Flames 2014 Training camp - rookies report Sept 11, main camp opens Sept 18

[MissTeeks]

Do you guys want all news in here or a new thread?

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=730850

Simply competing isn't going to be enough for the Calgary Flames in 2014-15.

Though the Flames continue their rebuilding project, coach Bob Hartley is demanding more.

"Progress is a big word right now in our vocabulary," said Hartley, who guided the Flames to a 35-40-7 record last season, good for 27th in the League standings. "We really want to make the next step, but at the same time I want this to be a giant step. I really believe that despite the fact that we're going to read everywhere that we're going to be ranked anywhere between 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th in the League by all the experts, I really believe that we can be a [Stanley Cup] Playoff team."

"Last year we established a slogan: Always earned, never given," Hartley said. "With this, you build accountability only if you respect the slogan. Everyone has slogans. If you don't stick to them they become words, and words have no power."

"It's so important for our veterans, for the players from last year and the new guys, to come in with the same attitude and the same work ethic that we ended the season with last year," Hartley said. "Whoever was on our team last year and he's coming back, we have a mandate and we have a job that whoever comes in, the Sam Bennett, the Mason Raymond, the Devin Setoguchi, we need to bring them into the mold right at Day 1 in camp.

"We want to be the hardest working team in the League again. Success starts with this."

Hartley needs his new players to pay immediate dividends.

"As a coach you hope for instant chemistry because you can fast-forward your progress much quicker," he said. "We'll take the time we need. Communication over here is real huge. I'm a firm believer in communicating with people, giving them roles, telling them what's expected of them. It's already been done."

One player needed to step up is second-year forward Sean Monahan, who had 22 goals as a rookie last season, four behind Cammalleri's team-lead.

"What he did last year as a first year guy is very impressive," Hartley said. "I had lots of fun working with him on a day-to-day basis, the way that not only he played, the way he was accepted by his teammates. Sometimes you get those young kids, they make it to the NHL and suddenly everything is easy and they act differently.

"With [Monahan], it was always the same great team player loved by his teammates. I really believe that he's going to be a huge leader for us. Huge leader, big minutes, and he's going to have a great season."

"Last year I think we were on the ball," Hartley said. "If you deserved it, you played. If you didn't, you didn't. That's going to be the same way at training camp. It's not a matter of height, age, size. It's not a matter of anything else other than if you compete and deserve it and fight for your spot and earn your spot.

"If you're 18, if you're 22, if you're 32, if you're 42, you'll be on the team."

[Street Pharmacist]

Here's fine

[icarus]

I really like that Hartley believes this can be a playoff team. Obviously odds are hugely against that, but if the coach doesn't promote that idea the team will lack belief and drive. So I'm pleased he didn't say, 'we just want to finish higher than last year' or something to that effect. He is the guy responsible for motivating this team.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Always like hearing Hartley's comments. Never gives dull answers.

What jumped out at me is when he said: "Whoever was on our team last year and he's coming back, we have a mandate and we have a job that whoever comes in, the Sam Bennett, the Mason Raymond, the Devin Setoguchi, we need to bring them into the mold right at Day 1 in camp."

I just found it interesting that he included Bennett there. I'm sure most of us here believe he'll be going back to Kingston, so to hear Hartley say that is interesting. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Sounds like Hartley is as impressed with the young guys as we are.

Treliving didn't make any big signings, but Hartley comes in with plenty of options and that must be great as coach. Training camp will be busy and there's going to be lots of decisions for Hartley and management to make pretty soon.

[djsFlames]

Said everything I was hoping to hear from the coach of this team heading into this camp.

Man, props to Hartley, prefect coach for this team.

[JohnnyT]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Always like hearing Hartley's comments. Never gives dull answers.

What jumped out at me is when he said: "Whoever was on our team last year and he's coming back, we have a mandate and we have a job that whoever comes in, the Sam Bennett, the Mason Raymond, the Devin Setoguchi, we need to bring them into the mold right at Day 1 in camp."

I just found it interesting that he included Bennett there. I'm sure most of us here believe he'll be going back to Kingston, so to hear Hartley say that is interesting. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Even if he does go back to Kingston I think that is still a really important step for all the prospects that are at camp. Creating that identity that we all enjoyed watching so much starts by getting guys to buy into to being a Calgary Flame on day 1 of camp, even if they're not still there by game 9 or 41 or 82 of the regular season.

[Freeway]

I think you're reading too much into it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Freeway

I think you're reading too much into it.

Hartley is just reiterating that everyone has an opportunity

[Finger Cookin]

Predictions on fittest Flame? Who's going to yak after the biking?

[Freeway]

Backlund is probably the fittest. Maybe Bouma.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Iginl... Oh wait, nevermind.

I'll go with Kanzig as the fittest Flame. Setoguchi as the least fittest Flame.

[djsFlames]

Fitness day always feels like such a waste of excitement. Might as well tell us camp starts tomorrow.

[Cflames_12.5]

I'll say Gio as the fittest Flame.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Fitness day always feels like such a waste of excitement. Might as well tell us camp starts tomorrow.

I have clinical depression, and find your posts over the last few days to be quite a downer. Maybe don't post for a bit until something that you find interesting has occurred?

[IliketoPuck]

I'll go with Backs. He did quite well in fitness testing last year iirc.

[djsFlames]

Lol.

Backlund will be the fittest. I think Johnny Gaudreau and Markus Granlund make the team. I predict that Hiller shuts out the Canucks in his debut. I think we go undefeated in the first two weeks of the season. Boom, positivity.

Please don't let me be the source of your depression. Hockey is (sort of) back, after all.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I have clinical depression, and find your posts over the last few days to be quite a downer. Maybe don't post for a bit until something that you find interesting has occurred?

I think the key is to try to not let what you read on the internet affect you too much.

Keep your chin up! Hockey season is pretty much here (which signals an end to baseball highlights on SC, thank god).

[codynw]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

I think the key is to try to not let what you read on the internet affect you too much.

Keep your chin up! Hockey season is pretty much here (which signals an end to baseball highlights on SC, thank god).

This is actually the best part about hockey season. I hate baseball so much.

[MissTeeks]

“@SUNRandySportak: We finally found out what sidelined #Flames Dennis Wideman the final 20 games last season. It was his neck. Said all good now.”

“@SUNRandySportak: #Flames D Ladislav Smid and his wife are expecting twins in February. “Be very busy soon,” he said.”

“@NHLFlames: Ladislav Smid is heading into his 1st Bob Hartley camp - "I hear it's a old school camp ... Hard practices."

“@ryanleslie73: Smid says no offence to Edm but Flames practices are a lot more like games.”