Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
LIGHTNING’S BISHOP PAYS HIS DUES
The Tampa Tribune elaborates on how Ben Bishop has been squeezed out of two NHL organizations while looking to land in a spot where he could compete for a regular starting role.
The 26-year-old goaltender will get that chance in a Lightning uniform after he signed a two-year contract extension on Monday worth $4.6 million. He and Anders Lindback will battle for playing time heading into next season.
“It’s exciting, it’s something you work your whole life for to get the chance,’’ said Bishop. “This year with Craig (Anderson) getting hurt I had the opportunity to play a lot of games, and I tried to make the most of it.’’
But after getting to this point in his journey to try to become a No. 1 goaltender, Bishop knows he has to push himself even harder to attain that status and maintain it.
“It’s just a piece of paper right now, you have to work hard,” Bishop said. “It doesn’t guarantee anything, it’s a piece of paper with a number on it. You have to go out and play hard, get the wins and prove your worth.’’
FLAMES PLAYERS RECALL COLLEGE-TO-NHL JUMP
The Calgary Herald notes a few of Ben Hanowski’s new Flames teammates can relate to the jump he’s making from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University into the National Hockey League.
Michael Cammalleri, after a college career at the University of Michigan (1999-02), recalls his own progression to the Los Angeles Kings.
“Everything about it is different,” says Cammalleri. “It’s different — the way guys are, the way the locker-room is, the way the coaching happens, the way the meetings take place.”
And the way you look at hockey. It’s your living now.
“A whole other level of pressure,” says Lee Stempniak, who, after four years at Dartmouth College (2001-05), joined the St. Louis Blues. “In college, you have classes and you’re living with your friends and you have practices in the afternoon. Here, it’s hockey 24-7. The thing that struck me was that it was hard to get away from hockey. For me, I was going back to the hotel — so there was a lot of down time and not a lot else to do. So you just think about hockey a lot more. It’s your livelihood. It consumes you. It’s like work for anyone.
“Most people have trouble finding a balance. Since you’re getting paid for it and it’s your job, it’s on your mind a lot more than in college.”
OVECHKIN, BACKSTROM REKINDLE MAGIC
The Washington Times asserts that it’s no coincidence that the Caps are 12-2-1 in their past 15 games since Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom were reunited.
Of the captain’s 18 goals in the past 17 games, Backstrom assisted 13 of them.
“He’s feeling the flow right now,” Capitals winger Troy Brouwer said. “He’s smooth out there, he’s got confidence oozing out of him right now. He knows where guys are on the ice. You’re seeing the vintage Nick Backstrom from a couple years ago when he was playing so well and the guy that I love to watch on the highlights.”
Ovechkin knows Backstrom will find him wherever he is.
“That’s what I want [as] a winger,” Ovechkin said. “I want the puck when I have speed and when I have opportunity to do something. … He’s not going to wait half a second longer, he’s just going to give me [the puck] right away.”
BRASSARD, CLOWE EYE PLAYOFFS
The New York Daily News believes Derick Brassard has an opportunity to continue seizing important minutes at center in the Rangers’ final seven regular season games and possibly in the playoffs, beginning Tuesday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
“When things aren’t going well and the coach keeps putting you out there, in the third period and in overtime, it can give you a lot of confidence,” said Brassard, who has a goal and five assists in six games since coming to New York in the Marian Gaborik trade 13 days ago. “I’ve never played in the playoffs before, because I was hurt in Columbus when we made it. But Saturday night is a good learning experience for how intense it is in a playoff atmosphere, how ready I need to be.”
Linemate Ryane Clowe, 30, also adds valuable experience at this time of year, since he has never missed the playoffs in seven previous NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks.
“I’ve never not played in the playoffs since I’ve been in the league, and this team is the kind of team that once you get to playoff time, with the style and the way we want to play, we can do some damage,” Clowe said Monday. “And I think the playoffs are when I play my best hockey.”
BERGERON FEELS READY TO PLAY
Prior to the horrific events unfolding at the Boston Marathon Monday, The Boston Herald noted Patrice Bergeron said he hasn’t experienced concussion symptoms since the day after he took an inadvertent elbow to the side of the head from Ottawa’s Colin Greening.
“I’m feeling good,” said Bergeron. “It’s almost two weeks now and it was only the day after that I felt it, so it’s been a while that I’ve felt good and felt like myself, so I feel like I’ve taken my time. But like I’ve said, it’s not up to me and they’ve always done a good job of taking care of me and I really appreciate it. But if it was up to me, I feel ready.”
Bergeron has been skating now for a handful of days.
“Obviously I want to get out there,” he said. “I feel good, I feel confident. And I don’t feel that cautious, either. We’re taking the time and there’s a reason for that, so that I’m not hesitant. And I feel good.”
SELANNE STILL ENJOYING HOCKEY
The New York Times notes that whenever Teemu Selanne decides to retire, he has plenty to keep him busy. He and his wife, Sirpa, have a 5-year-old daughter and three teenage hockey-playing sons with unenviable skates to fill.
He wants to gold each of the top 100 courses in the United States. In a couple of months, he is opening a restaurant, Selanne’s, in Laguna Beach. In September, he will be the subject of a well-publicized Finnish documentary. His car collection, which once grew to 42 and is now about 25, includes 1960s-era American muscle cars and several Ferraris.
All that tugs him toward retirement.
“The toughest part for me playing a long time is stealing so much away from home,” Selanne said. “The boys are growing fast. In a couple of years, my boys will start going to college. But what can you do? You have a job to do, and you enjoy that, too.”
He added: “I could never have imagined I could enjoy the game this much at this late age,” Selanne said. “The joy factor is 100 times more now than when I was 25.”
CANES’ MULLER STILL LEARNING
The Raleigh News & Observer points out Carolina Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller is 47 but has been an NHL head coach for parts of two seasons. He has coached just 98 NHL games, and the recent run of losses was new for him.
“Every game or every day there’s something different that comes up and you’re being tested,” Muller said. “It is an experience, really. As a young coach I have to keep learning every day and try to get better.
“There’s no way I can sit here and tell my players that what we’re going through is any different for them than it is for us (coaches). You learn. You have to. You have to able to walk in that room and sell your ideas and have them believe in it.”
WINGS’ DEKEYSER SHOWING POISE
Michigan Live notes 22-year-old Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser isn’t the type of player who will be racking up points. He needs to play a safe, steady game, move the puck and kill penalties.
“We like that he goes back and gets the puck and doesn’t make a ton of mistakes,” Babcock said. “We got nine D and he’s finding a way to play. Good for him, but better for us.
“If you’re a fan of the Red Wings, it looks like you may have a player there for a long time.”