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JACKETS’ JOHNSON: THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN ME
Blunt comments from Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, via The Columbus Dispatch, on not being included on last week’s Team USA roster for Sochi.
“I read the article that said three coaches unanimously left me off,” Johnson said, referring to a report by ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside. “It’s over now. … Anything that’s said now is empty and meaningless. When I needed the belief and trust, I didn’t get it, and I didn’t get it when it counted from numerous people.”
“The team’s picked. I sat there and watched it on TV along with everybody else. That’s how I heard. From TV.”
Johnson, on a potential injury fill-in role: “I’m not going to sit here and bank on injuries. Quite frankly, I’m able now to solidify plans for February, and it’ll be nice to not have to worry about anybody watching you play, just go out and play your season. It’s something I’m just putting out of my mind. It’s over to me.”
YZERMAN CONCERNED OVER ST. LOUIS OMISSION FALLOUT
More from Lightning GM and Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman, via The Tampa Bay Times, on the decision to leave Martin St. Louis off the Olympic roster.
Yzerman: “I’m very concerned. I didn’t take this lightly. Believe me. This was not easy.”
He expanded.
“I put together a committee to help me select this team and, together with the coaches, we came up with our roster,” Yzerman said. “If I’m not going to listen to the others then why have them?
“But I’m not going to pass the buck. If you want to put this on me, that’s fine. I can’t let my duties as general manager of the Lightning conflict with my role with the Canadian Olympic team. I suppose that if I insisted on a certain player then I could have had that player. But that’s not the way to do things.
“I will tell you this: I’m confident that we put together the best team we possibly could to compete in this tournament.”
CARTER NOT WORRIED ABOUT TEAM CANADA SECOND-GUESSERS
Jeff Carter, via LA Kings Insider, on being criticized by Canadians for making the team over others: “There’s a lot of coaches out there, a lot of GMs. I think I can bring a lot to the team, obviously with speed and size. I feel like I can put the puck in the net if given the opportunity. I’m just excited to be on it.”
BERGEVIN: GALCHENYUK’S REPLACEMENT TO COME FROM WITHIN
Several interesting tidbits via The Montreal Gazette from Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin before Wednesday’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers.
On how to replace the injured Alex Galchenyuk: “We always look within first. You can’t get a player like Alex, unless you want to give up the house, the farm, to replace him. You look at Tampa Bay when they lost (Steven) Stamkos. He’s not Stamkos yet, but it’s like Shane Doan, who was out for a while in Phoenix. You just don’t replace these players, you have to give other guys more ice and hope they come through for you.”
On P.K. Subban: “I came here two years ago and he was a healthy scratch. Our coaching staff did a great job with him. I’m proud he’ll be able to represent his team at the Olympics.”
On looking for size early on in the past few drafts: “We have to identify these guys early and get them in the draft. These guys aren’t available even as free agents.”
MODANO RECALLS WORLD CUP LESSONS
The Dallas Morning News outlines the boost in player development which can be provided by participating in international competition such as the Olympics.
Stars head coach Lindy Ruff, an assistant coach for Team Canada: “You’re going to be around the best personnel in the world. You get to watch how they prepare, how they practice, how they play.
“Players can look at it as a learning experience, that this tournament can make me better if I take something back from it and share that with my teammates. Beyond being able to represent your country, it’s an excellent chance to become a better player.”
Former Stars great Mike Modano recalls winning the World Cup of hockey in 1996 with Team USA.
“Just being able to go there and see the great players on Team USA, it opened your eyes,” Modano said of winning the gold medal at age 26. “You realized how much harder you had to push, and how much harder other players, really good players, were working.”
CAPITALS’ ERAT SAD ABOUT OLYMPIC ROSTER DISMISSAL
CSNWashington.com relays that Capitals forward Martin Erat, a two-time Olympian, wanted one last chance to play for the Czech Olympic team. He was not named to the roster this week, despite being told by the Czech coach in the summer he had a spot on the team.
“I was on the team,” Erat said. “It’s hard to play 7 minutes and play at the level you think you are. It’s sad for me because it’s hard to forget about this stuff, especially when you’ve got a spot and then it’s taken away.”
Erat, 32, who has asked repeatedly to be traded, fears he will not have another chance in 2018.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be in four years,” he said. “That’s why the Olympics are so big now. You don’t know if the NHL will let players go again. You never know. That’s why it’s very sad for me to see myself out of the team.”
CANUCKS SAW SOMETHING IN SESTITO
The Vancouver Sun describes how the Canucks saw some of this potential in Tom Sestito – considered one of the team’s most improved players this season – to grab him off waivers from the Flyers last season and then re-sign him to a two-year deal.
“We coveted the elements that he brought when we made the waiver claim,” said assistant GM Laurence Gilman. “We saw he had the tools to be a more complete hockey player but we felt his conditioning could have been better. We sent him off with a very comprehensive plan, which he worked at over the summer, and he’s continued to improve his conditioning throughout this season. I think that’s what has translated with his increased output in the last month.”
DEVILS ALWAYS OPEN TO TRADES
Via Fire & Ice, New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello on if he’s involved in any active trade talks: “There’s not something you would never not do if you can make your team better,” he said. “So, it’s not a case of we’re not doing anything or it’s a case of somebody’s going to come down and give you a spark. If you’ve got somebody you can drive in here, let me know because I’ll be the passenger as well as the driver.”
Still believe the Devils are a playoff team?
“Yes, I do,” Lamoriello said Wednesday. “We’re missing a couple of pretty good players, but we have to go through this. We have to play through it. I don’t think there’s anybody in that locker room or the coaching staff or myself who think any different. But we just have to go on and not be distracted and do all the things that are necessary to win and go from there.”
THEY TWEETED IT
https://twitter.com/Logancouture/status/420990300472225793