Author: Colin Campbell

Cal Foote ready for training camp with Lightning

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BRANDON, FL – Cal Foote never has to go far for advice on how to prepare for a career in the NHL.

The 19-year-old defenseman, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the No. 14 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, just turns to his father, Adam, who played 19 NHL seasons and won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and 2001.

“We’re a hockey family through and through with my dad, my mom and my brother,” Foote said. “So we’re always talking about hockey and my dad is always there to tell us about his experiences in the NHL and offer advice on what we can do to be the best players we can be.”

Sean Walker: LA King Prospect On the Rise

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ONTARIO, CA – Sean Walker signed his first professional contract, an AHL deal, with the Reign prior to the 2017-18 season. Walker’s professional career began after a four-season tenure at Bowling Green State University, where he served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons. Walker amassed 80 points (22-58-80) over the course of his four years with the Falcons, including a career-best 24 points (10-14-24) as a senior during the 2016-17 season. No Bowling Green blueliner tallied more goals in a single season than Walker’s 10 since 1995-96, when Kelly Pritchard scored 14.

Trouba gets $5.5 million from Jets for this season in arbitration

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WINNIPEG, MB –  Jacob Trouba was awarded a one-year, $5.5 million contract from the Winnipeg Jets by an arbitrator Sunday.

The 24-year-old defenseman and Winnipeg had an arbitration hearing in Toronto on Friday, and the arbitrator had a 48-hour deadline to render a decision.

The Jets have 48 hours to decide whether they will accept the decision or decline it and allow Trouba to become an unrestricted free agent. If it’s accepted, he could become an RFA on July 1, 2019.

Colorado Avalanche: JT Compher is a Crafty, Calculating Player

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DENVER, CO –  Many people see Colorado Avalanche forward J.T. Compher and think he is a quiet shy kid. However I think he is more quiet and calculating. Compher has classic RBF (resting bitch face) that some people love and some people hate. He is known to stare blankly at the opponent as if he is trying to take their soul. Colora analyst Peter McNab once called it a dead stare. Maybe that is just in his nature.

After watching a game where he just blankly stared at the opponent, my dad and I wondered if he was doing that as a smart move to draw a penalty… if he was being a jerk…. or if he just really wasn’t there in that moment. So to figure it out, I made a sign.

NHLers like Larkin among reasons local hockey league is special

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MT. CLEMENS, MI – The idea was hatched 10 years ago by Steven Oleksy.

Oleksy, from Chesterfield Township, is a pro hockey player who has won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh and is currently in the Anaheim Ducks’ organization.

Oleksy wanted to stay sharp and in game shape in the offseason.

“The college guys, pro guys, they can’t just go back and play in a regular senior league,” Oleksy said. “So what do you do to stay in game shape?”

Oleksy, 32, believes southeast Michigan has some of the best hockey talent anywhere in North America. So, why not gather a lot of that talent in one rink?

“I wanted to create something to bring everyone together,” said Oleksy, who started the Eastside Elite Hockey League. “It took some time to build it to where I wanted it to be. But what it’s become over the last 10 years is absolutely incredible.”

Can Jets, Trouba get deal done? Arbitration date is looming for blue-liner

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WINNIPEG, MB – The moment of truth is about to arrive for Jacob Trouba and the Winnipeg Jets.

With an arbitration date set for Friday in Toronto, the clock is ticking for the two sides to get a deal done before the case is heard.

Although each one is different, historically speaking, arbitration cases have been known to cause friction and hard feelings – either in the short term and/or the long term – since the shortcomings of the player are often brought to light by the team in an effort to keep the salary at a more manageable level.

Speaking of history, the fact Trouba sat out the early portion of the 2016-17 season during a contract dispute is something that can’t be ignored, though both sides simply see it as water under the bridge.

Red Wings star Dylan Larkin grows as a leader, coach at annual hockey school

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WATERFORD, MI – Dylan Larkin has grown into a leader on the ice with the Red Wings, and at his annual Larkin Hockey School, he’s also growing as a coach.

At his hometown rink at Lakeland Ice Arena, one camper said “I think he could be just as good a coach as he is an NHL player.”

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Larkin Hockey School in the attached video.

Winnipeg Jets Nic Petan Has New Lease on Life

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WINNIPEG, MAN – As recently as March, it looked like Nic Petan’s time with the Winnipeg Jets was going to come to an end. The team had seemingly no room for the ultra-skilled but undersized forward, and he was languishing in the AHL.

Then, summer rolled around and the Jets cleaned house with some of their UFAs. While not all of the house-cleaning was their decision, the fact remains there are suddenly openings up front for the Jets.

Paul Stastny, the Jets prize trade deadline acquisition, is gone. Matt Hendricks, Joel Armia, and Shawn Matthias have all followed suit – Hendricks and Matthias via free agency, Armia via trade to Montreal.

Count this author among those sorry to see Armia go, as there was real untapped potential there, but if we’re talking untapped potential we have to talk about Petan. He posted over a point-per-game in the AHL last year, his best statistical season as a pro.

Johansen brothers team up for charity, hope to go head-to-head on the ice soon

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PORT MOODY, BC – Ryan and Lucas Johansen will hit the links this week to help raise some cash. Somewhere down the line, they’re bound to hit the rink with opposing agendas.

The Port Moody brothers have teamed up with the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation for the Ryan and Lucas Johansen Charity Golf Classic, which goes Tuesday at the Swan-e-set Golf and Country Club.

They are bound to be chasing each other around in the winters to come. Ryan, 25, is a front line centre with the Nashville Predators. Lucas, 20, is a defence prospect with the Washington Capitals. The Capitals did use the 28th overall choice in the 2016 NHL Draft to nab his rights, so it’s easy to suggest that the former Kelowna Rockets rearguard has a future with the big club.

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