Johnny Gaudreau says his unresolved contract negotiations have taken a toll, but the World Cup of Hockey has been a welcome distraction.
"Throughout the whole summer and contract situation it's been so painful because every day it's something that's on my mind,” the Calgary Flames star and Team North America forward told Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun on Thursday.
"So this tourney has helped me not worry about that," Gaudreau said. "I can just play hockey, have fun, be part of the team, and hang out with teammates. It's been the easiest part of my summer without the contract situation there."
Gaudreau's representative is still free to negotiate on his behalf, though.
"I haven't even spoken to my agent in, like, a week and a half - I'll let him do whatever he thinks is best during the tournament."
He considered sitting out of the World Cup until he had a new agreement with Calgary, but couldn't pass up the chance to play in the tourney.
"I know we had a few discussions about me not playing if I didn't have a contract but you don't get many chances to play in the World Cup," he said.
"I was like, 'let's gets some insurance because I really want to play in this tournament.' Since I've been here I haven't worried about the contact at all - I've just had fun and forgot about the other things."
Gaudreau notched 30 goals and 78 points in his second full season with the Flames.
Johnny Gaudreau says his unresolved contract negotiations have taken a toll, but the World Cup of Hockey has been a welcome distraction.
"Throughout the whole summer and contract situation it's been so painful because every day it's something that's on my mind,” the Calgary Flames star and Team North America forward told Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun on Thursday.
"So this tourney has helped me not worry about that," Gaudreau said. "I can just play hockey, have fun, be part of the team, and hang out with teammates. It's been the easiest part of my summer without the contract situation there."
Gaudreau's representative is still free to negotiate on his behalf, though.
"I haven't even spoken to my agent in, like, a week and a half - I'll let him do whatever he thinks is best during the tournament."
He considered sitting out of the World Cup until he had a new agreement with Calgary, but couldn't pass up the chance to play in the tourney.
"I know we had a few discussions about me not playing if I didn't have a contract but you don't get many chances to play in the World Cup," he said.
"I was like, 'let's gets some insurance because I really want to play in this tournament.' Since I've been here I haven't worried about the contact at all - I've just had fun and forgot about the other things."
Gaudreau notched 30 goals and 78 points in his second full season with the Flames.
The Golden Jet will not be flying to Manitoba this fall.
Bobby Hull turned down an invitation to attend the inaugural Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October for personal reasons, the club announced Friday.
"It's a true honor to be inducted into the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame alongside my former linemates, and friends, Anders Hedberg, and Ulf Nilsson," Hull said in a a statement.
"While I will not be in attendance for the celebration, I want to thank the Jets for the special recognition and the wonderful fans of Winnipeg for all of their support throughout the years.”
The Jets expressed their disappointment in a statement of their own.
"The Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame was created to acknowledge the rich history of our team which began with the World Hockey Association and quickly reached international significance through the achievements of the Hotline," the club said.
"Accordingly, we are deeply disappointed that Mr. Hull has declined our invitation to join his teammates, Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson when we honor their collective accomplishments on October 19th and 20th."
Hull spent parts of eight seasons with the original Jets franchise (now the Arizona Coyotes) in the WHA and NHL from 1972-73 to 1979-80, scoring 307 goals with the club including three 50-plus-goal campaigns and a 77-goal season in 1974-75.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
Zuccarello is still coping with their departures, regardless of the motivation behind the deals.
"I know it's the business, I understand that," the forward said. "Management is doing what they think is best for the team to make us better. But as a human being and a friend, I don't appreciate it. I've lost my two best friends, and in that way I don't think about hockey. Personally, I'm really sad to lose them."
The Norweigan winger led the Rangers with 61 points last season, trailing only Brassard, his regular linemate, for the team lead in goals. Despite the changes, he's looking forward to playing in the new-look lineup.
"Management was looking to add speed to our core. It might be a little different for me. I don't know who I'm going to be with, but I'm really excited to see what it's going to be all about."
For Ben Bishop, the future doesn't have to unfold in secret.
In a sport where information is policed, and the truth often denied, the Tampa Bay Lightning netminder, entering a contract year at the height of his career this season with his future with the organization cast in doubt, instead offers marked transparency.
As someone obviously understanding of the Lightning's financial situation and the capabilities of his backup Andrei Vasilevskiy, Bishop spoke about the openness to which he's willing to discuss the brief negotiations that the Lightning and his representatives held with the Calgary Flames prior to the NHL draft.
"I don't think it's a big deal one way or the other. I think everybody realizes there's a business side to it. That happened, and it's over with and done with," Bishop told theScore in Toronto at the World Cup.
"I don't think there was any reason to hide it or deny it. I think we're all old, and mature, and can handle it. It wasn't like we got right to the end there and it didn't work out. We never got that close."
Until Bishop's traded, re-signed, or reaches unrestricted free agency, his status will exist as a fascinating subplot for the Lightning season, not unlike the Steven Stamkos saga of one year ago. Because this is a goaltender talented enough to make every NHL team better, and one that will unquestionably be on the radar for Las Vegas.
That said, his focus is on Tampa Bay, and an organization he would prefer to stick with for the remainder of his career.
"That's what my goal is," Bishop said. "I'm not really thinking about what might happen, I'm just worried about Game No. 1. The rest will take care of itself."
The two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, who has racked up more or as many wins as any other netminder in his three seasons with the Lightning, will back up Jonathan Quick on Saturday as Team USA opens its World Cup bid versus Team Europe.
Mere mention of the word "adventure" prompts a rush of fond memories. His eyes light up, a big smile appears from the bushy beard he swears is regularly maintained, and the NHL's most interesting, off-the-wall personality starts regaling with stories of his cross-country summer travels.
But like an eager kid rushing to get the words out, Burns gets momentarily hung up on the minutiae.
"We spent a little over two months in the RV," he began, in conversation with theScore. "Grand Canyon was amazing. The two-to-three days spent in the Rockies were unreal, driving through the mountains. I learned that you have to take air out of every tire. We had an air mattress; air sac blew going over the mountains. So you learn a few things. I brought a bunch of bags of chips from Canada back. All blew up over the Rockies. It sucked. Still rattled about that. My ketchup chips, my all-dressed chips.
"I'm going to have to reload while I'm here."
Burns' lesson in barometric pressure does well to encapsulate his refreshing spirit. Everything is fun. Everything is a worthwhile experience. Everything, and everyone, is fascinating. There is always something to learn, and a story to pass along.
And as Burns explains, his time in Toronto for the World Cup of Hockey - as a member of Team Canada - offers an environment just as stimulating as his voyages, along with the people, places, and things discovered along the way.
"One of the really cool things about getting to do these things is experiencing different coaches, different ways they look at hockey, and playing with different guys that you've played against. That's always one of my highlights," he said.
The inquisitive San Jose Sharks defenseman has taken a particular interest in Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock.
"His passion for hockey and exuberance at the rink is great," Burns said. "I like his little speeches before games, how he gets the boys going. I always thought he was more of a tactician, but there's so much more to him than that. He's cognizant about getting you to play loose, and playing your game within the details of his. He's been great."
Of course, there's much more to discover in the Canadian room, so Burns has been sourcing information from other elite talents, and the temporary teammates he'll soon compete with again on a nightly basis in the NHL.
Burns mentioned picking the brain of Jonathan Toews, the normally guarded Chicago Blackhawks captain who's recently opened up about the eccentricities of his lifestyle, and the holistic, evangelical training that goes into achieving "total human optimization." No wonder Toews has piqued Burns' interest.
But learning isn't limited to his conversations. Always the observer, Burns acquires information through different means, and with Team Canada, he's picking up nuances that make the greatest hockey players so uniquely special.
"Sid is the best player in the world and it's for a reason," Burns said. "You see Doughts (Drew Doughty), he's another elite defenseman. There aren't many better than him, if any. You get to watch a guy like him, how he prepares, and what he does at practice.
"You take things from everybody. Go down the list."
The reptile-farming, loud suit-wearing, beard oil-applying, military historian, and jiu jitsu practitioner - who got his first tattoo at age 11 - doesn't hide the fact that he's different. But at the crux of it, Burns is just like the other 22 players on Team Canada, and across the various rosters in Toronto for the World Cup.
He understands that everyone has their likes, dislikes, curiosities, profound interests, and eagerness to learn about things others find mundane. And like all professionals, Burns requires an avenue to escape every now and then.
"Some guys play guitar, some guys meditate, some guys do yoga. Whatever it is they do, they get away from the game and enjoy life," he said.
"I just have a couple different things I like to do."
The 28-year-old spent last season with the Vancouver Canucks, where he produced six goals and 18 points from the backend while playing a career-high 80 games.
Prior to last season he had spent his career with the Boston Bruins organization after being drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2008. In 211 career games he has six goals and 42 points.
Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Canucks announced today that 34 veterans will participate in the 2016 Training Camp. Players will report for physicals, medical exams and media availability at Rogers Arena on Thursday, September 22nd and take to the ...
Horcoff contributed six goals and 15 points in 59 games with the Ducks last season. He concludes his NHL career with 186 goals and 511 points in 1,008 games.
theScore caught up with Blake Wheeler at World Cup Media Day to discuss his leadership influences, and his new role as captain of the Winnipeg Jets.
theScore: In your unveiling as captain, you touched on learning from two great leaders in your career. Have you spoken to Zdeno Chara or Andrew Ladd since the announcement?
Wheeler: Yeah, I talked to Laddy. I was actually out at his place right after I found out. But not much had to be said. We've had a lot of conversations over the last few years, so I knew where he stood on things. He was a great mentor the whole time.
theScore: Will you change anything from the way he ran the room?
Wheeler: Pretty much all the advice I've gotten from everyone is to just be yourself. I'll continue to do what I do, try to set an example on the ice. I'll let guys like this (motions toward Dustin Byfuglien) be vocal in the room. I think we have a good mix.
theScore: How did Chara and Ladd contrast in their styles, and what were you able to pick up from each?
Wheeler: They were pretty similar. Preparation was a huge part of what they did. They are two of the hardest working guys I've ever played with. That's what comes with the territory. You have to be one of the hardest working guys, if not the hardest working guy every day. That reflected on what they did on a daily basis, in practice and in games.
theScore: Did you watch Chara with the expectation that you may be in those shoes one day, or was being attentive just sort of the smart thing to do as a young guy breaking into the league?
Wheeler: You look up to him in a lot of ways - literally and figuratively. He was such a commanding presence. The way he worked every day rubbed off on everyone. That was the example, and if you fell short of that, then he was going to make you look bad by how hard he worked. He brought everyone to his level (that way).
theScore: You were traded from Boston to Atlanta during a season in which the Bruins went on to win the Stanley Cup. What sort of perspective did you gain from that?
Wheeler: Just how close you came to it. It was a special group, obviously, and now you aspire to get back to that level.
theScore: Finally, what is the most important trait in a captain?
Wheeler: It's being the hardest working guy on your team. There are going to be days where it's tough to do that, but that's the most important thing. You have to (set) the example every single day, even (during) the tough days when you're not feeling so great. You're still consistent.
(Note: Interview was condensed and edited for clarity.)
