NHL Line Combo Central
Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
CANADIENS’ BRIERE DEMOTED TO FOURTH LINE
The Montreal Gazette demonstrates how accountability is a key word in Canadiens coach Michel Therrien’s vocabulary, and he has told his players that the effort and results they produce on the ice will be reflected in their ice time.
“Michel has said it from the start that this is the way it’s going to go,” said Daniel Brière, who has one assist in five games and will begin Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets on the fourth line. “There are some guys who have stepped up early and they deserve the ice time. In my case, I’ve always been something of a slow starter. Right now, I’m getting caught on the outside and it’s up to me to get back in.”
Brière, who spent years in Philadelphia in a different system, on patience: “You can’t panic, but the most important thing is the team,” he said. “Personally, it’s not the ideal start, but it’s only five games (into the season). There’s a long way to go. The bottom line is that I know I can play better and it’s up to me to produce.
“The last game I found myself on the wrong side of things because I did things I would have done under the old system,” Brière added. “I have to reach the point where I do the right thing without thinking.”
LEAFS’ CARLYLE HAD GUT FEELING ON BROLL
The Toronto Sun reflects on how the Leafs’ depth on wing was shredded by injuries and suspension and how call-up David Broll has filled in well.
“It’s tough to put raw rookies in those prominent positions for extended periods of time,” coach Randy Carlyle said. “But that’s what happens when you mix and match your lineup. Be it part of the period, part of the game, you do that based on your gut feeling.”
Carlyle’s intuition told him Broll could complement Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul on a line.
“He’s known more for his brawn than his finesse,” Carlyle agreed. “But he’s a really smart guy (17 goals with the Soo last year). He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes with the puck. We’ve asked those kids to keep it simple, get your feet underneath you, get comfortable with the pace of the game. We understand it’s a challenge, but enjoy that challenge.
“We selected you (152nd overall in Broll’s case), we believe in you and want you to continue to grow as a player. You have to take a step forward.
CANUCKS LIKE BALANCED SCHEDULE
The Vancouver Sun illustrates how this seven-game road trip for the Canucks, which also makes stops in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Long Island, New Jersey and St. Louis, gives the Canucks their first taste of the NHL’s new balanced schedule which sees teams play home-and-away series with each team outside its division.
The players say they are all for it.
“I really like it,” said winger Chris Higgins. “It gets a little bit monotonous playing the same teams over and over again. I know the NHL is trying to create rivalries, but playing in everyone’s building and playing every team twice, I think it’s great.”
The Canucks last played in Philadelphia two years ago. It has been three years since they played in Buffalo.
“I like playing every team,” Kevin Bieksa said. “To play every team home and home throughout the league, I think that’s great. It’s great for the game, it’s nice to be able to visit every building and every city throughout the course of the season. I don’t think it really affects travel that much more for us. So I think it’s a huge positive.”
LAMORIELLO: DEVILS ARE NOT TOO SLOW
The Star-Ledger writes that Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said he isn’t pushing the panic button just because the team hasn’t won in its first six games (0-3-3) for the first time in club history.
Lamoriello also dismissed suggestions that the Devils are too slow.
“When you see an (Evander) Kane skate the way he did and (Michael) Grabner, they’re exceptional skaters and they can’t be allowed to use their assets,” Lamoriello said. “Overall, our people who can skate have to skate. It’s as simple as that. I do not feel we’re a slow team. We’re certainly not an overly fast team.
“In the Edmonton game, that is not a game we should have allowed to slip away, no matter what. To have success we have to dwell on our assets and expose the other team’s liabilities.”
ROY AS ADVERTISED FOR BLUES
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out that four games into a young season, free agent signee Derek Roy has two goals and three assists.
“Roy’s played well,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He’s exactly as advertised. He’s a dynamic offensive player learning to get that 200-foot game going and he’s getting better and better at it every day.”
Roy: “It feels good to contribute, they brought me here to do so and to come out in the first four games and put up some numbers is good for personal confidence, good for the confidence of the team.”
BOUCHARD DRAWS BACK IN FOR ISLANDERS
Newsday indicates Islanders coach Jack Capuano juggled his forward lines Monday and hinted that Pierre-Marc Bouchard, the veteran wing signed as a free agent in July, will return to the lineup after being scratched in Nashville. Bouchard skated with Frans Nielsen and Josh Bailey, two of the Isles’ best forwards so far.
“It’s a chance to get him some extra minutes and see what he can do,” Capuano said of Bouchard, who has no points and only one shot on goal in four games. “He’s got to give us more if he wants to play.”
Bouchard, who spent 10 seasons with the Wild, said the adjustment to a new team has been tougher than he expected.
“It’s still early in the season and I guess it’s taking me some time to get settled,” he said. “But at the same time, I know I can play better.”
PREDATORS LIKED BARKOV HEADED INTO DRAFT
The Nashville Tennessean reminds readers that when Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov dons his red-and-white jersey to face the Predators at Bridgestone Arena Tuesday, it will be a reminder that he could have just as easily been in gold and blue.
“I know he was high on our list,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said of the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft. “He’s a young guy and is physically quite developed, and he’s a big man. He has really good hands and seems to play a small-area game. He’s a good player.”
The fact that Barkov had played against men in the Finnish Elite League made him NHL-ready.
“He’s sort of a man-child if you will,” Trotz said.
The Predators ended up with Seth Jones, the consensus top player in the draft, according to multiple scouting services. The teams with the top three picks did not like the fact that he was a defenseman, a position that tends to take several years to pay dividends.
KINGS’ SUTTER ON CARCILLO
LA Kings Insider spoke with head coach Darryl Sutter, on Daniel Carcillo’s game and adjustments: “You move him around the lineup, put him in the lineup, take him out of the lineup, keep him challenged that way. Make sure he doesn’t take undisciplined penalties, make sure he doesn’t turn the puck over. He comes as advertised. He gives us some energy and you’re careful how much you use him. He’s a 10-to-12 minute player, so if he gets less than that, it’s because you don’t like something in his game, and if he gets more than that, it’s probably taking away from his game. Quite honest, it’s a good problem to have as coaches. Guys fighting over those few minutes of ice time.”
THEY TWEETED IT
Welcome the one and only @jimmyfallon to Stl. Class act and hilarious man. Excited for a great show #thankyounotes pic.twitter.com/HxTantwjJq
— David Backes (@dbackes42) October 15, 2013
#50 Gustavsson, 5 minutes before the game you're told you're playing today and after the game, you're the first star. How cool is that?
— Pavel Datsyuk (@Datsyuk13) October 14, 2013
7 WWE busses parked outside the rink today… @MichelleDBeadle would be in heaven pic.twitter.com/sPfrCqUox1
— Ian Cole (@ICole28) October 14, 2013
What a great show @tonymcguinness @paavo_s @jonogrant Thanks for the ticket!! #ABAcousticUSA #grouptherapy pic.twitter.com/cejesc0BaB
— Dustin Penner (@Dustinpenner25) October 14, 2013