OTTAWAThe conversation took place during the fall when Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr sat down with Scott Hartnell.
You know how Scott is, a Flyer source said. He can get a little out of shape. They basically told him, hey, we got something going here that could be pretty good if you keep yourself in shape. Scotty really took it to heart.
So much so, the Flyers forward is having a career season with 25 goals. In the five years hes been a Flyer, Hartnell has never seemed happier than he is now.
All smiles. No frowns. The 29-year-old knows he has a good thing going.
Its rewarding to get the nod to come here and recognized for a good start, said Hartnell, who should have been an All-Star from the get-go, but was named as an injury replacement.
Ive had a lot of fun. Its been an exciting first half of the year. Im looking forward to the second half and having a good playoff run.
Hartnell was one of the stars during this weekends media scrums. Out-of-towners wanted to know whether he realized he had this kind of year inside himself.
NHL
Yeah, 25 goals, he replied. That used to be a good season throughout 82 games. And I played almost 50 games and have the same number of goals.
Playing with Jaromir Jagr and Claude Giroux obviously, that helps tremendously. The biggest thing is, I dont take it for granted every day I am with them in the lineup.
There were points during past seasons when Hartnell let himself go and wasnt properly conditioned, which often resulted in less ice time under different coaches.
Ive worked harder off the ice than I have ever before, Hartnell said, adding that Jagrs incredible work ethic to extend his practices and even return to the rink hours later for additional work made him stop and think about where he was.
Wow, this guy has enough God-given talent to not have to work hard, he said. I tried to take that and use it for myself and make it better.
And then there was that conversation, too.
Now Im playing 20 minutes a night every night, where the first five or six games I was playing 10 minutes and didnt feel comfortable with myself on the ice. I worked hard to get back onto the ice, he said. These guys are great.
Even when the Giroux line was struggling to score earlier this month, none of the guys gave up on themselves. (Jagr has been in and out with a groin pull and remains day-to-day as of this weekend.)
Before and after games and after the period, even if we have a good period, the goals were there, but keep going, play the same way, the goals are going to come, Hartnell said. They want to win so bad.
That kind of mentality became contagious for himself and others, he said.
And the thing is, Hartnell knew he was coming into the season with higher expectations.
When Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were traded the day before last Junes NHL Draft, Hartnell was admittedly very nervous. After all, it was usually his name that came up regarding Flyer dealsnot theirs.
My phone was off for a couple of days after Richie and Carts got traded, he said. Who would have thought those two guys would be gone?
When July 1 rolled around and general manager Paul Holmgren continued to rip up his roster with deals and agent signings that brought Max Talbot, Jagr and Ilya Bryzgalov here, Holmgren phoned Hartnell.
I had a pretty open relationship with Homer, Hartnell said.
Holmgren gave Talbot and Jagrs cell phone numbers. He also gave Hartnell a challenge: welcome them as Flyers.
Heres their numbers, give them a call and we want you to take on a bigger leadership role and bigger part of this hockey club and take it in a better direction, Hartnell said of the Holmgren call.
It was pretty cool to get that phone call and put some of that onus on me to make these guys feel comfortable. Just kind of thought about my career. Im a leader on the team and enjoy every minute of it.
It has shown this weekend at the All-Star Game.
After Saturdays SuperSkills event, Hartnell admitted he had grown to like the guy sitting to the right of him in Team Alfredssons dressing roomRangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
As much as we hate the Rangers, Hank has been a great guy, Hartnell said. Its been really cool. Everyone you think you hate playing against and want to kill on the ice, they turn out to be really good guys. It was awesome.
Indeed.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net