MissTeeks
09-20-2015, 07:46 PM
Johnson: Ferland not taking anything for granted
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/johnson-ferland-not-taking-anything-for-granted
But there during Friday morning’s Team McCrimmon-Team McDonald scrimmage was munitions expert Micheal Ferland, sights locked-in on his target in the corner out at WinSport, lighting the fuse on another stick of blasting gelatin and …
Kablooey!
Blowing up new-boy Dougie Hamilton just as if he were, well, old-guy Kevin Bieksa.
An equal-opportunity demolition man, then, unswayed by age, nationality, religious affiliation, or, apparently, organizational ties.
“It’s hockey,’’ shrugged Ferland. “It’s camp. They want us to be competitive. I went in the corner and finished my check. He got me back. We had a little laugh about it later. He’s a big, strong kid. Just part of the game.’’
Hamilton, too, seemed nonplussed. Even managed not to mangle the kid’s name into “Ferkland” (although the ex-Bruin did appear far from jolly moments after being wallpapered).
“The coaches expect you to practise the way you play.’’ Pause. “But I did tell him not to do it again.’’
And from where Ferland found himself even a year ago at this time to auditioning for featured billing on the top line is like graduating from regional dinner theatre to seeing your name in blinking lights on a Broadway marquee or in London’s West End.
“Playing with those two guys,’’ said Ferland, “you want to make room for them out there, but at the same time you want to make plays with them. You don’t just want to be … out there, taking up space. I’ve been talking with them a lot, asking them ‘Where do you guys want me?’
Most of it so far has been in front of the net and just be ready for the puck.
“It’s a transition, for sure, but I’ve played with skilled guys before.
“I think they kinda slow the game down. They’re both so good with the puck. You just don’t want to get in their way.
“Do I want to stay there? Yeah. For sure. I’d love to play with them. Who wouldn’t? But I’ll play with any line to play on this team.
“I’m still trying out, battling hard to stick on this roster.’’
“No statues,’’ advised the GM, adopting a cautionary tone, “until you’ve done something to deserve one.
“We think a lot of Micheal, but the reality is what everybody talks about, the playoffs, was a small sample size. The big sample size was a little up and down, right? There were good pieces and … started strong, then up and down, and finished strong, two-week stretch when everybody’s wired for sound.
“He understands that. He isn’t taking anything for granted. There are a lot of guys in that boat.
“I really like his mindset, which is: I’ve still got to make the team.’’
Micheal Ferland, in both actions and words, vows not to let that happen. Despite the protracted but shiny two-year, one-way $1.65 million contract agreed upon, he isn’t just playing to make the first line, he’s playing to establish himself as an 82-game player, a 15-season player, not merely some six-game, flavour-of-the-month playoff darling.
“Look at his conditioning,’’ praised Hartley. “What he has done off the ice allows him to discover himself as a hockey player at his full potential. He never knew how good he was because he never gave himself a chance.
“I have lots of trust in Ferly.
“Hey, he might some mistakes as a rookie, he might have some ups and downs, but there are not too many power forwards coming up in our game that are better than Ferly today.’’
Flames set to shift camp into another gear with dawn of preseason action
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-set-to-shift-camp-into-another-gear-with-dawn-of-preseason-action
For some, it’s a complete blur.
For Dougie Hamilton, details of his first National Hockey League pre-season game in 2011 are still pretty clear.
As the Boston Bruins’ ninth overall pick that summer, the lanky teenager was trying to make an impression in his first NHL training camp and, after playing with Zdeno Chara (his future D-partner in Beantown) during scrimmages, he drew into his first pre-season game — Sept. 21, playing with fellow rookie David Warsofsky against the Ottawa Senators.
“I got sent home after that,” Hamilton said with a chuckle on Sunday, following the Calgary Flames final day of scrimmages at WinSport’s facilities.
OK. So, not a happy ending.
He returned to the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara Ice Dogs and scored 17 goals and 55 assists in 50 regular season games and made the Bruins the following year.
But, after getting a taste of the NHL experience, the 22 year old does recall wanting more.
“It was kind of cool, for me,” said Hamilton who has since logged 178 regular season NHL games. “It’s obviously pretty fast. You grow up watching it on TV and it kind of hits you a little bit. It’s definitely something I’ll never forget. I’ll always remember that game.
“You just try and enjoy it and learn as much as you can and have fun.”
Meanwhile, Deryk Engelland is off to Edmonton for Monday’s split-squad game at Rexall (McDavid’s Place).
Which will, for sure, bring back memories of his first-preason clash — a road game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning when he was in the Pittsburgh Penguins system.
“We had a pretty tough team and I could not find a fight,” said the Flames defenceman with a chuckle. “We had three or four guys that fought quite a bit. Everyone was like rushing to get into a fight so I was kind of ticked about that.”
The play, at times, can be sloppy.
The pace, at times, can be unpredictable.
But it’s a start.
“The first three days is always Step 1,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “We want to get the guys on the ice, certain lines and things. (Monday) you might see other line combinations. The beauty of the doubleheader allows us to play lots of kids. Starting (Monday), another phase of training camp begins.
“The intensity has to crank up. I’m very pleased with the first three days, but starting tomorrow we challenge the guys to find another gear.”
Agostino shines in Flames' camp scrimmages, ready for preseason
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/agostino-shines-in-flames-camp-scrimmages-ready-for-preseason
Kenny Agostino is past the point of making first impressions with the Calgary Flames.
The 23-year-old left winger has done that already, back in 2013-14 when he played eight regular season games following the Jarome Iginla trade which saw Agostino plopped on Calgary’s doorstep.
And in his first NHL training camp last fall — after four years at Yale University — Agostino also skated in two pre-season games, both against the Vancouver Canucks.
But he’s never turned heads quite like he did this past weekend, scoring twice in two training camp friendlies and fitting in nicely with linemates Markus Granlund and Josh Jooris.
“I think I scored in the scrimmages last year,” Agostino said on Sunday, skating for Team McDonald at WinSport arenas. “But in terms of overall play, I think I’m making a lot more plays. I think I’m setting things up away from the play. I feel good.
“I feel like I’ve put together three good days here.”
In other words, Agostino is moving in the right direction heading into his first pre-season game Monday. He’ll be playing on a line with Klimchuk and Granlund in Edmonton against the Oilers.
“I think going through everything last year, you can’t replace experience,” said Agostino of his second go-round at fall auditions. “This year, I was way more comfortable at the rookie tournament. It was my first pro training camp and my first pro season, I really think my game’s improved.
“I feel more confident out there.”
And it shows.
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/johnson-ferland-not-taking-anything-for-granted
But there during Friday morning’s Team McCrimmon-Team McDonald scrimmage was munitions expert Micheal Ferland, sights locked-in on his target in the corner out at WinSport, lighting the fuse on another stick of blasting gelatin and …
Kablooey!
Blowing up new-boy Dougie Hamilton just as if he were, well, old-guy Kevin Bieksa.
An equal-opportunity demolition man, then, unswayed by age, nationality, religious affiliation, or, apparently, organizational ties.
“It’s hockey,’’ shrugged Ferland. “It’s camp. They want us to be competitive. I went in the corner and finished my check. He got me back. We had a little laugh about it later. He’s a big, strong kid. Just part of the game.’’
Hamilton, too, seemed nonplussed. Even managed not to mangle the kid’s name into “Ferkland” (although the ex-Bruin did appear far from jolly moments after being wallpapered).
“The coaches expect you to practise the way you play.’’ Pause. “But I did tell him not to do it again.’’
And from where Ferland found himself even a year ago at this time to auditioning for featured billing on the top line is like graduating from regional dinner theatre to seeing your name in blinking lights on a Broadway marquee or in London’s West End.
“Playing with those two guys,’’ said Ferland, “you want to make room for them out there, but at the same time you want to make plays with them. You don’t just want to be … out there, taking up space. I’ve been talking with them a lot, asking them ‘Where do you guys want me?’
Most of it so far has been in front of the net and just be ready for the puck.
“It’s a transition, for sure, but I’ve played with skilled guys before.
“I think they kinda slow the game down. They’re both so good with the puck. You just don’t want to get in their way.
“Do I want to stay there? Yeah. For sure. I’d love to play with them. Who wouldn’t? But I’ll play with any line to play on this team.
“I’m still trying out, battling hard to stick on this roster.’’
“No statues,’’ advised the GM, adopting a cautionary tone, “until you’ve done something to deserve one.
“We think a lot of Micheal, but the reality is what everybody talks about, the playoffs, was a small sample size. The big sample size was a little up and down, right? There were good pieces and … started strong, then up and down, and finished strong, two-week stretch when everybody’s wired for sound.
“He understands that. He isn’t taking anything for granted. There are a lot of guys in that boat.
“I really like his mindset, which is: I’ve still got to make the team.’’
Micheal Ferland, in both actions and words, vows not to let that happen. Despite the protracted but shiny two-year, one-way $1.65 million contract agreed upon, he isn’t just playing to make the first line, he’s playing to establish himself as an 82-game player, a 15-season player, not merely some six-game, flavour-of-the-month playoff darling.
“Look at his conditioning,’’ praised Hartley. “What he has done off the ice allows him to discover himself as a hockey player at his full potential. He never knew how good he was because he never gave himself a chance.
“I have lots of trust in Ferly.
“Hey, he might some mistakes as a rookie, he might have some ups and downs, but there are not too many power forwards coming up in our game that are better than Ferly today.’’
Flames set to shift camp into another gear with dawn of preseason action
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-set-to-shift-camp-into-another-gear-with-dawn-of-preseason-action
For some, it’s a complete blur.
For Dougie Hamilton, details of his first National Hockey League pre-season game in 2011 are still pretty clear.
As the Boston Bruins’ ninth overall pick that summer, the lanky teenager was trying to make an impression in his first NHL training camp and, after playing with Zdeno Chara (his future D-partner in Beantown) during scrimmages, he drew into his first pre-season game — Sept. 21, playing with fellow rookie David Warsofsky against the Ottawa Senators.
“I got sent home after that,” Hamilton said with a chuckle on Sunday, following the Calgary Flames final day of scrimmages at WinSport’s facilities.
OK. So, not a happy ending.
He returned to the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara Ice Dogs and scored 17 goals and 55 assists in 50 regular season games and made the Bruins the following year.
But, after getting a taste of the NHL experience, the 22 year old does recall wanting more.
“It was kind of cool, for me,” said Hamilton who has since logged 178 regular season NHL games. “It’s obviously pretty fast. You grow up watching it on TV and it kind of hits you a little bit. It’s definitely something I’ll never forget. I’ll always remember that game.
“You just try and enjoy it and learn as much as you can and have fun.”
Meanwhile, Deryk Engelland is off to Edmonton for Monday’s split-squad game at Rexall (McDavid’s Place).
Which will, for sure, bring back memories of his first-preason clash — a road game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning when he was in the Pittsburgh Penguins system.
“We had a pretty tough team and I could not find a fight,” said the Flames defenceman with a chuckle. “We had three or four guys that fought quite a bit. Everyone was like rushing to get into a fight so I was kind of ticked about that.”
The play, at times, can be sloppy.
The pace, at times, can be unpredictable.
But it’s a start.
“The first three days is always Step 1,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “We want to get the guys on the ice, certain lines and things. (Monday) you might see other line combinations. The beauty of the doubleheader allows us to play lots of kids. Starting (Monday), another phase of training camp begins.
“The intensity has to crank up. I’m very pleased with the first three days, but starting tomorrow we challenge the guys to find another gear.”
Agostino shines in Flames' camp scrimmages, ready for preseason
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/agostino-shines-in-flames-camp-scrimmages-ready-for-preseason
Kenny Agostino is past the point of making first impressions with the Calgary Flames.
The 23-year-old left winger has done that already, back in 2013-14 when he played eight regular season games following the Jarome Iginla trade which saw Agostino plopped on Calgary’s doorstep.
And in his first NHL training camp last fall — after four years at Yale University — Agostino also skated in two pre-season games, both against the Vancouver Canucks.
But he’s never turned heads quite like he did this past weekend, scoring twice in two training camp friendlies and fitting in nicely with linemates Markus Granlund and Josh Jooris.
“I think I scored in the scrimmages last year,” Agostino said on Sunday, skating for Team McDonald at WinSport arenas. “But in terms of overall play, I think I’m making a lot more plays. I think I’m setting things up away from the play. I feel good.
“I feel like I’ve put together three good days here.”
In other words, Agostino is moving in the right direction heading into his first pre-season game Monday. He’ll be playing on a line with Klimchuk and Granlund in Edmonton against the Oilers.
“I think going through everything last year, you can’t replace experience,” said Agostino of his second go-round at fall auditions. “This year, I was way more comfortable at the rookie tournament. It was my first pro training camp and my first pro season, I really think my game’s improved.
“I feel more confident out there.”
And it shows.