warburg, Alberta (pop. 789).
“I definitely think there’s a pace or a mind-set that you learn,” said Nill. “There’s a schedule and a rhythm and a preparation to farming that definitely helps you the rest of your life.”
Nill and Ruff know the schedule, know the ground has to be tended and the seeds planted and know that maintenance is a daily job. But they’re not going to get themselves into a tizzy.
“I think preparation is the key to anything, and like with farming, there is a schedule you can plan out,” said Ruff. “So, you do everything you can to get yourself ready, and then you trust that you’re doing the right thing and you forge ahead. It’s a day-to-day process, and it’s a long season.”
MACKINNON SURPRISED LIGHTNING RETURNED DROUIN TO JUNIOR
The Denver Post relays that Avalanche rookie Nathan MacKinnon, who, of course, was the No. 1 overall draft pick from the Halifax Mooseheads in June, was surprised to see former teammate Jonathan Drouin sent back to Halifax by the Tampa Bay Lightning, which selected him No. 3 overall.
“I thought he was ready, he’s a heckuva player,” MacKinnon told The Post after practice Tuesday. “Obviously they felt he needed another year. He’s definitely going to tear up junior. He’s won everything in junior. But he wants to make that next step. He has a lot of hockey ahead of him.”
POMINVILLE, WILD WORKING ON CONTRACT EXTENSION
The St. Paul Pioneer Press notes Wild winger Jason Pominville is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2013-14 season.
The Wild want to secure Pominville with a new contract because they need to get more out of him after giving up a first-round draft pick in 2013 and a second-round pick in 2014 to get him. Pominville said he wants an extension because he’s enjoyed his brief time in Minnesota and likes the direction the organization is headed.
And Pominville would like the contract extension finalized before Thursday’s season opener. But people with direct knowledge of the negotiations say the sides haven’t agreed on terms despite weeks of negotiating.
“Hopefully it gets done soon,” Pominville said.
THE ALWAYS-QUOTABLE DARRYL SUTTER
LA Kings Insider has post-practice quotes from head coach Darryl Sutter.
On Dustin Brown’s assertion that there hasn’t been much change over the last several seasons, and whether it makes his own job easier: “No, because our left wing was the lowest scoring left wing group in the National Hockey League last year. So other than trying to move Frattin from right wing to left wing, it’s certainly a big challenge for us because Jeff Carter was the leading goal scorer in the Western Conference, and at the same time, he played with guys in the point part of it, he was only able to get seven or eight assists because nobody on the other side could score. So that’s a huge thing. And then our third line was the lowest scoring third line in the National Hockey League. So is ‘change’ not good? There better be ‘change’ in terms of performance.”
[Reporter: So you do have some concerns going in.] “Absolutely…and quite honest, our regular season last year was better season than the team that won the Stanley Cup. So it means our young guys are getting better. Our nucleus is getting better, but when you do it in a point-per-game, we played 48 games last year. You multiply it by 1.71, we had 100.8 points, which was a 100-point season. We finished fifth, and we preferred to try and get home ice. Based on last year, as good a season as we had team-wise we didn’t get home ice out of the deal. We still had over a hundred points. So it means as individuals we can still be better.”
OKPOSO, BAILEY UP FOR FIRST LINE WING SPOT
Newsday believes Kyle Okposo will get the nod on opening night to play top-line right wing with Matt Moulson and John Tavares. Head coach Jack Capuano said he isn’t committed to either Okposo or Bailey as yet, but likes that there are options.
“Kyle’s more of a power forward-type guy, bangs and crashes. Josh is a guy who’s more of a playmaker, he played center for a long time,” Capuano said. “Both those guys played well. We’ll continue to take a look in practice. I don’t think we can go wrong with either of those guys there, if we have to make a change during a game or game-to-game basis.”
Pierre-Marc Bouchard started training camp in that top right wing spot, but there didn’t seem to be much chemistry.
PANTHERS’ KULIKOV’S SHOULDER IS 100 PERCENT
The Miami Herald indicates both Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson of the Florida Panthers were able to take part in the entire offseason conditioning program and full training camp because they were healthy.
“It’s been great. My shoulder is 100 percent. I’ve been able to give some hits and take some hits,” said Kulikov, who had offseason shoulder surgery. “Everything seems to be working properly. There hasn’t been any discomfort.”
He added: “I have a big responsibility this season. I spent the entire summer here, and I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve been in. Having a normal season with normal preparation is something that’s in the back of my mind. Last season, we didn’t know if we would have a season. It was a mess. This season is definitely a different story.”
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