FLAMES COACH SAYS EFFORT IS THERE FROM NEAL
Goals haven’t come yet, but Peters isn’t concerned about big free agent signing
The conversation about James Neal began with the topic of his rapid approach to 500 points in the NHL.
Heading into Wednesday’s game at Honda Center, the 31-year-old Calgary Flames winger was at 499 (266 goals and 233 assists in 718 games); no ordinary feat and a demonstration of his longevity and skill.
That consistency is one of general manager Brad Treliving ’s reasons for inking Neal to a fiveyear, US$28.75-million contract.
Yet with only three goals and one assist in 15 games (prior to Wednesday), his debut in Calgary has left something to be desired.
When asked about seeing signs of breaking through, especially after scoring the game-tying goal in a 6-5 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 1, head coach Bill Peters had this to say:
“When you wake up in the morning, you have to choose your attitude. You can say, ‘I’m going to go have a sh***y day’ and can execute that if you want. You can really have a sh***y day if you really wanted to. Or you go, ‘I’m going to dig in and go to work and, you know what? I’m going to be good today.’
“I like to be good. I like to win the day and go from there. So, Nealer’s fine.”
Peters praised the work Neal has done on the Flames’ second line with Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund, which is where he played Wednesday.
He’s mostly been on the team’s third line with Mark Jankowski and Sam Bennett and, occasionally, Dillon Dube.
FEELING FOR COACH Q
When Michael Frolik joined the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline during the 2010-11 NHL season, his role completely changed.
At the time, the Czech native played a top-six offensive role with the Florida Panthers and was used to seeing power-play time before joining an already offensively-laden Blackhawks team.
Head coach Joel Quenneville gave him a choice.
“I remember my second season there, he took me in and said, ‘Hey look, this is going to be your role. You’re going to play PK every time and you’ll start with Kruger,’” Frolik recalled.
In other words, take it. Or leave it.
“It extended my career, I would say,” Frolik said. “When you learn those things, playing PK and defence, that type of game, it grows you as a player. (Quenneville) taught me that.”
Frolik was shocked to hear the longtime Blackhawks boss, whose teams won three Stanley Cups, had been fired Tuesday.
The Flames winger described him as a “bit old-school” but indicated he was well-liked by his players.
“He was definitely there a long time,” Frolik said. “He was a great guy, a great coach … it sucks … but obviously, it’s the hockey business and those things happen.
“It’s always a surprise when a guy like that gets fired. But I guess this is the business we live in. And what he accomplished there was unbelievable. He’ll be remembered there forever.”
VIEW FROM ANAHEIM
The Calgary Flames are playing differently under new head coach Bill Peters.
But according to Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle it’s more of a shift in trend throughout the NHL.
“There isn’t a tremendous amount of difference in the styles that teams are trying to adopt,” Carlyle said. “It’s consistent through the league. There is a lot more stretching, a lot more longbomb plays. A lot more four-men rushes. It’s a higher tempo game with less physicality.”
The Ducks stress puck management rather than making “Hail Mary” plays.
He pointed out Calgary’s emphasis on involving their blue-liners.
“If you look at the Calgary Flames template, that’s basically what they’re trying to do is involve their ‘D’ in every rush,” Carlyle said. “(Mark) Giordano is up the ice. (TJ) Brodie is up the ice. (Travis) Hamonic is up the ice. They’ve got a contingent of defencemen that like to join the rush and have a skill set up front that if you give them time and space, you’re going to be in trouble.”
DUBE PLACED ON IR
The Flames placed Dillon Dube on injured reserve Wednesday as the rookie centre continues to deal with concussion symptoms. The 20-year-old native of Cochrane was hit hard into the boards by Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith in Saturday’s 5-3 win and did not travel with the team to California.
“He’ll stay behind and get treatment and do what he can and we’ll see where he’s at,” Peters said. “He’ll take as much time as he needs. Obviously, those are unique situations when guys have concussions. He’s in the protocol, but hopefully it isn’t long.”
The team recalled right winger Anthony Peluso from the Stockton Heat (American Hockey League), his second call-up after he was summoned on Oct. 6. He stayed with the team until Oct. 25 when the Flames re-activated Travis Hamonic.
He started Wednesday’s game on the fourth line with Austin Czarnik and Mark Jankowski.