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SPEZZA APPLAUDS MCGRATTAN’S PEACEMAKER ROLE
The Ottawa Sun notes Senators centre Jason Spezza, like many people, saw the hostilities unfold on TV Saturday night between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. He also noticed old buddy Brian McGrattan playing the role of peacemaker outside the Flames’ dressing room in the first intermission as John Tortorella approached, including holding back Flames goaltender coach Clint Malarchuk from going after Tortorella.
Spezza texted McGrattan to congratulate him on his restraint.
“That was my first text this morning,” said Spezza on Sunday, describing the text he sent to McGrattan. ” ‘It probably took a lot for you not to take a swing at (Tortorella).’
“He was grabbing and pulling guys back. I was pretty impressed. That’s the new, mature Brian McGrattan I guess. Six or seven years ago he probably would have had Torts’ suit jacket ripped off and him on the ground. I had good chuckle with him today about it. Of all the guys to be there.”
BURKE ON FLAMES’ GM SEARCH, TRADES
The Calgary Sun passes along several items of interest from Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke.
Alluding to the possibility a GM won’t be found until the summer: “There’s no hurry,” Burke said.“We’re not ever going to discuss the GM search. We do care what the fans think.
“It can’t drive what we do, but we’re cognizant they want to know what’s going on. It doesn’t serve us any purpose to conduct this search publicly.
“If we do have to wait, it means some of the guys on the list won’t be available until after the season or the draft — that’s not a bad thing because it means we’re waiting for the right person.”
On whether or not he’s had offers for the Flames’ 2014 first rounder, potentially a lottery pick: “No — it’s not in play. We’ve had no inquiries — people wait to see the draft sequence.”
On whether the best time to make a trade would be pre or post-Olympic trade freeze: “The best time is when the value presents itself,” Burke said.
“My guess is there will be a lot of compression between the Olympics and March 5. It’s going to bunch up, and it will be a frantic time for all the teams. If you’re shedding and moving UFAs, you’re probably better off waiting, because it always compresses in that last week. My prediction, if we are moving UFAs, is that that time will be very stressful.”
An Ottawa Sun report indicates Burke has been getting phone calls from contenders who are willing to ante up to get Michael Cammalleri, with sources saying the Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings all have an interest in him.
JETS HOLD PRACTICE FOR SEASON TICKET WAIT-LIST FANS
The Winnipeg Free Press reports the Jets held an invite-only workout Sunday at the MTS Centre for their season-ticket waiting-list customers.
“It actually timed out pretty well,” said Jets coach Paul Maurice, who had the players in a three-on-three game with a tennis ball after some work. “When you win three games, almost everything times out better.
“But when we didn’t have the day off last week and we needed to skate, you also need to build a recovery day in there somehow.
“So the timing of it with the fans… I think they had more fun because they get to see the personalities a little bit instead of a bunch of drills with the coach barking and even in that, I don’t get to coach the way I need to in that environment.
“I thought it worked out really well. The guys had fun, the coaches got to see some personalities and this is new for me, too, to see how they interact with each other.”
BOZAK’S CLASSIC STICK TO BE ENSHRINED?
Tyler Bozak provided some insight to The Toronto Sun on where the puck and stick keepsakes are from his shootout game-winner at the Winter Classic.
“I have the puck. Well, I think (league officials) have it, I haven’t got it yet,” said Bozak. “Actually, the cool thing, the Hall of Fame asked for my stick, so I think it’s going in there.”
He added: “I kept my first-goal stick and they give you the puck for your first goal and all that stuff. Some stuff from college, but not everyday things. But big milestones. Maybe if some more milestones come in the future, I’ll keep some stuff, but I’m not really too huge on it. (The Winter Classic items) aren’t under my bed or anything.”
RED WINGS STUDYING INJURY ISSUE
The Windsor Star reflects on the fact that the Red Wings have now lost more than 200 man games to injury for the fifth consecutive season.
“In terms of fractured ribs, concussions and separated shoulders, that’s just part of the game,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “We all expect groin injuries and hip flexors in September, at the start of training camp.
“Internally, we’re talking about why we’re having groin injuries in December and January. I’m not sure what we can do about it this year but it’s something we’ll look at in the summer time.”
Coach Mike Babcock offered this: “We’ve been through all that, right through our medical room to our strength and training, to how we condition our guys, the whole thing. The interesting thing is when we were old we never got hurt and now that we’re young we get hurt all the time. So why is that?
“Lots of things don’t add up in the short term. In the long term, you try to be scientific and solution based. That’s how I try to coach and that’s how we try to run our team.
“In the short term, you can say we’re over-training our guys, spending too much time in the weight room, we don’t have it going in the medical room, but I don’t buy any of that crap.”
SUBTLE SHIFT FOR PENGUINS’ FLEURY
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review believes there is something different about Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury this season, and it’s subtle enough to be missed on most days.
“He seems extremely comfortable,” said defenseman Brooks Orpik.
Goaltending coach Mike Bales said he is trying to make use of Fleury’s athleticism.
“He doesn’t want to change everything about me,” Fleury said. “He lets me be me, but there’s some little things that make a difference.”
Seeing a sports psychologist over the summer has helped him “channel things,” Fleury said. Sessions were “few” and stopped before training camp, but Fleury said they remain “in touch.” The takeaway seems simple enough, but it has proven a difficult transition for Fleury, who said he still sometimes “wants to please everybody.”
“I’ve got to find ways, when people say I had a bad game, to not worry about it,” he said. “That’s it, really. I’ve got to say, ‘Forget it. Onto the next one.’ ”
VARLAMOV CONTINUES TO EXCEL FOR AVS
The Denver Post points out Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov has not lost a start in 13 appearances since the third-degree assault charge against him was dropped.
Coach Patrick Roy bristled a bit recently when asked if Varlamov had picked up his play.
“No, it’s been like that all year,” Roy said. “He’s been great all year. He has really worked hard and been receptive to what (goalies coach Francois Allaire) has tried to teach him. Right from the start, in meeting last summer with Francois and into the training camp, he has had a great attitude. It’s fun to see him be rewarded for it.”
Varlamov, on staying level-headed: “I have to look at it like I have not accomplished anything yet, to keep wanting more and to work harder for it. I try not to think about anything other than the next game, the next day in front of me. That has worked well for me this year.”
FREE AGENCY NOT ON MESZAROS’ RADAR YET
The Courier-Post notes Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros has nine points in his past six starts. In his eyes, there’s no correlation between when his hot streak began and when he was nominated to his third Olympics.
“It’s a coincidence,” said a grinning Meszaros. “Maybe it doesn’t seem like it, but in my mind it is. I’m really happy I got picked, obviously. Olympics for every athlete is something big. I’m really happy I can be there.”
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“That’s a long way to go,” Messaros said. “I’m not really focusing for that yet. I want to be here. I want to play right now. I want to be here. I want to go all the way. That’s the ultimate goal right now. After this season, I’m going to worry about what’s gonna be next.”
KONTOS SHARES GOAL RECORD WITH ST. LOUIS
The Tampa Bay Times indicates former NHLer Chris Kontos, 50, lives in Penetanguishene, Ontario these days. He was snowmobiling Saturday when he found out Martin St. Louis tied his Tampa Bay Lightning record of four goals in a game.
“It’s been great,” Kontos said of having the record to himself. “But records are made to be broken, and I’m glad to see Marty was on his way. I was hoping he would break it.”
Kontos set the mark Oct. 7, 1992, in the Lightning’s first-ever game, a 7-3 victory over the Blackhawks at Expo Hall. It took 1,620 games to match him.
“Everything has to go right,” he said of scoring four goals. “You get five, six shots. It’s like a poker game when they deal you aces.”
HENRIQUE SCORING DEVILS’ CLUTCH GOALS
The Star-Ledger observes Devils forward Adam Henrique has that rare knack for scoring big goals.
“You always want to score as many goals as possible, but I think I’ve been more of the guy that’s been there at the right time to score the big goals,” Henrique told The Star-Ledger. “I try to always be one of those guys who steps up in those tough situations. A guy can have an awful year and score a few big goals in the playoffs and everybody forgets. All you remember are the big goal in the playoffs.
Coach Pete DeBoer believes Henrique’s best attribute is his ability to score big goals the way previous players such as Claude Lemieux did.
“I do. I don’t think that’s an accident,” DeBoer said. “Those guys have a knack for those type of things and if you look at Adam, he’s done it throughout his career. His best moments have come in the playoffs. Not just in the NHL, but in junior too in the Memorial Cup in the playoffs. He has an ability to raise his level of play. Not everybody has that.”
SHEAHAN IMPRESSING WINGS’ BABCOCK
The Detroit Free Press asserts Red Wings forward Riley Sheahan is showing he’s quite an asset since being called up from Grand Rapids.
“He’s a big kid, and he seems to know how to play,” coach Mike Babcock said. “Has better hands than I would have anticipated. The first time we called him up, he was no good — just like lots of kids you bring up, they look like they’ve got no hockey sense because they’re so nervous they don’t do anything. He’s obviously got good hockey sense.”