Flames’ Feaster expects Kiprusoff decision soon

Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff salutes the crowd after a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.

FEASTER: KIPRUSOFF, FLAMES IN CONTACT

The Calgary Herald observes Miikka Kiprusoff remains an unknown commodity for the Flames. Is he retired or not?

“We’ve had conversations,” said GM Jay Feaster. “We’ll have a resolution before the start of (main) camp. But it’s not something we’re prepared to discuss in one way or another right now.”

Main camp is slated to begin Wednesday, September 11.

Feaster said as far as the rest of the roster, the team also plans to live with its chosen direction and will not be looking to add any unrestricted free agents.

“That’s what’s exciting,” said Feaster. “Youth is going to be served. I think we saw it at the end of last season when we called guys up. We’ve seen it before when we’ve had to (promote) guys — young and hungry players bring passion and enthusiasm and excitement. It’s infectious. Even grizzled veterans, when they see the young guys, it’s a shot of adrenalin.

“For the first time in a long time, there’s competition at this (main) camp. The audition for the young guys begins in Penticton. We’re anxious. We’re looking forward to it.”

CANADIENS EXPECT BIG SEASON FROM PRICE

Canadiens goaltender Carey Price tells The Montreal Gazette he had no setbacks rehabilitating a second-degree sprain of his left knee’s medial collateral ligament. He’s healthy and ready to go.

If there is concern about Price having a rebound season you weren’t hearing it from anyone in the Canadiens family on Tuesday’s golf course.

“He went through a tough patch and a lot of good goalies go through tough times,” general manager Marc Bergevin said. “It’s about maturing. Surrounding him with (new goaltending coach) Stéphane Waite … will help him a lot.”

Said Josh Gorges, who knows Price better than any player on the team: “Your goalies are a huge piece of the puzzle. We expect a lot from them and we expect (Price) to be at his best. He’s trained harder this summer that he ever has and he’s got himself into fantastic shape.

“He’s been through more ups and downs in his short time in Montreal that he knows how to handle these kind of situations. We know he’s going to be at his best all year.”

SCHNEIDER LINK MOTIVATES CANUCKS’ HORVAT

The Vancouver Sun illustrates that Canucks prospect Bo Horvat knows he will always be Bo Horvat, first-round pick obtained for Cory Schneider.

“Oh, definitely, I know it’s always going to be there,” said Horvat. “It’s always going to be mentioned here and there. You try to forget about it, but it’s always going to be in the back of your mind, of course. I’ve been asked about it quite a few times. It’s the way it is, the way of the hockey world.”

One day Horvat might be the Canucks’ No. 1 centre. He was drafted ninth overall in a very strong draft class. He was an elite prospect and was going to be a high pick no matter which team he joined. He just never figured, nor did anybody else, that he would go for Schneider.

“I look at it as a positive,” Horvat said. “They traded up to get me and that means they really wanted me, right? It means they really wanted me and that they have a lot of faith in me. Now I just have to prove to them that they made the right choice. It’s going to be motivating.”

UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR CAPITALS’ OVECHKIN

The Washington Post recaps how Dynamo Moscow’s general director, Andrey Safranov, recently made several comments about trying to bring Capitals star winger Alex Ovechkin home to Russia and the KHL.

With the start of training camp just over a week away, Capitals head coach Adam Oates wants to ensure this doesn’t become a distraction for the Capitals and is looking forward to seeing what else Ovechkin can achieve in the upcoming season.

“He had a great year, a fantastic second half and I think he feels really good – where he is right now, about his game and the unfinished business about continuing to take the organization farther down the line. Hopefully this doesn’t distract from that and we don’t make too much of it and it gets solved soon.”

LUCIC PLEASED IGINLA JOINED BRUINS

The Boston Herald describes how when Milan Lucic learned Jarome Iginla had signed on with the Bruins as a free agent this summer, he almost couldn’t believe it after the infamous trade implosion last February.

“First, I kind of laughed,” said Lucic. “But it’s great. He’s a great player. He hasn’t scored (530) goals by accident. I think a lot of people kind of doubted him and the way that he played at the end of the year. But he’s a guy with a lot of pride and a guy that competes hard. I feel he’s a guy who is going to step in here and he’s one of those fresh faces. It seems like he’s real excited about being a part of the Boston Bruins and that’s what you want to see for a future Hall of Famer.”

Not only is Lucic going to be on the same team as Iginla, it’s a good bet that, with Nathan Horton gone after signing a long-term contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he’ll be on the same line with Iginla and David Krejci.

“Horty was a righthanded shot and so was Iggy and if you were going to make a good guess, you’d say he’d fit in pretty well with us. Horty was a great shooter and (Iginla) is one of the best goalscorers in the last 15 years,” said Lucic. “You hope that it fits and you hope the chemistry is there from Day One. But I think if he is with us, we’re going to have to work to make sure it’s where we want it to be.”

CANES’ JORDAN STAAL LIGHTER, QUICKER

Jordan Staal tells The Raleigh News & Observer he dropped 10 pounds from his playing weight last season. The 6-foot-4 center trimmed his weight to 220 pounds and said he not only feels lighter, but quicker on the ice.

“I’m excited where I’m at right now,” he said. “I feel really good.”

An alternate captain for the Canes, Jordan will look to shoulder more leadership responsibility this season. He also realizes he once again should be the Canes’ most effective checking center.

“I understand that, and that’s a big reason why I am where I am today – playing that role and doing those things well,” he said. “That’s how good teams win, too.

“I need to find a way to have that happy balance between playing a solid defensive game and shutting those top guys down, and at the same time chipping in (offensively) when I can. My game slipped in that area last year. Toward the end I starting feeling more comfortable. Hopefully, I’ll have a big start this year.”

LAMORIELLO CONFIDENT IN DEVILS, NEW OWNERSHIP

The Star-Ledger points out the New Jersey Devils are viewed as underdogs headed into this season.

“I don’t ever look at anything as far as what people think or don’t think. I like our hockey team,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “We’ve always built our team from the goaltender out. I like our goaltending situation. Our defense is mature, stable and yet has some outstanding young players that could push for jobs.

“Our forward lines are going to be back to where we were several years ago. It’s going to be a solid lineup. I’ve seen the words ‘interchangeable parts.’ I love those words.”

He finally feels he has the financial support needed from the club’s new owners to once again assemble a contender no matter what it may take along the way.

“I’m excited about the aggressiveness as far as, ‘What is it we can do to help and support what you are doing?’ ” Lamoriello said about new owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer. “They want to support and encourage and not discourage because it might be something that costs. They are very progressive. There is no cutting back.”

SAMUELSSON FINALLY HEALTHY FOR RED WINGS

The Detroit News recounts how Mikael Samuelsson missed 44 of 48 regular-season games for the Red Wings last season because of various injuries.

“You realize how much fun the game is when you’re away from the game,” Samuelsson said. “I haven’t played (hockey in a while). I needed a good summer. I had a good summer. I’m healthy.

“It’s a good feeling to wake up and feel like I do. When you’re feeling good and strong it feels exciting.”

Samuelsson understands he’s in a fight for a job he intends to win and keep.

“If you play good, you play, and if you don’t play good, you don’t play,” Samuelsson said. “It’s that simple and that’s the way it should be. Nothing has changed in my approach. I know what it takes to be a good player and hopefully I can be one.”

WHAT THEY’RE TWEETING ABOUT

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.