'GREAT GUY, GREAT TEAMMATE'

Welp! The 'fight' over the new guy didn't last long.
"He can have him," said a smiling Jacob Markstrom, bowing to his countryman, Elias Lindholm, when asked where newcomer Calle Jarnkrok will be spending his first night in Calgary.
"Just for a couple days," Lindholm agreed. "It's all good."
Family comes first, after all.

Lindholm - the cousin of the Flames' latest hire - is understandably part of the welcoming committee. Ditto his childhood chum, now in the form of a 6-foot-6, 206-lb. Vezina hopeful.
Jarnkrok was acquired from the Kraken in exchange for three draft picks Wednesday, and will arrive in Calgary on Thursday afternoon - likely, in time to dress for his first game as the Flames host the Buffalo Sabres in a 7 p.m. start at the Scotiabank Saddledome Friday.
It's a rarity, this arrangement. Three buddies from the same small town, growing up together, repeatedly crossing paths at various ranks along the way, and now suiting up in the same NHL dressing room, chasing the same dream.
"We talked about this not too long ago," Markstrom laughed. "When you retire and (grow) old, you can buy a low division team in Sweden and get all your friends together.
"But we figured we'd do it here instead.
"For sure, it's special. Great guy, great teammate. It's going to be a great addition to our team."

General Manager Brad Treliving spoke of the addition on Wednesday, shortly before the Flames dispatched the visiting New Jersey Devils and extended to a seven-point lead over the LA Kings for first place in the Pacific.
Jarnkrok is what he describes as a fixer - one who's equally proficient at either wings, or at centre, and adds a defensive "conscience" to any line he plays on, while contributing offensively, as well.
The multi-prong skill-set had been of interest for some time, but with the Flames quickly emerging as a legitimate Cup threat, pulling the trigger was something of a no-brainer now.
"I think the last six, seven games I've played against him, he's probably scored (on me)," Markstrom said. "Him and (Tyler) Toffoli were the two most successful against me, so it's nice to have him on the team. But yeah, he's a workhorse that all three zones and a really good two-way player and does it all. It's going to be great.
"I think everyone's excited."
While Jarnkrok and Lindholm were understandably close growing up - family dinners and all - Markstrom first met the new recruit by chance in their hometown.
However, in a hockey-mad city like Gavle (pronounced YAHV-leh), it was only a matter of time.
"Me and Calle (have) one year between us," Markstrom said. "We didn't grow up far away from each other. Went through the same school system and obviously hockey was a big part of my life and his interests as well.
"I don't know how old we were - not that old - but I had sleepovers at his house. So, we were close as a family and that relationship has grown.
"Obviously with Elias, too, growing older and playing hockey... We worked out together in the summers and we'll see him a lot. We live close together in the summer as well. We're in the same neighbourhood, all three of us.
"It's special, for sure, to have a guy that you know so well - not only as a person, but as a hockey player, he's going to be great for our team."

Lindholm - whose mother, Jill, is the sister of Jarnkrok's father, Tony - always knew Calle had the right stuff.
And believe it or not, this isn't the first time they've played on the same professional team.
A 16-year-old Lindholm broke into the SEL (now the Swedish Hockey League) in 2011 - and the following season, played on the same line as Jarnkrok, who led their Brynas IF club in scoring.
"Obviously, he was a super talent when he was growing up," Lindholm said. "I always looked up to him because he was so good.
"It was a lot of years ago, but we had some success. Obviously, it was a dream come true to play him with and now, to be able to do it in the NHL is pretty cool."
Jarnkrok had 42 points (13G, 29A) to lead Brynas in 2012-13, with Lindholm sitting third in club scoring, 12 points back, as the youngest player on the roster. Today, 5-foot-11, 186-lb. Jarnkrok is a steady, two-way presence, and had 26 points (12G, 14A) in 49 games with the Kraken before the trade.
The three buddies are relishing this once-in-a-lifetime storyline.
But, as Markstrom explains, there's more to it than a golf or 'padel' partner.
They're here to win.
"We've been here… I think, everybody, close to 10 years," Markstrom said of their NHL careers to this point. "We're older now and things have changed.
"It's not like it was when I played in Sweden and these two played in Sweden and we were kids. You're grown, you have girlfriends and kids, and it's more a mature relationship.
"It's not as youthful and as playful now.
"We're here to play hockey and I think everybody has the mindset of a winner, that we all want to win hockey games. When it comes down to it, I think everybody is going to be really professional.
"Obviously, it's nice to get (a new) addition, a couple nice dinners, and to throw another credit card in the hat on the road, too.
"It's going to be good."