Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
IGINLA SOAKS UP PENGUINS’ ATMOSPHERE
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review remarks how while showing his family the inside of Consol Energy Center for the first time on Thursday afternoon, Jarome Iginla walked his kids down a hallway lined by large photographs of Penguins players, ranging from captain Sidney Crosby to fourth-line center Joe Vitale.
“We were just looking at the pictures on the way, and I’m, like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re already up there,’ ” Iginla said, referring to the framed photograph of him in a black Penguins home jersey. “I thought that was a pretty neat touch, to already be a part of it.
“They got my kids jerseys with my number (12) and name on the back, and stuffed animals — and my kids were so pumped,” Iginla said. “They were wearing those jerseys around everywhere, and they had hats. Now we’re full Penguins fans.”
Penguins GM Ray Shero will make a push to keep Iginla — a player he has long admired — and though negotiations will not begin until after the Stanley Cup playoffs, an impression clearly has been made.
“Calgary was a good organization, and it’s a smaller city, and (the Flames) create that family feel,” Iginla said. “But you get that family feel here, too. And the facilities here are amazing. (Consol Energy Center) has been well thought out.
“Just look at the shooting room. That’s great. When you’re a player, you grow up shooting in your backyard or basement. Here, there is a room for us to just shoot. And the breakfast area is built so that guys can eat and hang out together. I could keep going on, but there are things that make it conducive to helping you get ready to play.
“I was here less than a week and I could tell why they have this winning tradition with the Penguins. It’s a winning atmosphere.”
SCHNEIDER DRAWS ON LUONGO’S EXPERIENCE
The Vancouver Province lays the foundation for Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider having the balance of a strong professional and personal life with his fiancée, Jill. That symmetry has provided another avenue to deal with his demanding position.
“The years come by pretty quickly and you’re 27 and your priorities change. You’re at a place where you’re just really content with your life both on and off the ice. Sometimes the balance is great to have and puts things in perspective.”
With the uncertainty and unrest of Roberto Luongo’s situation, if, anything, he could probably lean on Schneider for some level of support.
“He hasn’t changed one bit,” said Schneider. “Throughout this whole process, he’s almost been looking out for my interests more than his own. He’s still working hard and is a big part of this team. Guys have a lot of respect for him and you never know what can happen. You can have a guy like that step in at any time and be lights out. And that’s a big advantage. As we get closer to the playoffs, you can pick up on that wisdom and experience.”
OHLUND MULLS RETIREMENT
The Tampa Tribune believes the official end of Mattias Ohlund’s career is near.
After two knee operations in the past 18 months and hundreds of hours spent doing rehab and workouts, the 36-year-old said he is no closer to being able to get back on skates to resume his career.
The most logical step would be to hang up the skates and announce his retirement. Though he did say that was his next step, it is a subject that has come up many times in different conversations, including with himself.
“I’ve thought about (the next step) quite a bit, but it clearly involves more people than me,’’ Ohlund said today. “I’ve spoke to Steve (Yzerman) quite a bit about what the end result will be. For a long period of time I’ve been trying to get better and better, but clearly the longer you don’t play, the likelihood of playing again gets smaller and smaller each day, especially at my age. I don’t know long term what my situation will be, but I’m sure it will be figured out shortly.’’
REIMER READY FOR PRESSURE
The Toronto Star describes how James Reimer has become pivotal to the Leafs’ success this season. Monday’s game puts him in a special matchup with Rangers superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist, a taste of the nightly battles against experienced, top-notch goalies that will come in rapid succession for Reimer if the Leafs, as expected, advance to the playoffs.
Reimer, of course, is hardly in the same league as Lundqvist in terms of experience, but he has shown his counterpart’s ability to either steal a game or keep his team in it until they find a way to win.
Lundqvist has been delivering those performances his entire career; Reimer’s acquaintance with that level of play is in its infancy.
“Experience is experience, you can’t argue with that,” Reimer said. “But at the same time the youthful exuberance we bring to our games every night, you can’t disregard that either.
“The biggest difference between the regular season and the playoffs is pressure and how to handle it . . . but all of us have played in the playoffs somewhere, in the AHL or in junior. We’ve all faced that pressure and we’ve all handled it. And though it’s not been in Toronto, we’ve all done it so we’ll need to draw on that experience now.”
BYFUGLIEN’S MINUTES RATIONED
The Winnipeg Free Press observes the rationing of Dustin Byfuglien’s game minutes this week is not being passed off as some coincidence. He played a season-low 15 minutes, 55 seconds Thursday in a 4-1 loss in Montreal and played only 17:48 Saturday in the 4-1 win over Philadelphia. His season average is 24:22.
“Well, whatever,” Jets coach Claude Noel responded when asked about Byfuglien’s minutes. “It’s what we deemed he needed or we needed. We won the game.
“He didn’t need to play 30 to win or to lose. Charlie (Huddy, Jets assistant coach) is the one who managed the minutes with the defence.
“A lot of it’s dictated by a lot of different things. You’re trying to win the game, first of all. You do what you have to do. His play’s been so-so, so that’s how it goes.”
MASON SEEKS CONFIDENCE WITH FLYERS
The Philadelphia Inquirer believes when it comes to Steve Mason, it’s fair to wonder why a guy who couldn’t cut it in a small market like Columbus – where Ohio State’s football recruiting season draws more interest – will flourish in hockey-crazed Philly.
“He’s been beaten down a little bit there,” said goalie coach Jeff Reese, referring to Columbus. “I think the best way to go about it is to take one step back and two steps forward. We’re not going to put any expectations on him.”
Mason’s agent, Anton Thun, said “confidence is everything in this league, especially when you’re a goaltender. If that confidence is waning and you’re playing with a club like Columbus that historically has not had the depth of talent that a [team that spends up to the salary cap] has had . . . and if you’re letting in goals you’re not used to letting in, then your confidence wanes.”
Thun said Mason wants to sign soon – if he waited, he would become a restricted free agent after the season – and that “he didn’t come here to be a permanent backup.”
CAPITALS’ GREEN FINDS HIS GAME
The Washington Times recalls that eleven months after sports hernia surgery, Mike Green was finally pain free. He began the 2013 NHL season feeling the best he had since injuring his groin in November 2011.
Now back from another groin injury, Green isn’t worried about limitations, and the firepower that made him a star has seemingly returned.
“I think that’s just because I feel good,” he said. “I had a rough go the last few years and finally healthy. So [I] feel great.”
Green looked like his old self earlier this season, but having his laser shot back is a big difference. Vision is also one element of Green’s game that made him a transcendent offensive defenseman a few years ago, when he was putting up 60-plus points. He got Lasix surgery before the season but only lately has he had such a keen eye for the net.
“I see some of that, for sure,” Capitals coach Adam Oates said. “When you miss a lot of games, it affects your timing. Even when you come back, he’s been hurt a few years consecutively, so that affects your timing, your conditioning, your reads. That’s one of the tough parts of the job.”
SMITH EYES CONTRACT WITH COYOTES
The Arizona Republic details how the departure of three players at the NHL trade deadline has ignited the audition phase for these Coyotes next season.
Goaltender Mike Smith was one of the free impending unrestricted free agents retained past the deadline and even though he was on injured reserve at the time, it wasn’t clear that he’d stay put.
“I didn’t know what was going to transpire, but (I’m) obviously happy to be with this group,” Smith said.
The Coyotes have until July 5 to negotiate exclusively with Smith. After that, other teams will be allowed to court him. But Smith is hopeful he and the Coyotes are able to agree on a new deal.
“We’ll see what happens, but that’s out of my control right now,” he said.
ZAJAC PAIN-FREE FOR DEVILS
The Star-Ledger indicates center Travis Zajac, who missed so much time last season with Achilles tendon problems even after surgery, said he has been pain-free this season.
“I truly haven’t felt anything,” Zajac said. “I wasn’t sure if with this many games in a short period of time would affect it, but it hasn’t. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew I had a good offseason where I got a lot of time to strengthen it. Coming in it felt great and it still feels good now. So I think that is behind me.”
Zajac knew he could have recovered from the Achilles tendon tear and surgery sufficiently to play on it, but he might feel it at various points for the remainder of his career.
“I definitely thought about that. Coming into this year knowing I felt good from the start and the fact I still feel good, it’s now out of my head,” Zajac said.