[News Roundup] September 25, 2016

[MissTeeks]

Calgary Flames hopefuls familiar with new coaching staff, eye opportunities

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...-opportunities

The opportunity is there.
Brad Treliving said so himself just a few days ago, proclaiming there were spots available for a handful of forwards on the Calgary Flames roster.
But whether or not Alex Chaisson seizes the day is up to him.
“For me, right now, it’s to come in and show what I’m capable of and just go back to the way I know I’m capable of playing,” he said as the Flames took to the Saddledome ice Saturday as training camp continued. “Hopefully, I’ll have a successful year here.
“(Thursday’s fitness testing) was a great day to show what everyone did in the summer and where you’re at physically. That’s one part. The other part is to get to know the guys and the environment and the new city. And when the opportunity is there to be successful, it’s to show what I’m capable of. Just take it step by step.”

However, Chaisson understands that, regardless of his connections, nothing will be gift-wrapped.
“I feel like the style of play like Glen uses … I know what he’s going to be asking out of me,” he said. “I think, for me, it’s to go back to what made me successful in the net and on the forecheck.
“At the same time, I know from talking to (Gulutzan), things aren’t going to be handed to me.”

Also familiar with Gulutzan and assistant coach Paul Jerrard (the former assistant coach with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Utica): Hunter Shinkaruk.
The 21-year-old left winger was in the Vancouver Canucks organization up until Feb. 22, when he was traded to the Flames for Markus Granlund.
Shinkaruk’s audition with the Flames was short:a seven-game NHL stint at the end of the 2015-16 campaign and 17 in the AHL. In that span, he scored twice and had an assist and added another six goals and six assists at the AHL level.
Given the opportunity with the Flames — the potential roster spots up for grabs — he wants to prove he can stick around.
“Absolutely. I feel ready,” Shinkaruk said. “I have the confidence from finishing off the season here last year. I feel like I belong in this league. I’m ready. I’m excited.
“I think I have a lot to bring to the table, and I can’t wait to show them my stuff.”
Like Chaisson, the familiarity does not guarantee Shinkaruk a roster spot or a regular place in the lineup, but the internal knowledge of what makes these coaches tick helps.
“I know (Gulutzan and Jerrard) both well,” Shinkaruk said. “Obviously, that’s good. They know the kind of kid I am. They know I love this game. They know there’s nothing I’d rather do than come to the rink. I’m excited for it. I just want to show my stuff.”

Eetu Tuulola chasing an NHL dream with Calgary Flames/Schneider settles in

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...calgary-flames

At their family home in Hameenlinna, Finland, Eetu Tuulola and his older brother Joni would fight the nine-hour time difference to watch National Hockey League games.
“Sometimes during the week, I would stay awake to watch some games,” Tuulola said. “But during the week, I didn’t usually watch them because they were too late.”
After becoming Calgary Flames property in June, selected in the sixth round (156th overall), Tuulola finds himself skating with some of those players he watched on television.
This weekend, as you could imagine, has been a thrill for the 18-year-old.
“The first time I walked into the locker-room, I saw all the NHL players and I was a little bit nervous because I’ve never been in this situation before,” Tuulola said. “I was a little nervous before I went on the ice. But I enjoyed my time. This is a good way to learn what the older guys do.”
Coincidentally, he attended his first NHL game in April’s season-finale between the Flames and the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul.
“It was before the under-18 world championship competition,” he said. “Our team staff took us to watch the Minnesota-Calgary game. That was kind of cool.”

But putting his first on-ice session at his first NHL camp into words?
“The first two minutes, I was like, ‘Oh my God. This is so cool,’” he said with a grin. “There are a lot of NHL players. Especially a lot of NHL players who I like to watch highlights of. This is pretty cool. After a bit, I realized it was just hockey, and I tried to do my best and leave a good impression.”

He’s gotten past the point of being star-struck.
Now, a year after signing his first entry-level contract, netminder Nick Schneider feels at home at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“I went through another development camp and it’s my second year, so I’m familiar with all the staff and the guys here,” said the undrafted Leduc native. “It’s a competitive camp. Being on the ice with Gillies and Elliott is pretty neat, too.”

While Gillies has a deep college resume, winning an NCAA championship with Providence, Elliott is a bonafide NHLer.
“Even just his presence,” Schneider said. “He’s a veteran guy in the league and has played lots of games. He’s really knowledgeable. You want to watch him pretty closely and pick up anything you can. He’s a really competitive guy. He wants to stop every single puck. Especially a guy who has been around the league that long, it shows. You can’t stop working; he keeps working and working and working.
“It’s pretty cool to see.”

Shinkaruk ready to net full-time role with Flames

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/comp...es/c-282117852

Hunter Shinkaruk knows he can get busy watching, or get busy playing.
He's been caught doing the former before.
In his fourth National Hockey League camp, he's only focused on the latter.
"For me it's just playing my game," said Shinkaruk, in his first September swing with the Calgary Flames after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks last February. "You can get wrapped up too much in watching what other guys are doing. For me, I just want to worry about myself.
"I want to be the best player on the ice in every practice. I want to use my speed in the games. Every time I have the puck I want to create something. If I do that, I feel confident in my ability that I'm not just going to make it but I'm going to make it as a guy who's going to help this team win this year.
That's what I want.
"I want that opportunity. I feel like I'm ready for it.

"Competition is good and we wanted to have competition here," said Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan, who served as an assistant with the Canucks last season. "We do have spots open.
"For a guy like Hunter, he looks around and says it's time for him to up his game and win a spot. Same with Lauri and [Higgins]. They're here to win a spot. I think the competition is healthy. There's no question it's healthy."
The 21-year-old isn't about to shy away from it.
"There's good players in every NHL camp," Shinkaruk said. "At the end of the day, it's the NHL for a reason. You have to beat out the best players in the world. With those guys … they're great players. I really respect what they've done in their careers. But when I come into camp I'm not looking at them as someone I want to watch. I feel like if I go out and play my game it's going to speak for itself."

Higgins hopes experience can help net contract

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/higg...ct/c-282113858

It's unfamiliar territory for Chris Higgins.
Sure, he's at a National Hockey League training camp for the 14th time in his career.
But breaking in with the Calgary Flames this fall is the first time the Smithtown, NY native is working without a net.
Higgins, an unrestricted free agent, is camping without a contract.
"It is different, but I've never approached a camp as if I'm expecting to make the team," said Higgins. "If you don't play well they'll get rid of you. You've seen that 'x' number of times. It happens. If you don't play well they're going to get rid of you.
"It's the same case for me right now."

A foot in the door and an ear to bend, it seems.
"We've had Chris for three years in Vancouver and I know the guys in Calgary liked him as well," Gulutzan said. "It's a good veteran guy to bring to camp, to surround with some of our young guys. He's a good person.
He came in in great shape. The conversations were just that…that there's an opportunity here and we have some needs and we think he can fill one of them."
Higgins has every reason to believe that.
"I have confidence in myself," he said. "I have a good relationship with Glen.
"I don't think he would lie to me.
"I've talked to him a number of times over the summer. I've always had a good relationship with him. I think some of the things I do well are some of the things they didn't do well here last year. I think it could be a really good fit."

Injured Backlund returning to Calgary

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/inju...ry/c-282105342

Team Sweden will continue on at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 in Toronto, but they'll do so without Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund.
Backlund will return to Calgary on Saturday after sustaining a concussion in a tournament game against Team Finland on Tuesday.
"He's on his way back," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We don't expect him to be on the ice tomorrow. He'll be evaluated with our guys and get with our group. I know Sweden announced he's out. He's flying back to Calgary. He'll be here tonight, I believe. We'll get our guys to evaluate him and see where he's at."

[fanman]

Always look forward to these threads. Keep up the fine work MissTeeks!

[IgiTang]

Great read. Thanks.

A lot of talk about earning it as nothing is given.. That said, it sure comes across as though Higgins, if he can keep his play somewhat above average, he may have a spot on the Flames. That bothers me. I don't see where he would fit at all. I don't see what he would bring to this team that he thinks the Flames were missing last year.

In any respect, he better be a better version of himself this time around than he was when he last wore the Flaming C.