Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
PRICE ACCEPTS MONTREAL’S SCRUTINY
The Montreal Gazette skillfully lays out how introspective Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was at Saturday’s end-of-season presser. Included among the many topics – what exactly is it like to be a goaltender in this city?
“Mentally, it’s definitely tough,” Price admitted of the job.
“I’d be lying to you if I was saying it’s something that’s easy to go through, but it’s not. It’s just the nature of the position.
“You’re going to be the goat and you’ve got to learn to accept it when you are. When you’re the hero, you’re going to have to learn to deal with that, too.
“It’s easy to let your pride swing. It’s easy to think you’re terrible and it’s easy to think you’re great here. It’s just something you have to manage mentally.”
Price today said he’s talked about nature of #Habs goaltending w/ Roy & Dryden, but joked he was too awestruck to ask them questions
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) May 11, 2013
The scrutiny, Price said, “is a tough part of this job. Any type of high-profile job there’s going to be a lot of scrutiny. There’ll be a lot of people unhappy.”
“I just kinda learned to accept that. Just kinda let it roll off your shoulders because what are you going to do, you know? You’ve gotta roll with it.”
JVR: TORONTO’S PLAYOFF ATMOSPHERE TOPS PHILLY’S
Ahead of Sunday’s 2-1 Leafs win over the Bruins to force a deciding Game 7 Monday night, The Courier-Post caught up with James van Riemsdyk; one of the few players on Toronto with playoff experience.
“It’s a little bit different of a dynamic and that’s something that I take pride in,” said van Riemsdyk, who collected two assists in Game 6 and has two goals with three assists in this series. “I’m going out there every night and trying to prepare myself to be a successful player and lead by example on the ice.”
Before this season, he’d only known Flyers playoff hockey. No one in Toronto had known playoff hockey since 2004. Now van Riemsdyk is in the playoffs and his old team is not. But ever since the first time the Flyers played the Maple Leafs this season, he’s done looking in the past.
“The atmosphere in the arena is pretty similar, but the difference between Toronto and Philadelphia is being around the city,” van Riemsdyk said. “You can’t go anywhere without knowing that it’s playoff-hockey time and the Leafs are in the playoffs.”
CANUCKS’ BURROWS FRUSTRATED, EMBARRASSED
The Vancouver Province supposes core Canucks players may be moved as general manager Mike Gillis attempts to re-set the organization under the constraints of a reduced $64.3 million salary cap ceiling that the club has already exceeded for next season.
“We have guys who can be difference-makers and it’s up to management to decide who to go with,” said Alexandre Burrows, who turned 32 last month. “You’ve got to be able to close games out. It’s frustrating, disappointing and embarrassing. We thought we had a much better group, hopefully that will fuel the fire.”
Is Burrows the right fit for the coming alignment?
“It’s part of the business,” he added. “If ever management felt it was best to trade a guy who had a no-trade clause and it fits, you can talk it out for sure. It’s possible. Personally, I have a no-trade and I’d love to stay and be a part of the future of this team. To be asked to go somewhere, you consider it, but I really believe in this group.”
IGINLA FEELS LESS PRESSURE WITH PENS
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review relays how Jarome Iginla said the shared sense of responsibility that Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby feel to elevate the Penguins in their moments of need is not easily relatable for people who have not been considered a franchise player.
Iginla was that player for at least a dozen of his 16 years with Calgary, where he was captain before joining the Penguins in a March trade.
“We all put pressure on ourselves to perform and be at our best and help,” Iginla said. “But at the same time, there’s a little bit less pressure for me here because you look over and it’s shared by Sid and Geno.”
SHARKS COVETED TORRES
The Mercury News recounts how with the help of the Phoenix coaching staff, Raffi Torres reigned in his game just enough this season to convince the Sharks that he was worth a third-round pick at the April 3 trade deadline.
“He plays the speed game with a high skill level and has a reputation as being a very good teammate,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “He’s a player we’ve tried to (acquire) several times before.”
In Game 1 of the opening-round playoff series against Vancouver, Torres unleashed a team-high six hits. In Game 2, he scored the winning goal. The Sharks went on to record the first four-game playoff sweep in franchise history.
“The guys in the locker room have been welcoming, and the fan support has been great,” Torres said. “My reputation preceded me, but I just try to focus on what I do. Ultimately, the goal is to win games.”
UFA DECISIONS FOR ISLES’ SNOW
Newsday indicates the Isles’ fates are uncertain concerning unrestricted free agents Mark Streit and Evgeni Nabokov, two veterans who were central to the Isles’ fortunes this season. Snow had lengthy contract talks with Pat Brisson, Streit’s agent, leading up to the trade deadline. But Streit was reportedly seeking a three-year deal for roughly $16 million total, which was too much for Snow.
Nabokov was a workhorse during the season, starting 43 of the Isles’ 48 games at age 37. Snow may wait to see what goaltenders are available on either the trade or free-agent market before committing again to Nabokov, who turns 38 in two months.
John Tavares, who talked often with Nabokov during the season about on- and off-ice subjects, made his feelings clear Saturday about whom the Isles star wants in goal.
“At times, we didn’t make it too easy for him,” Tavares said of Nabokov. “He was a leader for us all year and a guy that was huge for us. I hope he’s back.”
Also unrestricted is top-line wing Brad Boyes, who made good on his one-year, $1-million contract and could be back for a reasonable number.
SABRES’ HODGSON A WORK IN PROGRESS
The Buffalo News reflects on the struggles the Sabres knew they’d have at center this season with Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis, a pair of talented, inexperienced guys who’d never carried a team.
Hodgson connected immediately with wingers Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville when ex-coach Lindy Ruff formed the line during training camp.
While his offense was stellar, the other side of Hodgson’s game was a mess. Opponents averaged 3.64 goals against him per 60 minutes while skating five-on-five. Of the 689 skaters who appeared in at least 10 games, Hodgson ranked 665th.
The Sabres hope Hodgson and Ennis learned from their first season as front-line players. There was a lot to learn.
“I don’t think I’ve been this tired,” Hodgson said. “This year was such a condensed time period where you’re trying to keep learning and the coaching change and all the systems. You just have to continue to keep rolling. At the same time, you’re playing and you don’t have a chance to sit back and analyze it.”
They can now. Most of the numbers aren’t pretty. Some are.
JACKETS’ JENNER THRIVING IN AHL
The Columbus Dispatch passes along that Springfield Falcons’ coach Brad Larsen says the extended time coaching Jackets’ prospect Boone Jenner has shed new light on the organization’s second-round pick (No. 37 overall) in 2011.
“He asks the right questions,” Larsen said. “Do you know what I mean by that? He comes over and asks a question that’s a very smart question, a question that, all by itself, tells you he gets what you’re trying to do, and he’s thinking the game at a higher level. That’s the most important thing, really, in this game. It allows him to play faster. The faster you process what’s going on around you, the better off you’ll be.
“His work ethic is impeccable. That’s what every says about him, and everything that’s been said about him is true. There’s no off switch. He just goes. When bodies are on him, it doesn’t bother him. He’s comfortable in traffic. He’s fit right in with us and has not been intimidated by some of these older guys who have been playing pro hockey for a long time now. He’s already become a big part of this club.”