Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
CANUCKS’ TORTORELLA: KESLER’S REWARDS WILL COME
The Vancouver Province relays that while Canucks centre Ryan Kesler has one point through his first four games, his coach isn’t worried.
“He’s not counting in terms of goals and assists but he’s getting there,” said John Tortorella. “Offensively and defensively I think he’s playing in the areas. We really concentrated on him getting back to playing under the hash marks in front of the net. I think he’s done that; he hasn’t been rewarded. He just needs to stay with it. He’s done some really good things defensively and understanding in how we defend.”
Positional improvement has helped the pivot?
“Before I used to wind up a lot and be out of position and now they kind of want me playing more of a positional game,” said Kesler. “It’s a different way of playing and we’re still learning to play this style. It’s very aggressive.”
When it was suggested that this style should suit him he said: “Some would think so. I really don’t know yet; we’re still making the transition. Our line has been getting a lot of bad bounces. But no need to go burn down the city.”
GARDINER: TRADE TALK PART OF THE LEAFS
The Globe and Mail emphasizes how one of the difficult things about playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs is all of the trade talk, which defenceman Jake Gardiner hasn’t been able to avoid.
“That’s part of the Leafs,” Gardiner said after practice on Wednesday. “Media’s going to speculate about things. It’s part of the business. If something happens then that’s the way it is. You just can’t worry about it.
“You always hear a little, but I try and stay out of that. I remember [Luke] Schenn a couple years ago, it seemed like he was talked about every single day. Then nothing happened for the longest time. It did end up happening, but that happens with every guy in here and you’ve just got to block it out.”
FLYERS’ GIROUX LACKING CONFIDENCE
The Philadelphia Inquirer points out Flyers star Claude Giroux is pointless through his first four games.
“He’s fine, he’s healthy,” new head coach Craig Berube said. “I think G’s trying a little bit too hard. He gives everything he’s got out there and sometimes it’s too much. You try too hard and you can’t accomplish the things you want to accomplish.”
Giroux, for his part, offered this: “I’m not confident right now.”
Adding: “You always have a stretch like that during the season.”
Wayne Simmonds was moved to Giroux’s line with Scott Hartnell.
YAKUPOV PATIENT IN SEARCH FOR OFFENCE
The Edmonton Journal shows how Oilers winger Nail Yakupov is disappointed by his lack of scoring early on (no points in three games) but remains focused.
“I’m still working on my shots every practice and I have some thoughts and I’m watching some video, but I’m not going that crazy,” he said Wednesday.
“I’m trying to not put my head down. First you have to play for the team; the goals will come.”
On ice time and line assignment: “Doesn’t matter if I play two … or 20 (minutes), you have to push 100 per cent … If you are young or old, you can’t swear at the coach and ask why you’re not playing. If you play five minutes that’s your time (to produce) … ”
CONCUSSION RECOVERY GOING WELL FOR PARROS
George Parros is feeling a lot better these days.
There were some additionally worthwhile quotes from that Montreal Gazette article.
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin says he’s in touch with Parros by text message nearly every day.
“When I talk to him it’s about how he feels and not anything else,” the GM said. “I’m worried about him as a person, not one bit as a hockey player. That’s the last of my worries and the last worry of the Montreal Canadiens. George has a wife and two young children. That’s the most important thing. The rest will take care of itself.”
What has been gratifying to Bergevin is how his NHL management colleagues have been in constant touch to check on Parros’s condition, hockey men who have had the player on their teams and others who wouldn’t know him beyond his bushy, trademark moustache.
“I can’t speak for other sports,” Bergevin said. “But I could put our people against those in any other sport. They’re the best in the business.”
CHANGES HELP STARS GROW FAN BASE
The Dallas Morning News illustrates how while the transformation off the ice is still in its infancy, Stars owner Tom Gaglardi is happy those improvements already are in fast-forward. While the team didn’t sell out either of the games at American Airlines Center (capacity 18,532), it got 16,100 for the opener and 17,200 on Saturday.
“Right now, that’s a great increase over what we were doing, and a great sign that people are excited,” said Gaglardi. “I’m really pleased with what we have been able to do to get people interested, and I think we’re making a lot of progress in that area.”
Gaglardi’s also happy with the official debut of the new uniforms. The Stars put a lot of time and money into rebranding the team with a new color (Victory Green) and a new logo — and Gaglardi said he felt the impact was clear in both games.
“The arena’s colors are so nondenominational, and when you mix our old black uniforms, there just wasn’t any identity,” Gaglardi said. “But that green is a great color, and it really just takes over the arena. That’s one of the sharpest kits in the NHL, as far as I’m concerned, and the color just changed the whole feel of the game.”
PANTHERS ‘SWAGGER’ IS GROWING
The Sun-Sentinel details how new Panthers owner Vinnie Viola told friend Terry Finley, fellow graduate of West Point Military Academy, about his bid for the Panthers when they were together at Saratoga this summer; framing it as an opportunity to build a legacy for himself and his family.
“One of the things that I can guarantee is he will make that staff better, from coaching to the GM to marketing to finance, everybody — they’ll all get better by being around Vinnie,” Finley said.
Michael Yormark, Panthers president and CEO, said that is already happening inside the organization in the first two weeks of the new regime.
“A lot of it is confidence, a lot of it is knowing you’ve got an owner that has got resources and is willing to do whatever it takes to help you win, both on and off the ice,” Yormark said. “What it does is enable you to kind of walk with a swagger now, with a bit of an attitude knowing that we can compete.”
DEVILS HAPPY WITH CAPTAIN SALVADOR
Fire & Ice believes the New Jersey Devils are still searching for answers in some areas. But Devils coach Pete DeBoer is completely comfortable with his leadership. That begins with captain Bryce Salvador, who is in his second season wearing the C.
“I think he’s exceptional in the leadership capacity,” said DeBoer, who relied heavily on the 37-year-old defenseman Tuesday night, playing him a team-high 26:52. “He has a real calming influence. He’s a calm guy, but at the same time he’s as competitive a person when the puck drops as any athlete I’ve worked with. That’s a nice combination to have because you’re not overreacting to situations because of your personality and at the same time you’re the first guy into the war, so to speak, when the puck drops.”
MURPHY MATURING FOR CANES
The Raleigh News & Observer recalls how Canes defenseman Ryan Murphy won a roster spot out of preseason camp.
“You could tell he really wanted to make the team,” Canes coach Kirk Muller said. “It wasn’t like he was nonchalant about it or ‘Will it be given to me?’ He earned it.
“I think he’s matured from last year. He feels comfortable. He feels like he’s an NHL player.”
Defensive partner Jay Harrison: “I think that experience from last year is paying a little bit of dividends for him. He’s calmer in the defensive zone. He’s become more patient and reliable. Offensively, he’s become a little more assertive in taking the puck and knowing his skills and when to apply his offense.
“It’s a natural progression. And he’s still a young man and there are still leaps and bounds to go.”
KELLY SWITCHED UP OFF-SEASON TRAINING
The Boston Herald points out that Bruins forward Chris Kelly switched up his offseason training regimen. In the summer of 2012, he worked out with a group of his former Senators teammates, but because the B’s went so deep into the playoffs in 2013, Kelly was too far behind his Ottawa buddies and had to figure out a new program.
He opted to train at the Canadian Strength Institute in Ottawa run by Sean Young, a track and field athlete and a guide runner for visually impaired athletes at the Paralympics. Kelly worked on quick bursts in 40-, 60- and 100-meter runs as well as some hurdles for agility.
“As you get older, you lose a step or two,” Kelly said. “And with my injury, I felt like I wasn’t skating as well as I’d like. So I wanted to work on that explosive power and those first few steps. And I couldn’t have gone to a better place.”
THEY TWEETED IT
https://twitter.com/ABurish37/status/387991513990709248
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