Langenbrunner: I’m not ready to retire

Jamie Langenbrunner is able to skate pain-free now and would love to play for the Minnesota Wild. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

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LANGENBRUNNER: I’M NOT READY TO RETIRE

The Duluth News Tribune spoke with  unrestricted free agent Jamie Langenbrunner Tuesday evening at a fundraiser hockey game.

The 37-year-old, who had season-ending hip surgery (torn labrum) in February, has no plans on retiring.

“I’m not ready yet,” he said before taking the ice at the Heritage Summer Hockey Classic. “After going through the surgery, I feel as good as I have as far as skating. It’s great to get to a point where there’s no pain skating, and I’m looking forward to continuing my training this summer and see where it takes me.”

On waiting to see what NHL teams may need this summer as they fill out their rosters: “We’ll see in the next couple weeks if there’s a good opportunity, and, if not, then I will figure out the next stage of life.”

On how being a member of the Minnesota Wild would be a perfect fit for his family: “I’ve been pushing my (agent) to do some talking (to the Wild) for me. That would, obviously, be the ideal situation from a family standpoint. I understand what they are trying to do (with recent personnel moves) and who knows what their choice will be, but I would welcome an opportunity to play there.”

MONAHAN SEEKS TO EARN SPOT WITH FLAMES

The Calgary Herald passes along that Sean Monahan, Calgary’s first round pick (sixth overall) in June’s NHL draft, is expected to sign his entry-level pact shortly.

“We’ll work on that this week,” said Flames general manager Jay Feaster. “I had a conversation with his agent (Pat Morris) last week and we agreed that we would talk at the end of the development camp. When you look at it, entry-level deals are typically not that difficult to get done. We haven’t started talking in terms of specifics yet, but we will this week.”

Nothing that occurred during the camp diminished Monahan’s expectation of stepping into the NHL this season.

“I think it is a realistic goal,” the teenager said — again. “Nothing will be given. It’s going to be a lot of hard work and I want to earn that. (The reality of the situation) is starting to kick in. Just putting on this practice jersey is pretty special. I want to make this team and wear this jersey with pride.”

BRULE’S LIFE HAS TURNED AROUND

The Vancouver Province has a piece on Gilbert Brule and a brief Hearsay blurb from it can’t do it justice. Incredibly interesting back story about the 26-year-old that’s worth a read. SO worth a read.

Of note: The free agent centre is looking for a tryout with an NHL team this fall. His body fat is down to eight per cent from his previous 13 per cent. His cardio capacity is at an all-time high.

The Province believes that curiously enough, if Brule was at the top of his game, he’d be the perfect fit for the Canucks in that he could be that right-handed third-line centre capable of stepping up to a No. 2 spot if something happened to Ryan Kesler or Henrik Sedin.

“Naturally I’ve thought about Vancouver because I’m here, and I know they could use a centre,” said Brule. “The strange thing is that when my agent (Edmonton’s Gerry Johannson) talked to them before, when I was a free agent, they said no because of my father. A lot of teams now think of me as a guy who is going to run around and hit guys, and I know often in that third-line role you need a guy who’s going to provide energy. But they forget I have some skill, which is why I was drafted where I was.”

OILERS’ EAKINS WON FERENCE OVER

The Edmonton Sun illustrates how the coaching philosophies of new head Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins impressed then-unrestricted free agent Andrew Ference.

“That two-day period before signing was great because I did get to talk to Dallas a few times,” Ference said of the Oilers recruitment effort. “That made it very comforting to sign because we see eye-to-eye on a lot of things and have a similar outlook on the way the game should be played and the way the game should be approached by the players.”

Eakins promises he won’t tolerate anything less than a spirited, gritty team that refuses to be out-worked.

“I think he’s going to be demanding, I think he’s going to hold guys accountable and expect professionalism, which creates success.

“As a player, you don’t want a guy who’s just going to be a nice guy and create an atmosphere where there’s no accountability, you want to win.

“You might have tough days here and there where you’re the one called out or being held accountable, but that’s the way it should be. We’re here to win and create a culture of success. One way to go about it is to be honest and demanding.

GEOFFRION EXCITED ABOUT JACKETS’ SCOUTING ROLE

The Columbus Dispatch relays that when word spread around the NHL that Blake Geoffrion was retiring, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen called him, spawning the first of several long conversations.

“It’s a real advantage when you can deal w people who have actually played against these guys, not just watched them,” Kekalainen said. “Blake is a passionate young man. He knows what we’re looking for, and he has a great head for the game.”

Geoffrion, who will be based out of Chicago, said he’d heard from other NHL clubs but none offered a role that excited him as much as the Blue Jackets.

“The game has been a part of my life as long as I’ve been alive,” Geoffrion said. “I can’t imagine doing something else.

“I’ve played either with or against pretty much every player in the league, and in most cases really recently. It’s an advantage knowing these guys, and knowing what they’re flaws are on and off the ice.”

MATTEAU SHOCKED OVER KOVALCHUK’S KHL MOVE

Fire & Ice observes that like pretty much everyone else, New Jersey Devils prospect Stefan Matteau was “shocked” when he heard the news last week that Ilya Kovalchuk announced his “retirement” from the NHL, so he could return to Russia to play in the KHL. Matteau feels fortunate that he got a chance to be linemates with Kovalchuk for a few games last season.

“That’s what my mom said,” he said. “She said, ‘You’re going to be one of the lucky ones who got to play on his line for a little bit.’ He’s such a great player. He’s really good person, too. He was good to me while I was here. Obviously, it’s shocking. It’s a bit of a bummer, but things happen. He’s moving on with his career and I think the Devils will be fine.

“The Devil organization will move past it, too.”

KINGS’ CARCILLO HOPING FOR REGULAR ROLE

The Chicago Tribune notes the Blackhawks traded veteran winger Daniel Carcillo to the Kings on Tuesday for a conditional pick in the 2015 NHL draft.

When asked June 27 about the 2013-14 season, Carcillo spoke of being injury-free.

“It would be nice to not have to worry about an injury,” he said. “It would just be nice to find a regular role and be in every night and not have to worry about … playing a perfect game and not coming out. This year with the lockout was a bit of a weird year; not much practice. When there’s not much practice and you don’t get into games it’s really hard to get into a rhythm and into game shape.”

LAUGHTON HOPES TO MAKE FLYERS

CSNPhilly.com details how Scott Laughton, the Flyers’ 2012 first-round draft pick, has one very simple objective this year.

“I want to make the team,” he said. “That’s my main goal. I hope I can accomplish that, and to be successful in that, I just need to get in shape and work on my game offensively, and just focus on my game away from the puck and stuff like that.”

The team’s top three centers are basically already set – and training camp is still two months away.

Laughton has already put on 14 pounds since the end of last season and his aim is to be in condition to compete for that NHL-level job.

“Just trying to stay lean,” he said, “and hopefully come back in tip-top shape and be ready for camp.”

WHAT THEY’RE TWEETING ABOUT

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