Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
MATURE OVECHKIN SILENCES CRITICS
CSNWashington.com observes that with Alex Ovechkin’s incredible offensive surge – he has 22 goals and 33 points in his last 21 games — the Capitals’ captain has replaced the negative attention that surrounded him in the first month of the season with talk of him being the best player in the game.
“It seems like people who been all over me, they can close their mouths,” Ovechkin said. “Like I said months ago, if I’m going to have a couple bad games everybody will be all over me again. I just tell myself it doesn’t matter what’s going to happen. Just don’t listen to nobody — fans, you guys. I just have to listen to my teammates and my coach and that’s it.”
He says that at 27 he is more mature now than when he entered the league as a 19-year-old bundle of unbridled energy. He is, after all, engaged to be married to Russian tennis star Maria Kirilenko.
“I’ve just grown up like a person, that’s the most important thing,” Ovechkin said. “When you’re grown up you understand a little bit more. You take little steps forward the whole time.”
JETS’ NOEL: PAVELEC CUP-WORTHY GOALIE
Jets coach Claude Noel tells The Winnipeg Sun he’s seen a marked improvement in Ondrej Pavelec’s game from last season to this season.
“How I look at it is he’s still a fairly young player (25), not young, young but he’s still in a good part of his career and look at him from one year to another that there’s been growth and I see that,” said Noel. “For me, the ceiling isn’t there. For me, you still have room to go. That’s what encourages me.
“If you ask me, is he doing his part? I’d say over and above, he’s doing his part. That’s what I would say. I’m a big fan. I like him.”
Noel didn’t stop there.
“If you ask me today, if the Winnipeg Jets could win a championship with him in nets, I would say yes,” said Noel. “That’s what I would say. That’s my opinion.”
PEPLINSKI SEEKS YOUTH BODYCHECKING BAN
The Globe and Mail reports former Calgary Flames captain Jim Peplinski is calling for a nationwide ban on bodychecking until at least the age of 16 to curb the concussion rates plaguing hockey.
He said prohibiting hitting among youngsters could have the added benefit of helping turn around the trend of declining enrolment in minor hockey. Otherwise, Peplinski said during a sport concussions seminar at the University of Calgary this week, he’s not optimistic about the future of Canada’s national passion.
“On this path, I think we’re going to become dinosaurs,” he said.
Peplinski wants Hockey Canada, the national governing body for all levels of the sport except the professional leagues, to outlaw hitting across the country until players are between 16 and 18.
“I’d question whether I’d have kids in hockey as it’s currently organized,” said Peplinski, whose two sons gave up the sport at the midget level. “I don’t think I would.
“The image, the money, it completely fogs people’s judgments,” he said, referring to parents and kids with their sights set on the NHL, or at least emulating it.
Peplinski shakes his head when he thinks about the politics involved in getting something that, at least to him, should so obviously be banned.
“It’s a frigging quagmire,” he said.
LIGHTNING’S COOPER APPRECIATES LEAFS’ CARLYLE
The Toronto Sun notes Jon Cooper took over as coach of the Lightning last month when Guy Boucher was fired. Randy Carlyle replaced Ron Wilson as coach in March last year and was able to use the final 18 games of the regular season as both a learning and teaching tool.
The Leafs were 6-9-3 in those games, and Carlyle was able to open training camp with a knowledge that he wouldn’t have had were he hired in the off-season.
“That is the ultimate role model,” Cooper said of Carlyle. “He went through the same thing I am going through now.
“It was an education for him, he found out who he liked and who he didn’t. I have not had a chance to speak with him, but I’ll try to sneak away and get with him and see how his experiences went. He came in this year, he took the team upon himself and look where they are. I think he has done a hell of a job.”
FLYERS HOME FINALE FOR BRIERE?
The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that because of Danny Briere’s high cap hit – $6.5 million per year for two more seasons- the Flyers’ 35-year-old forward is expected to be bought out or traded after the season. If that happens, that would make Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders his finale at the Wells Fargo Center as a member of the Flyers.
“I’m not thinking about that. . . . Things change fast in the hockey world,” the always-classy Briere said after Wednesday’s practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. “For me, it’s just another game. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. I can’t start thinking about all those rumors. It’s just like at the trade deadline. If you start getting into that trap, it gets you off your game.”
He also noted, “Everybody knows I want to stay here, but it’s a business and I also understand that part.”
ZUCCARELLO ENJOYING TIME WITH RANGERS
The New York Daily News recalls how Mats Zuccarello left the Rangers for Russia’s KHL last summer because he hadn’t received a fair shake, toiling in the minors for most of the season.
Now Zuccarello is playing as well as he ever has wearing the blue shirt, and he says it’s because since re-signing on March 28, “I’ve felt like I’m a big part of the group.”
“From day one, I’ve played a lot,” Zuccarello said after Tuesday night’s 3-2 road loss to the Florida Panthers. “I’ve felt like I’m a big part of the group. And as soon as you do that, you get your confidence up and you kind of make plays that you probably wouldn’t do if you didn’t have your confidence up.”
He added: “It’s just fun to be here with the boys, playing NHL hockey. I’m here to have a good time, play some hockey and make the playoffs. But it’s important to find that balance between being serious and having fun.”
BERTUZZI READY TO BE AN ASSET
The Detroit News posits the Red Wings have missed Todd Bertuzzi’s size and presence — maybe most of all his uncanny success during shootouts — but he may have to slightly alter his playing style once he returns to action Thursday against the Predators.
“I have to go out there and keep it simple and obviously play a little different game than what I’m used to,” Bertuzzi said. “Just get it in and try to grind stuff down low and play wherever it may be, like the fourth or third lines and play well defensively, and try what I can do offensively down low.”
Bertuzzi believes he can be asset for this team as it continues to claw toward a playoff berth.
“I want to play for these guys, play hard for these guys, and stick up for them and do what I can,” Bertuzzi said. “It’s a great group and they’ve been giving it their all, and I just want to get in there and toe the rope with them and take care of the task we have ahead of us.”
HEDBERG NEARS 40TH BIRTHDAY
The Star-Ledger describes how Devils backup goalie Johan Hedberg remembers early in his NHL career setting his sights on playing until the age of 35.
He never thought he’d still be playing when he was 40.
“I don’t think I did. It was a different time. There weren’t too many guys playing up to that age,” Hedberg recalled. “I remember thinking when I was around 27 if I could play until I was 35 I could retire and feel good about it. But when I became 35 I felt I was nowhere ready to retire.
“Overall in the league and in sports, guys take better care of themselves. There is too much on the line. You want to be in it as long as you can. It’s just a number, as long as you stay young at heart.”
Hedberg turns 40 on May 5, one day before Martin Brodeur turns 41. Hedberg said he doesn’t necessarily envision next season being his last.
“If I feel like I can play well enough to play and contribute, I’m going to try and play as long as I can,” he said. “If I’m a burden, I don’t want to be playing.”