[Nehkara]

O’Brien on waivers, Wideman’s woes, Smid not practising

O’BRIEN ON WAIVERS

O’Brien’s next rest stop doesn’t appear to be Calgary — he didn’t practise at the Corral. And his dressing-room stall had been completely cleaned out. Name plate gone, too.

WIDEMAN’S WOES

Prior to Saturday’s practice, coach Bob Hartley and Wideman skated at least a half-dozen laps together. The conversation? Animated . . . and one-sided.

“Just telling him to, right now, unplug,” said Hartley. “Things are not going well for Wides. I told him, ‘Hey, sometimes you’re on the ice and things don’t go your way, pucks end up in your net — and you’re not the responsible guy.’ I said, ‘Hey, enjoy today. Enjoy (Sunday’s) day off. Monday, let’s go back to work.’ We definitely need a guy like Dennis Wideman.”

WHERE’S SMID?

“Whatever you want to call it. All-over-the-body maintenance.”

BRODIE SURGING

Hartley was asked how often he tells Brodie to jump into the rush, to attack more.

“Yes, I remind him every day — every day,” replied Hartley, grinning. “It’s starting to sink in, I guess. T.J. doesn’t know how good he is. That’s going to grow with maturity, with experience. He’s still a very young player for us.

Good article. Worth reading. It's pretty cool that the Flames have turned a low 4th round pick in 2008 into a very promising D-man for the present and future in Brodie.