[transplant99]

And some other stuff.

“Totally different guy,” Hartley said. “We can talk about all the new additions and everything, but him and (Dennis Wideman) are definitely two of our leaders and two guys that, starting from day one of training camp, they were totally different players for us.

“I think he’s our offensive motor,” Hartley added about Hudler. “His vision and his experience, obviously, serves this young team very well. He’s a fun guy to work with. He’s obviously a big contributor on the ice, and he takes care of the kids after practices, in the room and things. He’s bringing good leadership on top of great hockey.”

Watching over the kids includes having prized Flames rookie Sean Monahan living at his home.

“He eats a lot — that’s for sure,” Hudler quipped. “I liked him since I met him in training camp. He’s a good guy. He’s an honest person and fun to be around, too. He’s funny, and he makes me laugh. I’m glad that he’s on the team.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/10/12...er-of-the-pack

“Just minor bruises,” Flames head coach Bob Hartley said.

When asked whether Backlund’s absence had to do with the shot-block, Hartley replied:

“We have lots of goalies. We’ll have to call the NHL, and the NHL, in the goalie stats, will have to add a few names. We have a few guys who are bumped, but Backs is nothing serious. He should be on the ice on Monday morning.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/10/12...isses-practice

“Part of winning games is sacrificing,” Hartley said after Saturday’s practice.

“I think with the guys that we went to get, plus our own guys, the word ‘commitment’ has a new meaning for this organization.

“It’s about sacrificing ourselves.

“We’re not looking for heroes and stuff like this.

“We’re looking for guys who will do what it takes to win.

“There’s no magic recipes, but right now, it seems to be working for us.
“I’m not on top of the Saddledome yelling at the world that we need to block shots, but I’m in the (dressing) room telling them that we need to block shots.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/10/12...crificing-body

“I really believe there’s two reasons why we’re playing the kind of hockey that we are right now,” coach Bob Hartley said after this morning’s skate.

“No. 1, all the great workers that basically performed a miracle (after the flood) to get this rink ready for training camp. We were in our offices. We were in the gym. We didn’t have to travel all around Western Canada to play hockey. It may sound like a very weak point, but I think it’s a major point.

“And No. 2, our conditioning level. Those guys really committed from the exit meeting last year. They had a great summer. Looking at the results from testing, it’s just unbelievable. That allowed us to have a great camp, with very few minor injuries. Right now we have good jump in our game.

“I think it’s paying off for us.”

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/...ost=v2#content

When the reportorial silliness surrounding Joe Thornton came out the other day, the first question in my mind was: Would Bob McKenzie have reported Thornton’s rather funny and not necessarily newsworthy dressing room comment?

Would Lance Hornby have? Would Elliotte Friedman have? Would Eric Duhatschek have? Would any of the most respected and regarded reporters in hockey have gone public with Thornton’s made-for-locker-room retort.

My gut reaction: No.

We all have heard things over the years, some funny, some silly, some disgusting off the cuff dressing room comments, often from player to player, away from notebooks and tape recorders. Hockey players — all athletes really — can be rather childish in their own environments, their locker rooms or dressing rooms. Those of us who do our jobs in and around that area have to understand and respect the fine line between what is news, what is reporting and what is, in fact, play.

Anyone who has been in the media industry around sports for any period of time has been exposed to some kind of Joe Thornton moment. We laugh. We chuckle about it as if it’s our own private joke. And we move on.

Which is all that should have happened in Vancouver this time around.