Hearsay: Pens’ Iginla craves playoffs

Jarome Iginla should be an upgrade over Nathan Horton, argues Ryan Porth.

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IGINLA CRAVES PLAYOFF ACTION

The Calgary Sun illustrates how on Wednesday night, 35-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins right-winger Jarome Iginla will have his first playoff skate since April 27, 2010; a stretch of 1,099 days and 290 regular-season outings. He hasn’t won a series since the Flames’ fairytale run to the Stanley Cup final in 2004.

“Playoff time, as you hear us all say, is definitely the most fun, more intense. And every time you’re in the playoffs, you have a chance to win that Stanley Cup, so I’m very excited and can’t wait to get it going,” Iginla said during a phone interview with The Sun.

“We’re all big kids, and we all want to win. Even guys who’ve won before, they want to win again. When you talk to them, they want that feeling again, so it’s definitely energizing to be at the start of the playoffs and the possibilities.

“To go out and have that chance, I’m grateful for that. It’s been a few years, so I’m really, really looking forward to it.

“You want to win every year, and I want to win every year. But I’ve noticed every year as I get older I want to win even more than I did the last year, not thinking that was possible.”

OVECHKIN’S POSITION SWITCH SHOWED HART

The Washington Times notes Capitals bench boss Adam Oates doesn’t want to take any credit for Alex Ovechkin’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy-winning season, but the rookie coach’s bold move to use Ovechkin on right wing and his star’s acceptance paved the way to an impressive run to the playoffs.

“It says a lot about Adam’s ability to convince the player and to communicate properly with him and keep him on his side,” general manager George McPhee said. “It says a lot about Alex. You’ve got a two-time MVP and everything else, and if your top guys aren’t coachable, you’d have no chance of having any kind of success. And he bought in.”

Ovechkin’s resurgence came in the form of 23 goals and 13 assists in the Caps’ final 23 games as they went 17-4-2.

Oates knows he’s biased, but in recent weeks he hasn’t been bashful about endorsing Ovechkin for MVP. Once more, he brought it up on the final night of the regular season.

“One of the reasons I think he should win the Hart is because of his unselfishness to change positions for the club, that he was willing to listen to a coaching staff and switch,” Oates said. “I’m glad for him he’s had success and he’s helped our team grow.”

KESLER READY FOR ANY ROLE

The Vancouver Province recalls that in the Canucks’ 2011 run to the Stanley Cup final, Ryan Kesler shut down Jonathan Toews, David Legwand and Thornton. He figured in 11 of 14 goals in a second-round series win over Nashville and was awarded the Selke Trophy.

It’s hard to imagine the Canucks going away from what has worked so well in the past.

“I’ll relish whatever role they put me in,” said Kesler. “If they want to load up the top six, I’ll definitely play the wing and succeed there. It’s that competitive level in me that you want to be better than the guy across from you. That doesn’t change from position to position. It’s a fun time of year, and I’m really excited about it.”

He added:  “We’re healthier, and to be honest, I don’t think we were ready for the grind last year,” Kesler admitted of starting the first-round series without the concussed Daniel Sedin.

“We know what it takes to get to a final and Game 7 of a final. We’re hungry this year, and I can feel the energy in the room. I see how bad guys want it.”

KARLSSON, SUBBAN KEY FOR SENS, HABS

The Montreal Gazette asserts one of the interesting side angles to the Habs-Sens matchup is that both teams have young, star defencemen. P.K. Subban, 23, is in the running for this year’s Norris Trophy, which the 22-year-old Karlsson won last year.

The Canadiens rely on Subban to do a lot of good things for the team and expect him to be big in a lot of situations, Habs blueliner Josh Gorges said.

“I’m sure Ottawa expects the same thing out of Karlsson,” Gorges added. “When you’re as talented as those players are it comes with a lot of responsibility. It will be exciting to see both talented players kind of go at it.

“(Karlsson’s) ability to skate, to make plays, to read situations, it’s unbelievable. He’s a guy that we’re going to have to focus on.

“He’s a tough guy to play against because you want to finish your checks on him because you don’t want him jumping into the play. But he’s pretty elusive out there. … He’s got a lot of similarities to a guy like a Scott Niedermayer, who every game you would play you would say, ‘we got to finish our checks on this guy.’ But it’s almost impossible. I mean, they’re such good skaters.

“So we’ll have to be focused on containing him, getting the puck out of his hands and things like that. Try to slow him down as much as we can.”

RASK IN LINE FOR NEW CONTRACT

CSNNE.com points out 26-year-old Tuukka Rask’s last playoff performance was three years ago when he was the goalie at the helm as the Bruins collapsed against the Philadelphia Flyers. It’s important to him to bounce back the second time around.

Same goes for those in the Bruins front office.

“That goes without saying. You’re judged on your performance. That will apply to Tuukka [Rask]. That will apply to everyone who is up for an extension,” said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. “Tuukka is no different than the rest of them. He’s a restricted free agent this year, and after the season we’ll look at it and try to get him signed.”

He also noted: “I think Tuukka has had a very good season. I think the team and him now feel comfortable and compatible, so I would expect him to have success,” said Chiarelli. “He’s a competitive kid and he’s got some experience under his belt. You can say the same about our team as a whole, so I expect there to be some success.”

TORTORELLA PRAISES STEPAN

Newsday indicates that in the end, Derek Stepan rose to become the No. 1 center on the Rangers, scored 18 goals — six of them game-winners — and added 26 assists to finish as the team’s highest scorer. He also was plus-25, fifth-best in the league, and had only 12 penalty minutes.

“He’s prepared,” coach John Tortorella said. “He does a lot of work. That’s an intangible he has, and some players don’t. He’s a 22-year-old guy that I use in every situation . . . I was worried about him as our No. 2 center, going into the year. He’s proven to all of us that he’s taken a huge step.”

KRONWALL ASSUMES VETERAN’S LEADERSHIP ROLE

The Detroit News indicates without Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart, Niklas Kronwall needed to be the Red Wings’ top defenseman, and arguably, he has been.

“He had an opportunity to play more and really took advantage of it,” captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “He’s really a hard worker on and off the ice. This year, he took another step on the ice which came along with the ice time and opportunity he got.”

Zetterberg  sees some similarities between Kronwall and Lidstrom, a player whom few will ever match.

“He’s always doing the right things on and off the ice,” said Zetterberg of Kronwall, a statement that was associated with Lidstrom for so many years. “He says the right things in the locker room, and with him and (Daniel) Cleary, and Pavel (Datsyuk), it’s easier for me to be the captain for this team.”

TAVARES ENJOYS BARCLAYS’ ATMOSPHERE

Newsday details how on Monday night, Islanders center John Tavares paid his first visit to his future home, Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

He and a few teammates took the train to Atlantic Terminal, crossed the street and watched the Nets’ playoff game against Chicago. Tavares and Matt Moulson appeared on the big screen, doing a public service announcement about arena policy.

“It was a great atmosphere. Obviously, the Nets, in an elimination game, had a big win,” Tavares said Tuesday morning after practice at Nassau Coliseum, which the Islanders will leave in either 2014 or 2015 and move to Brooklyn.

“You take a look and wonder how the setup would be for hockey,” he said. “There’s still, I think, a lot to be determined, but it’s a beautiful facility, world class. Whenever we get there it will be an exciting time. It will be a nice new home.”

NILL DELIVERS MESSAGE TO STARS’ PLAYERS

The Dallas Morning News points out new Stars GM Jim Nill met with players for the first time Tuesday before sending them out to the off-season.

Nill said he talked with players about making a lifestyle change where they think about being a player everday.

“I talked about a guy like Ray Whitney,” he said. “We’ve got guys in that room who are 38, 39, 40, 41 years old…why are they still playing hockey? Because they’re pros, they’re everyday pros. They come every day to the rink, they do the right things and when they leave the rink, they do the right things. And they do it year after year. That’s why they’re still playing. We’ve got a young team here, and they need to learn that.”

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