[direwolf]

Good interview with Tkachuk posted today. I love this kid's attitude. He's definitely future captain material.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/man-...on/c-299823934

"We need a great year,'' Tkachuk says with typical bluntness. "We have to have one. I mean, it's time to really start dialing it in.

"It's time to expect great things out of ourselves and out of our team. We should all have high hopes, high expectations."

"These guys,'' says Tkachuk, "expect to win. Whether you signed on as a free agent or are here via trade, you're coming to Calgary because you see the team we have and can envision success.

"I'm not speaking from experience, of course, but a guy like James Neal, I assume, is even hungrier to get back to a final, and finish the job this time, after the past two years. And he chose Calgary as potentially the place to do that.

"That excites me.

"I more look it at as everyone on our team, in our organization, has pressure on themselves,'' he says. "Whether you have one year left on your deal, two years or seven or eight. Whether you're a veteran or in your first, second or third years.

"You cannot think about yourself - at all.

"For us, it's all about the team.

"I know a lot of guys are sick about how the last couple years have gone. What are our goals as a team this year and what as an individual can you do to help achieve those goals (is the mission).

"That's the only thing that matters.

"If people are putting themselves ahead of the group this year, I don't want that around. And I know nobody else does, either.

"We have to believe in ourselves, what we're capable of, and we can do great things."