Hockey Hearsay shines a light on stories of interest from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, year-round. <\/i><\/p>\n
NHL Line Combo Central<\/a> | Nichols on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n EBERLE DEALING WITH TRADE RUMOURS<\/b><\/p>\n The Edmonton Sun<\/a> explains how Jordan Eberle hears the trade rumours involving him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s part of the game,\u201d Eberle said, explaining how TV and Twitter spread the message. \u201cIt\u2019s such a social-media world now, that some guy in his basement starts a rumour and everyone is talking about it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to deal with that stuff. I\u2019d love to be an Edmonton Oiler forever and try to turn this thing around. But all I can focus on is trying to focus on my next game and our next win.\u201d<\/p>\n Craig MacTavish said earlier this season he wouldn\u2019t deal Eberle and owner Daryl Katz\u2019s letter to the fans a few days ago indicated the Oilers wouldn\u2019t move core pieces for a short-term fix.<\/p>\n \u201cDaryl coming out and saying that obviously gives you a little bit of reassurance,\u201d Eberle said. \u201cBut we have to grab the reins of this thing and try to turn it around.\u201d<\/p>\n FLAMES\u2019 HARTLEY: MONAHAN WILL BE FRANCHISE PLAYER<\/b><\/p>\n Flames head coach Bob Hartley, via The Calgary Sun<\/a>, \u00a0summing up the rise of rookie centre Sean Monahan.<\/p>\n “Mony is going to be a franchise player for us,” Hartley said. “That’s what I see in him, his demeanour. He’s not flashy, but he’s effective. There’s no smoke, there’s substance.”<\/p>\n More Hartley: “He’s already a true pro with the way that he prepares, the way that he knows the game, plus the way he wants to learn the NHL game. It’s a big learning process but, at the same time, I think he has done tremendously well for us.”<\/p>\n Monahan: “That’s pretty cool to hear, obviously. But I look at it as a team, and I’m just going to work hard and try to do whatever I can to help this team succeed and win hockey games.”<\/p>\n VANEK OPEN TO POST-TRADE, JULY 1 SIGNING WITH ISLES<\/b><\/p>\n Candid quotes from Islanders winger Thomas Vanek to Newsday<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n On the Islanders potentially trading him before the deadline: “I know Garth gave up a lot to get me here, so if they feel they need to get something back (by the deadline), I understand,” Vanek told Newsday. \u201cHe’s been great, the team has been great. No one has put any pressure on me.<\/p>\n “I know that we’re getting close and that they want to know what I’m going to do. It’s a big decision that obviously isn’t just about me, it’s a big decision for my family, where we’re going to be.”<\/p>\n Vanek says the Islanders “would definitely be on my list” July 1.<\/p>\n “Even if they traded me, sure,” Vanek said. “I like it here, it’s a good group of guys. This would be a place I’d consider if it gets to July 1.”<\/p>\n BLUES SUPPORT TEAMMATE SCHWARTZ<\/b><\/p>\n Touching story told in The New York Times<\/a> about how on their day off Friday in New York, the St. Louis Blues will be New Haven to support teammate Jaden Schwartz and his family. Sister Mandi Schwartz played hockey at Yale before she died in 2011 of acute myeloid leukemia at age 23.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in New York and a lot of guys have things to do, but we\u2019re glad that everyone\u2019s making it out,\u201d Schwartz, 21, said. \u201cMy family \u2014 it means more to us than anyone will probably realize.<\/p>\n JAGR DOESN\u2019T LIKE DEVILS\u2019 LINE SHUFFLING<\/b><\/p>\n The Star-Ledger<\/a> asserts New Jersey Devils winger Jaromir Jagr has built his Hall-of-Fame career on chemistry, and on having a sixth sense about where his linemates are at all times.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not a fan of his top line continually being under construction.<\/p>\n “It keeps changing,” Jagr, who will play with Travis Zajac and rookie call-up Joe Whitney on Friday, said. “You get new guys coming in and out. I don\u2019t really like it, but that\u2019s the way it is.<\/p>\n “This game is too quick to play with guys you don\u2019t know about. Sometimes you have to do things when you don\u2019t even see them. You have to have a sense that he should be there. The game is so quick. We\u2019ll see what happens.”<\/p>\n Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello: “We\u2019ve got to try to find a left wing for Travis and Jaromir. We\u2019re going to give Joe a chance. He competes every second. He has good hockey sense.<\/p>\n “And he knows how to handle his size as far as his positioning. He\u2019s been extremely consistent. The things that we thought he had to improve on last year, he has. He deserves that opportunity to see what he can do.”<\/p>\n ALFREDSSON LOVES PLAYING IN MONTREAL<\/b><\/p>\n The Detroit Free Press<\/a> notes the Red Wings will play host to the Montreal Canadiens Friday, where they\u2019ll expect to get Daniel Alfredsson back in the lineup.<\/p>\n Alfredsson had 17 seasons\u2019 worth of seeing the Habs regularly while with Ottawa. He noted that Montreal “is a historic franchise going back a lot of years. In Montreal, hockey is the sport. It’s probably the favorite building to go to play a road game because of the atmosphere.”<\/p>\n Alfredsson called his old foe disciplined and structured.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you turn the puck over too much, especially in the neutral zone, they’re quick to counterattack,\u201d he said. \u201cThey’re a team that seems to give themselves a chance every night.”<\/p>\n WOULD BABCOCK COACH COLLEGE AFTER NHL CAREER?<\/b><\/p>\n Via The Detroit News<\/a>, Michigan coach Red Berenson was asked last weekend if he thought Red Wings coach Mike Babcock could one day be a head coach of a college team.<\/p>\n \u201cHe always mentions that at some point when we talk,\u201d Berenson said. \u201cWhen he’s done, he could see himself doing that. He’s a student of the game and understands academics and sports and life after hockey.”<\/p>\n STARS\u2019 TATTOOS EXPLAINED<\/b><\/p>\n