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 COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN FOR CAMMALLERI, BURKE<\/b><\/p>\n The Calgary Sun<\/a> relays how Michael Cammalleri, cleared to play from his latest concussion, will return to the Flames lineup Thursday night against the visiting San Jose Sharks.<\/p>\n Cammalleri is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, leading to speculation Brian Burke may deal the forward before the March 5 trade deadline.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Cammalleri said. \u201cBrian has been really good with me. We\u2019ve had a lot of communication, as far as talking about some different things. I\u2019m not able to speculate on what may or may not happen yet, but as far as that goes, I think I just try and play the game the way I\u2019ve always tried to play it, and that\u2019s the best I can every day.\u201d<\/p>\n On concussions: \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that concussions are a separate entity when it comes to injuries, and it\u2019s just scary because it\u2019s your brain and you want to make sure you feel really good when you come back. It\u2019s something to take seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a couple earlier in my career and one a few years ago, so I\u2019ve been through this before.\u201d<\/p>\n BERNIER SEIZES CHANCE WITH LEAFS<\/b><\/p>\n The Toronto Sun<\/a> outlines how Jonathan Bernier has further cemented his spot as the unchallenged starter for the Leafs.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew the type of coach Randy was and I knew I really had to battle to earn it, which is the good way. You don\u2019t want anything free in life,\u201d Bernier said. \u201cI didn\u2019t really focus on how many games I was playing, I just focused on getting better every day and every game and it just worked out that I started playing good and he kept me in \u2026 I\u2019m having a lot of fun, it puts a big smile (on my face).\u201d<\/p>\n On heading from Los Angeles to Toronto in last June\u2019s deal: \u201cWhen I got traded I knew it was my chance to prove what I can do in this league and my main focus was always to be the No. 1 guy.<\/p>\n \u201cI still have a lot to learn, but I think I\u2019m moving toward that. Consistency is always going to be your biggest challenge as a goalie.\u201d<\/p>\n SENATORS\u2019 RYAN IN ANNUAL \u2018LULL\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n The Ottawa Citizen<\/a> notes Senators winger Bobby Ryan has one goal in his past 12 outings.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pucks just aren\u2019t finding me in certain areas,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve always had a lull every year and it\u2019s always been around this time. I\u2019m just a little far away from the puck. I\u2019ve got to be a little more reactive towards the puck a little bit.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re pressing like that and the stick feels like it weighs 30 pounds, you start to cheat a little bit and you start to make plays that wouldn\u2019t normally try to make or force the issue,\u201d he added. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to sit back and be a little more relaxed in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n HABS\u2019 GALLAGHER, BRUINS\u2019 LUCIC TRAIN TOGETHER<\/b><\/p>\n The New York Times<\/a> examines the friendship between Montreal Canadiens sophomore Brendan Gallagher and Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic.<\/p>\n Brendan\u2019s dad, Ian, \u00a0is the strength and conditioning coach for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. Ian began training Lucic after the \u201904-5 season, which is where Lucic met a 13-year-old Brendan.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was just a little guy, and like most people, when you see a little guy like that, to be perfectly honest, you don\u2019t think he would amount to what he has,\u201d said Lucic. \u201cI never expected him to, well, first off, for me to be a Bruin and for him to be a Hab. Now I have Ian wearing Montreal Canadiens stuff to workouts, and I have to deal with that, but at the end of the day it\u2019s great to see him having success regardless of the rivalry.\u201d<\/p>\n Brendan, on training with Lucic as a fellow NHLer in the off-season: \u201cThe coolest part of the summers was just talking to him about their season compared to our season, the little challenges that they faced and things that they know about other players in the league. The more knowledge you have, the better off you are.\u201d<\/p>\n BRODEUR REMAINS OPEN TO TRADE<\/b><\/p>\n More thoughts from Martin Brodeur, following up on yesterday\u2019s Hockey Hearsay<\/a>, concerning his future.<\/p>\n These, via Fire & Ice<\/a>, continue to suggest Brodeur remains open to leaving the New Jersey Devils by the trade deadline.<\/p>\n Again, to be clear, Brodeur is \u201cnot at all\u201d looking for the Devils to trade him. He also holds a no-trade clause.<\/p>\n But?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m open to anything,\u201d Brodeur said. \u201cI just want to play. So, like I said in Toronto, if there\u2019s a better situation for me, I\u2019ll take it. If it\u2019s here or somewhere else, it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n On if he\u2019d ask for a trade himself: \u201cI don\u2019t think so unless in the next three weeks it goes worse than (it is). We\u2019ll see. But I don\u2019t think I will ask.\u201d<\/p>\n Brodeur also tells Fire & ice he and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello haven\u2019t discussed the future yet.<\/p>\n PANTHERS COACH PREACHES PATIENCE FOR KADRI, HUBERDEAU<\/b><\/p>\n The Toronto Star<\/a> examines the sophomore slump being endured by young Florida Panthers star Jonathan Huberdeau. With the Panthers facing the Leafs Thursday, Florida coach Peter Horachek brought Leafs forward Nazem Kadri into the discussion, noting critics forget that it\u2019s not easy to score in the NHL.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople expect that guys like Kadri, guys like Huberdeau who have the notoriety coming right into the league are going to instantly be great, stay great and never have off times.\u201d<\/p>\n Players with star potential often now get \u201cpushed into the limelight right off the bat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at some of the best players and they start lower in lines,\u201d Horachek said. \u201cYou look at Getzlaf and Perry, they were on the fourth line for a whole year. They just slowly moved up. They didn\u2019t all of a sudden become that guy.\u201d<\/p>\n DALLAS OUTDOOR GAME \u2018YEARS AWAY\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n The Dallas Morning News<\/a> wonders: When might the area get an outdoor game?<\/p>\n \u201cWe are in the very early stages of talks and planning, and we expect to make some headway during the Olympic break, but it\u2019s still a few years away,\u201d Stars president and CEO Jim Lites said. \u201cJust guessing, I would say 2015-16 at the earliest, and more realistically 2016-17.\u201d<\/p>\n Lites, on how the rebuilding project is just getting started: \u201cLook, we think we\u2019ve made a lot of inroads with fans, with advertisers and with the grassroots hockey effort at the youth level, but it takes time. So, honestly, now is not the time for us to try to attract a game like that.\u201d<\/p>\n On a potential venue: \u201cI think you can talk about the Cotton Bowl or the ballpark [Rangers Ballpark in Arlington], but in the end it makes the most sense to look at Cowboys Stadium. You have the safeguard against rain, plus I think an event of this magnitude needs that building. It can be a huge part of the draw in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n CARLSON\u2019S JOURNEY TO U.S. OLYMPIAN<\/b><\/p>\n The Washington Post<\/a> profiles Capitals defenseman John Carlson, reflecting on his early hockey days through to being named an Olympian for Team USA in Sochi.<\/p>\n Dick Carlson, John\u2019s dad, recalled John\u2019s decision to opt out of an scholarship offer with to the University of Massachusetts and instead play in the Ontario Hockey League.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t realize it at the time, but he was absorbing everything at every level, and it kind of fed into all these decisions he made,\u201d Dick Carlson said. \u201cHe probably doesn\u2019t realize that, but everything in his mind was calculated and mature \u2013 kind of beyond his own maturity level. I sit back and think about it: He had kind of a game plan in his mind, and he was just going a step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n GOALS LACKING FOR DUCHENE LATELY<\/b><\/p>\n