Intriguing read here on the spiritual side of Jaromir Jagr’s quest to stave off Father Time as long as possible, which includes working on his chakra.
“I’m not saying completely, but you can slow down [aging] 50% for sure,” Jagr said. “Everything’s information and energy. If you change the information on how you’re getting old, you don’t get old. That’s why I’m playing hockey. I want to prove it’s the right way. You cannot just talk about it. You have to show them, Hey, I did it. This is working.”
Jagr also noted that particularly when you get older, “if you’re working out two hours every day on your body, you better make sure you’re spending three hours on your soul.”
Source: Alex Prewitt/ Sports Illustrated
WTFlorida?! The Panthers are weird, wacky—and winning
******
Interesting quote from Ken Hitchcock from earlier this season, when he was asked if he saw indicators his St. Louis Blues were catching up to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The two teams are squaring off in the first round of this year’s playoffs.
“I don’t think anybody catches a championship team until you beat them in a playoff series,” said Hitchcock. “You can talk all you want about the regular season — and we’re like that, where we’re trying to get in. But you have to beat them in a playoff series, because there’s an emotional gear that championship teams go to that not many teams can sustain. And just when you think you’ve got ‘em, they come with another gear. So if you’re ever going to beat them, you’re gong to have to beat them in a playoff series before you can say anything.”
Source: Mark Potash/ Chicago Sun-Times
5-on-5: Marian Hossa rejuvenation could be key to Hawks hopes
******
Matt Duchene’s perspective on some issues facing his Colorado Avalanche:
“I don’t feel it’s a system thing,” Duchene said. “I think the big thing is we don’t possess the puck enough in their end. It’s give and take. There are times when we — and when I’m saying this, I’m saying it as a group — don’t break it out fast enough as a group, as forwards and D, out of our end to produce offense and put the other team on their heels, and then we’re giving up more shots.
“In the O-zone, sometimes we’re not holding onto it long enough and it’s like we’re one and done and they’re back on the rush, getting the shot off the rush. So it’s a combination of a lot of things. It’s something we have to be better at as players. It’s us.”
Source: Terry Frei/ Denver Post
Avalanche continues to regress from first season under Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy
******
For whatever issues you think plagued the Winnipeg Jets this season, head coach Paul Maurice doesn’t think buy-in was a problem.
“We didn’t have any cheaters,” said Maurice. “But what we had is guys that are learning how to do it. I’m talking about an identifiable style of game. There’s got to be an acceptance of your game and then the consistency in that game follows. Our game did waver in and out. It wasn’t a buy-in issue, that we didn’t want to play this style of game. It’s just going to take them a while to get mentally and physically strong enough.”
Source: Ken Wiebe/ Winnipeg Sun
Jets head coach Paul Maurice: Unplugged
******
Patrik Elias, days away from his 40th birthday and set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, on his potential future with the New Jersey Devils:
“I’m just open to a conversation with the right people to see what their thought process is in order for me to come back,” Elias said. “For me, the last three games (when he finally came back from his long injury absence) has left me optimistic. Hopefully I can still come back. There are a lot of issues in the offseason.
“I hope they’ll be honest with me and I’ll be honest with them,” Elias said. “It’s not an easy decision to make. I’m a big boy.
“There doesn’t have to be too much thinking,” Elias continued. “Either do or don’t. Maybe it will change in July with who is coming in.”
Source: Andrew Gross/ Fire & Ice
Elias on potential return to Devils: “I hope they’ll be honest with me and I’ll be honest with them”
******
#Habs Subban's response to scrutiny of team's leadership group and the relationships therein. pic.twitter.com/79o7hz7DbE
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) April 11, 2016
Pacioretty on the many times his captaincy has been questioned this season. He questioned himself, too. #HabsOn690 pic.twitter.com/gjSiNHGRAb
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 11, 2016
******
Disappointing campaign, to say the least, for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“We all have to look in the mirror, evaluate ourselves honestly and make sure we find a way to get our start going next season,” captain Nick Foligno said. “We have to make sure that we’re a team that’s consistent, where you know what you’re going to get when you’re playing the Columbus Blue Jackets. This year, I don’t think we knew, I don’t think other teams knew, and I don’t think fans knew.”
Source: Aaron Portzline/ Columbus Dispatch
Blue Jackets notebook | Players must ‘look in mirror,’ Foligno says
******
Brandon Saad shared this, in a similar vein, on his Blue Jackets.
“We have a lot of young guys who’ve stepped up and had good seasons,” he said. “It’s just about stringing it together. I know after the year, it’s a big wake-up call for a lot of us, and we should have good summers going into next year.”
Source: Mark Lazerus/ Chicago Sun-Times
Brandon Saad bracing for his first early summer
******
Honest. Brutal. Taylor Hall.
“I’m very disappointed right now. The stink is still here from this season. You take a couple of weeks to get a break from hockey and come back refreshed with a little more clarity but right now it’s hard to see light at the end of the tunnel. I’m not going to lie to you,” said Hall.
Source: Jim Matheson/ Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers young core trio all want to stay, know one or more could be traded
******
Nichols’ Notes runs weekdays, linking you to stories of interest from around the NHL.
The post Nichols’ Notes: Jagr works on soul as well as body appeared first on Todays SlapShot.