Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
REGEHR: FLAMES’ REBUILD WAS THE RIGHT DIRECTION
The Calgary Herald caught up with Los Angeles Kings defenceman Robyn Regehr, who still finds time to keep track of his former Flames squad.
“I still read one of the Calgary papers now and again, just to figure out what’s going on,” says Regehr. “I still know a handful of guys. But there’s been lots of turnover on the team, that’s for sure. Young, too, which is good. They’ve finally decided to go in that direction. That’s a good thing, but they’ll have to go through some of the issues with that.”
On the subject of moving from the Buffalo Sabres to the Kings late last season: “Just a different environment — not that it’s good or bad,” says Regehr, 33. “I think every player should take the opportunity to play in a hockey-first market — anywhere in Canada and a couple markets in the U.S. I think it would be really beneficial . . . then you appreciate certain things about it, but you’re also aware of all the things that go with that.
“I think it helps you as a player and as a person to be in a couple different areas . . . and see all the differences.”
LUONGO RECALLS HIS TRADE FROM ISLANDERS
Ahead of the Canucks meeting the New York Islanders Tuesday, The Vancouver Sun strolls down memory lane with Roberto Luongo about his lopsided trade from the Isles to the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2000.
Then-GM Mike Milbury dealt Luongo and Olli Jokinen to the Panthers for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha and used the Isles’ No. 1 pick in the draft to take Rick DiPietro.
Asked why he thinks things didn’t work out with the Islanders, Luongo smiles and says: “”I could throw a name out there,” he says, referring to Milbury. “He was the GM there and he was big, I guess, on puck-handling goaltenders, and DiPietro was in the draft and he decided he wanted to go with that. That was his view and what can you do about that.”
Luongo hasn’t talked to Milbury since that trade and really doesn’t sound like he’d be interested in discussing what is now ancient history.
“Nope,” he says. “I’ve never seen him. I’ve seen him on TV, but that’s it.”
DEVILS’ SCHNEIDER KNOWS IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICE
The Star-Ledger recalls how Devils goaltender Cory Schneider largely played understudy to Vancouver’s mainstay, Robert Luongo. Not playing, Schenider said, carries its own singular challenge — to create during practice a kind of imaginary game. The players rushing at him during drills become opponents, with the success of his team hinging on him stopping each shot. That’s what he tells himself.
“Practice is crucial,” he said. “You can’t let yourself drift. In practice, game speed eludes you. It’s crucial to track the puck and to play as if you’re in a game.”
The objective, he added was to reinforce the muscle memory that may lapse with sporadic starting assignments. While not in any way campaigning to become a full-time starter, he said that sitting out invites the mind to work too hard and analyze too much. Conversely, regular play provides a rhythm. Then, he said, all that’s left to the goalie is to let the reflexes take over.
“If you sit out a stretch, you may end up second-guessing rather than depending on your second nature,” he said.
LITTLE: JETS DON’T HAVE THRASHERS’ LOSING ATTITUDE
The Winnipeg Sun relays that Jets forward Bryan Little dismissed a theory about whether part of the losing culture from the Atlanta Thrashers days may have snuck into the Jets’ psyche.
“I don’t think so,” said Little. “I was in Atlanta for quite a few years and the attitude is quite a bit different here. Everyone wants to win and take that next step and make the playoffs. Guys really care here and it shows every day that you’re in the dressing room, with how upset guys are with the way we’re playing.”
PENGUINS’ BYLSMA SEES HIGHER SKILL LEVEL IN NHL’S YOUTH
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette examines the long list of young players who have stepped into the league and had a rapid impact in recent seasons.
Penguins coach Dan Bylsma says it’s not a product of evolving systems.
“I don’t think the league has changed,” Bylsma said. “There is certainly a thirst to have younger players come into the league maybe quicker than it was years back. I really think the talent and the skill level of the kids — I say kids, but the young players in the game now — the last five years, seven years is completely different than it was 20 years ago.
“What they’re able to do — how they practice, the skill level they bring to the game is significantly different than it was 20 years ago.”
HAWKS PUT 2012-2013 CUP RUN IN THE PAST
Hawks center Michal Handzus tells The Chicago Sun-Times one reason for the team’s good start is that the Hawks parked their Cup memories, knowing that would give them the best chance to create more such memories.
‘‘We don’t talk about last year at all,’’ he said. ‘‘We said before training camp: ‘Last year was last year. This year is this year.’ We haven’t played our best, but we’re getting there. We have to build it again. It’s a new season, new challenges. It’s a lot of fun for us.’’
Coach Joel Quenneville said he likes the maturity he has seen from a team basking in the championship spotlight.
‘‘Going into the season, you had a feeling we were going to be fine,’’ he said. ‘‘I know we’ve had a nice schedule at home, but we’ve gotten off to a relatively good start. I think the guys prepared themselves the right way.’
JACKETS SUPPORT FOLIGNO FAMILY THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES
The Columbus Dispatch describes how the newborn daughter of Blue Jackets winger Nick Foligno was diagnosed with a heart condition one day after her birth last Monday. He spent most of last week at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where Milana was admitted.
“That was first and foremost on my mind,” Foligno said. “The team was great about it and the guys were great about it. They understood that I needed to be home with her to figure out what the next step would be.
“The good news is that long-term it seems like she’s going to be fine. We’ll have to cross some tough roads in the sense of what we might need to do to get her better. But she can get better and she will get better.”
On the Jackets’ support: “There was no stress in feeling like I had to get back,” Foligno said. “They were so accommodating and understanding. I can’t say enough about my teammates and the coaches and Jarmo Kekalainen and John Davidson.”
CANES BUILDING KOMISAREK’S CONFIDENCE
The Raleigh News & Observer points out that when it comes to Canes defenseman Mike Komisarek, coach Kirk Muller has talked of the “building blocks” being taken to restore the confidence of a player who is a former NHL All-Star and was picked for the U.S. Olympic team in 2010 but unable to participate because of the shoulder problem.
“When you’ve gone through speed bumps and ups and downs the last couple of years, you start looking for that confidence in external sources and different things,” Komisarek said. “But ultimately that confidence has to come from within. That comes from doing the little things off the ice, in the weight room, putting in the extra time on the ice, just a lot of hard work. And having a faith and belief you’re doing the things that you need to be doing to sort of break through.
“Just try to take steps forward, just like our team. They add up, whether it’s a week or a month.”
THEY TWEETED IT