Jagr’s wisdom, Crosby’s secret
Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr — the oldest player in the NHL, at 44 — says he loves the game now more than ever, but he got a little philosophical in his latest pass through Toronto: “The thing that would naturally slow you down when you get older is responsibility. As a young kid coming in, you go and play. You don’t think what can happen — like life. When you’re 18 you drive the car differently than when you’re 40. Same in hockey. You play differently when you are 18 than when you are 40. The car, you go the fastest. You don’t think you can get killed. That’s the big thing that’s slowing the older players down, a little bit of fear of what can happen.”
CUP TO CUP: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby credits the World Cup for his fast start. “It was beneficial coming off the World Cup, playing high-intensity hockey,” he told the New York Times. “I felt like I was starting off right.” Crosby, who helped Team Canada win the Cup at the ACC, had 12 goals in 13 games heading into Wednesday night, among the league leaders despite missing six games with a concussion.
STROME APPROACHING: Coyotes GM John Chayka and coach Dave Tippett met with centre Dylan Strome for breakfast Sunday, breaking the news that they were sending the rookie back to the OHL’s Erie Otters. They said Strome’s development could be aided by playing for Canada in the world junior championship, which starts on Boxing Day in Toronto and Montreal. “He’ll go back and have a chance to be a top player in that tournament,” Tippett told the Arizona Republic. “That, I think, continues the learning curve for him.”