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CLEARY: RED WINGS HAVE ‘A LOT MORE TO OFFER’ HBO’S 24/7
The Detroit Free Press caught up with Red Wings winger Daniel Cleary for his reaction to the first episode of HBO’s “24/7: Road to the Winter Classic,” which can be seen in Canada here on Sportsnet.
“I thought it was pretty neat,” Cleary said. “Pretty cool. It’s weird seeing yourself sometimes on camera. But they do a great job, HBO.”
Asked if the first episode showed a pretty good representation of the Wings, Cleary said: “I don’t know. We have a lot more to offer, I think.”
Cleary said the players are starting to get to know the TV crew more.
“A lot more personality in this room,” Cleary said. “I think it’ll come out as we get going here.”
TRADES NOT ON OILERS’ HEMSKY’S MIND
The Edmonton Journal reminds readers the trade deadline is March 5.
“You know, I always used to pay attention at the deadline,” Oilers winger Ales Hemsky said Monday. “You check Twitter, you listen to what you guys (media) are tweeting. It can get you in your head.
“There have been rumours for so long, but I have to say this is the first year I’m not really thinking about it,” said Hemsky, whose two-year, $10 million contract ends July 1 when he’ll be an unrestricted free-agent — for the second time as an Oiler.
OATES CHALLENGES OVECHKIN TO IMPROVE DEFENSE
CSNWashington.com believes that when Capitals coach Adam Oates says star sniper Alex Ovechkin has “room to grow” it’s pretty clear what he means.
“He doesn’t kill penalties,” Oates said. “If he improves [defensively] he might kill penalties.
“Faceoffs. He doesn’t take faceoffs. Those are two situations he never does at all.”
Does it matter?
Oates continued.
“Look around the league. [Flyers captain] Claude Giroux kills penalties. I’m not saying [Ovechkin] is going to, but why can’t he? Why can’t you evolve your game to the point where you can play D? You should be able to. You should know how to defend plays.”
Ovechkin agrees he can do better.
“I try to do my best. Of course, I’m not thinking 100 percent offense. Sometimes I have to play more careful on defense, especially when we get the lead.
“When five minutes left you can’t make a mistake out there, so you have to make good decisions. You have to read the game.”
PANTHERS PLAN SUMMER FREE AGENCY SPLASH
New Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola recently reiterated to The Sun-Sentinel his spend-to-win vow and that it will be evident in his first full offseason next year.
“We intend on being in the free-agent market in a significant way” Viola said. “We’re here to build a winner. … We want to patiently win now. I don’t know if we can resolve the two logically, but that’s how I would say it.”
Viola’s purchase of the Panthers was finalized less than a week before the season started. Within 48 hours he authorized $6 million to add Tim Thomas, Brad Boyes, Jesse Winchester, Tom Gilbert and Kry Barch.
Next summer, if there is a premier free agent available that GM Dale Tallon covets, “We won’t hesitate, not at all,” Viola said.
“Dale Tallon will teach me the hockey side of this challenge, and he will execute it as its principal leader. The more I learn the better I will be able to support his commandership of the execution of that. But it’s been very exciting so far, and we are committed to winning now — patiently.”
CROSBY, PRONGER REACH OUT TO CONCUSSED CLOWE
NJ.com relays that Sidney Crosby recently reached out to Ryane Clowe through Sharks equipment manager Mike Aldrich.
“Sid said to ‘Tell Clowey to give me a call, I’ve love to talk to him about it,'” Clowe said. “I know Sid a little bit. I haven’t (called) yet just because I just started to come back and I feel good, but I might anyway just to talk to him.”
Chris Pronger has also made himself available to Clowe.
“I got Pronger’s number off (former Flyers forward) Jody Shelley, who is a good buddy of mine, and Prongs said to call anytime,” Clowe said. “Guys are great like that. This was all within the last week. I just started to practice, feel good, skate, so I was like, ‘If I hit a low again, I might call.’ I might anyway because I’ve had a few of these.”
Clowe, who practiced Monday, hopes to return to action before Christmas.
SNIDER: FLYERS TO TAKE ‘LONG, HARD LOOK’
Flyers chairman Ed Snider, via Philly.com, speaking about his team: “I think we have to take a long, hard look at where we are and where we’re going,” Snider said. “We always do that. We’re going to continue to do that. Whatever we can do to get the team over the hump, we’re going to do.
“Obviously, we’re not happy with giving up third period leads. This is something I think we can correct, something we’re going to work to do – however we have to do it.”
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