It's hard to imagine a more ideal rookie experience than the one Gabriel Landeskog is experiencing in Colorado.
From his first NHL game to his first goal, the Swedish native is having the time of his life, even in light of Colorado's struggles of late to win back-to-back games.
Not only is the Swedish native playing for the same club that his childhood hero, Peter Forsberg, played for, but he is doing so with a poise that has caught the attention of his veteran teammates. In just 23 NHL games, Landeskog is quietly carving a niche for himself as something of a power forward in Colorado while averaging 17:36 of time on ice per game.
"Right from the start of camp, he seemed very comfortable playing against guys who have played in the NHL and he's definitely proved that in these first [23] games," Daniel Winnik, Landeskog's linemate, told NHL.com.
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Player Profiles
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Player Profiles
Colorado's Landeskog enjoying rookie campaign
Saturday, 11.26.2011 / 11:46 AM / Player Profiles
Deborah Francisco - NHL.com Staff Writer
Giroux's star turn keeps Flyers among League's elite
Saturday, 11.26.2011 / 11:08 AM / Player Profiles
Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
The first glimpse of Claude Giroux's superstar status came March 14, 2010, in the waning seconds of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
As time was ticking down in regulation, Giroux flipped a picture-perfect saucer pass over two Blackhawks defenders that landed flat on Chris Pronger's blade for an easy deposit into the Chicago net with 2.1 seconds left in what became a 3-2 Flyers victory.
Watching from the bench was then-teammate Simon Gagne, who was reminded of another ex-Flyer.
"Maybe it's too early to make some comparisons with Peter Forsberg," Gagne told NHL.com, "but I did play with Peter, and he (Giroux) has pretty much the same style."
Fast forward a year and after a preseason game Sept. 26, Jaromir Jagr had his own flashback while watching Giroux.
As time was ticking down in regulation, Giroux flipped a picture-perfect saucer pass over two Blackhawks defenders that landed flat on Chris Pronger's blade for an easy deposit into the Chicago net with 2.1 seconds left in what became a 3-2 Flyers victory.
Watching from the bench was then-teammate Simon Gagne, who was reminded of another ex-Flyer.
"Maybe it's too early to make some comparisons with Peter Forsberg," Gagne told NHL.com, "but I did play with Peter, and he (Giroux) has pretty much the same style."
Fast forward a year and after a preseason game Sept. 26, Jaromir Jagr had his own flashback while watching Giroux.
Jagr finds comfort in successful return to NHL
Thursday, 11.24.2011 / 9:00 AM / Player Profiles
Kurt Dusterberg - NHL.com Correspondent
RALEIGH, N.C. -- It is the morning of a road game, the second of a back-to-back set. Just eight Philadelphia Flyers have taken the ice for the skate ahead of that night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes -- but Jaromir Jagr is a conspicuous presence among them.
When the informal group finally sets up in the faceoff circles to fire a few wrist shots at the goaltender, the 39-year-old Jagr pumps his first shot inside the near post. He curls out of the circle without a sound, but with a wide grin on his face.
That's what you notice first about Jagr. He seems happy. Toward the end of his first go-round in the NHL, that wasn't so obvious to the hockey world.
"I was always happy," Jagr told NHL.com as he shed his practice gear. "Sometimes you're happier than other times. I was happiest when I came into the League. You don't feel any pressure, any responsibility. You just go and play the game."
When the informal group finally sets up in the faceoff circles to fire a few wrist shots at the goaltender, the 39-year-old Jagr pumps his first shot inside the near post. He curls out of the circle without a sound, but with a wide grin on his face.
That's what you notice first about Jagr. He seems happy. Toward the end of his first go-round in the NHL, that wasn't so obvious to the hockey world.
"I was always happy," Jagr told NHL.com as he shed his practice gear. "Sometimes you're happier than other times. I was happiest when I came into the League. You don't feel any pressure, any responsibility. You just go and play the game."
Longtime Panther Weiss keys Florida's improvement
Tuesday, 11.22.2011 / 8:11 PM / Player Profiles
Alain Poupart - NHL.com Correspondent
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers are off to a great start in 2011-12, and their slew of newcomers has made a major impact. But perhaps the most important player in the team's early success is the guy who has been there the longest.
While Kris Versteeg is on a scoring spree, Brian Campbell is piling up the assists and Tomas Fleischmann comes up with dazzling plays on a regular basis, center Stephen Weiss is scoring big points with his all-around game.
"He's such a quiet guy that just goes about his business," first-year Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. "There's such a high level of professionalism when he comes to the rink. He has a really strong effect on our team. When he's playing well, which he's done for so much of this year – that really has been a bit of the heartbeat of our team.
"Stephen has really been the guy for me that has done such a quality job, not only offensively but against other teams' top lines as well. He's done a great job."
While Kris Versteeg is on a scoring spree, Brian Campbell is piling up the assists and Tomas Fleischmann comes up with dazzling plays on a regular basis, center Stephen Weiss is scoring big points with his all-around game.
"He's such a quiet guy that just goes about his business," first-year Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. "There's such a high level of professionalism when he comes to the rink. He has a really strong effect on our team. When he's playing well, which he's done for so much of this year – that really has been a bit of the heartbeat of our team.
"Stephen has really been the guy for me that has done such a quality job, not only offensively but against other teams' top lines as well. He's done a great job."
Flyers' Read staking claim as early Calder candidate
Tuesday, 11.22.2011 / 11:17 AM / Player Profiles
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA -- All this talk about possibly becoming the first player in Flyers history to win the Calder Trophy as the League's top rookie certainly hasn't gotten to wing Matt Read.
Still, as hard as it is to stay humble, the 25-year-old does on occasion lower his guard.
"I don't pay much attention to the other first-year players … I'm just worried about my game and what I need to do to improve," Read said.
He was then asked if he witnessed any part of the five-assist night by Edmonton Oilers rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Sunday in a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
"Yeah, I saw it and it was pretty impressive," Read said. "I watched it on 'NHL On the Fly.'"
Really, though, who could blame Read? Here's a kid who signed a one-way, three-year, $2.7 million free agent contract with the Flyers last March, suddenly being considered as much more than an admirable fill-in.
Still, as hard as it is to stay humble, the 25-year-old does on occasion lower his guard.
"I don't pay much attention to the other first-year players … I'm just worried about my game and what I need to do to improve," Read said.
He was then asked if he witnessed any part of the five-assist night by Edmonton Oilers rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Sunday in a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
"Yeah, I saw it and it was pretty impressive," Read said. "I watched it on 'NHL On the Fly.'"
Really, though, who could blame Read? Here's a kid who signed a one-way, three-year, $2.7 million free agent contract with the Flyers last March, suddenly being considered as much more than an admirable fill-in.
Crosby feeling butterflies as return approaches
Monday, 11.21.2011 / 12:55 PM / Player Profiles
Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer
"It's something I've thought about a lot over the last 10 months, so it's pretty exciting. You don't always get this anxious for games and this is one I can definitely say I'm anxious and excited for." -- Sidney Crosby
"It's something I've thought about a lot over the last 10 months, so it's pretty exciting," Crosby said Monday morning from Consol Energy Center. "You don't always get this anxious for games and this is one I can definitely say I'm anxious and excited for."
Nobody is quite sure how many minutes Crosby will be able to play Monday night against the Islanders, but there is no doubt in No. 87's mind that he's ready to contribute.
Crosby last played on Jan. 5 against Tampa Bay. He's missed 68 games, including 61 in the regular season, dealing with symptoms related to a concussion. He's been practicing since training camp opened on Sept. 17 and has been cleared for contact since Oct. 13, but he wasn't cleared to play in a game until Sunday.
Dupuis has stayed around for long haul in Pittsburgh
Friday, 11.18.2011 / 5:13 PM / Player Profiles
Alain Poupart - NHL.com Correspondent
SUNRISE, Fla. -- As the NHL anxiously awaits the return of Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to roll along.
Even after Thursday night's 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay, the Penguins are tied with Philadelphia for most points in the Eastern Conference with 25. That probably shouldn't be too surprising given the number of stars on the team besides Crosby, such as Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang and goalie Marc-André Fleury.
Pascal Dupuis, meanwhile, continues to quietly contribute to the Penguins' success. He may not attract a lot of attention outside of Pittsburgh, but Dupuis has been an important player for a few years.
Not bad for a guy who was considered by most -- including Dupuis himself -- as a throw-in in the trade that brought Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh on Feb. 27, 2008.
"Yeah, he was a throw-in, I guess, in that deal and now he's a big part of our team identity," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said after a Friday morning practice at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. "He's a big part of our leadership in our room and how he plays and also what he says."
Even after Thursday night's 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay, the Penguins are tied with Philadelphia for most points in the Eastern Conference with 25. That probably shouldn't be too surprising given the number of stars on the team besides Crosby, such as Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang and goalie Marc-André Fleury.
Pascal Dupuis, meanwhile, continues to quietly contribute to the Penguins' success. He may not attract a lot of attention outside of Pittsburgh, but Dupuis has been an important player for a few years.
Not bad for a guy who was considered by most -- including Dupuis himself -- as a throw-in in the trade that brought Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh on Feb. 27, 2008.
"Yeah, he was a throw-in, I guess, in that deal and now he's a big part of our team identity," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said after a Friday morning practice at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. "He's a big part of our leadership in our room and how he plays and also what he says."
Hornqvist hoping for more consistent scoring
Friday, 11.18.2011 / 10:44 AM / Player Profiles
John Manasso - NHL.com Correspondent
NASHVILLE -- The 2011-12 NHL season has been one of feast or famine for Patric Hornqvist -- and, to an extent, for his Nashville Predators as well.
After struggling through an injury to his right foot, Hornqvist, a 30-goal scorer and Swedish Olympian in 2009-10, failed to register a point through the first eight games of the season (he sat out one of them) as his team went 3-4-1.
Then the hunger seemed to intensify -- at least, that's how one of the Predators' senior statesmen saw it -- and Hornqvist set a club record with goals in six straight games, posting seven overall in that span. Hornqvist's goal-scoring streak was snapped on Nov. 9, but he earned three assists in that game, helping Nashville to a 5-1-1 mark as he totaled 11 points during that seven-game run.
Nashville is among the NHL's hottest teams --the Predators are 7-1-2 in their last 10 after a 4-1 home win against Toronto on Thursday.
After struggling through an injury to his right foot, Hornqvist, a 30-goal scorer and Swedish Olympian in 2009-10, failed to register a point through the first eight games of the season (he sat out one of them) as his team went 3-4-1.
Then the hunger seemed to intensify -- at least, that's how one of the Predators' senior statesmen saw it -- and Hornqvist set a club record with goals in six straight games, posting seven overall in that span. Hornqvist's goal-scoring streak was snapped on Nov. 9, but he earned three assists in that game, helping Nashville to a 5-1-1 mark as he totaled 11 points during that seven-game run.
Nashville is among the NHL's hottest teams --the Predators are 7-1-2 in their last 10 after a 4-1 home win against Toronto on Thursday.
Hurricanes' Staal shifts to wing to snap funk
Wednesday, 11.16.2011 / 3:30 PM / Player Profiles
Arpon Basu - Managing Editor LNH.com
"At the point where I was at, I was willing to try whatever. When you're minus a bunch and not contributing on the offensive side it's frustrating because you know you can, but it just wasn't happening. It was a different look and it's been pretty good so far." -- Eric Staal
But with Staal off to a miserable start to this season, sitting dead last in the League with a minus-17 rating, coach Paul Maurice had a novel idea to try and get his game on track – moving his top center to left wing on a line with Brandon Sutter and Chad LaRose.
"We've seen it work in the Olympics before," Maurice said Wednesday morning prior to the Hurricanes taking on the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. "Mind you, that's a lot to be asking Brandon Sutter to be Sidney Crosby."
Caps visit to Nashville rekindles Ward memories
Tuesday, 11.15.2011 / 4:27 PM / Player Profiles
John Manasso - NHL.com Correspondent
NASHVILLE -- Nashville Predators right wing Patric Hornqvist took a peak over his right shoulder and looked at the whiteboard in his locker room. There was the name of his former teammate, Joel Ward, penciled in on the right wing next to center Nicklas Backstrom and left wing Alex Ovechkin.
"We were talking about that earlier before the skate," Hornqvist said of the incongruity of thinking about his former teammate playing with two of the League's most prolific scorers. "It's always a good thing to see him doing well. He's a great guy."
Even for Ward, it has taken a while to get used to.
"It is definitely a different system, different style," he said. "Scoring goals here is, geez, I think, right across the room a lot of guys can definitely put the puck in the net here. We had times in Nashville where we really struggled with that, so we had to play a different style or system."
Ward, a 6-foot-1, 226-pound workman-like forward who spent the previous three seasons in Nashville, scoring only 10 goals last season but leading the Preds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 7 goals and 6 assists in 12 games, makes his return to Nashville on Tuesday, as his new team, Washington, visits the Preds.
"We were talking about that earlier before the skate," Hornqvist said of the incongruity of thinking about his former teammate playing with two of the League's most prolific scorers. "It's always a good thing to see him doing well. He's a great guy."
Even for Ward, it has taken a while to get used to.
"It is definitely a different system, different style," he said. "Scoring goals here is, geez, I think, right across the room a lot of guys can definitely put the puck in the net here. We had times in Nashville where we really struggled with that, so we had to play a different style or system."
Ward, a 6-foot-1, 226-pound workman-like forward who spent the previous three seasons in Nashville, scoring only 10 goals last season but leading the Preds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 7 goals and 6 assists in 12 games, makes his return to Nashville on Tuesday, as his new team, Washington, visits the Preds.
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