'YOU'VE GOT TO COMPETE'

If longtime centre Adam Ruzicka is going to crack the Flames roster out of training camp, it may be as a winger.
Not that he has a problem with that.
"I can play whatever," Ruzicka laughed at Tuesday's morning skate. "Centre, wing, I don't really care. ... it doesn't matter to me.
"If I'm going to make the NHL, I'll (even) play in goal."

The 6-foot-4, 220-lb. forward - who appeared in 28 games last year, at centre - will line up on the left side with Connor Zary in the middle and Sonny Milano on the opposite flank tonight when the Flames visit the Seattle Kraken.
Ruzicka, 23, has never been short on confidence - and this latest opportunity offers not only a glimpse into his potential future with the organization, but also how the Flames' depth chart is beginning to shake out as camp goes along.
It is, after all, no secret that the Flames have a bit of a logjam at centre, with Elias Lindholm, Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund locked in, and Kevin Rooney, Cody Eakin (PTO), Clark Bishop and Ben Jones all vying for that final spot down the middle. But it doesn't mean gets the job gets easier for Ruzicka, who could be auditioning for a job in the middle six, with Matthew Phillips, Jakob Pelletier and Milano (PTO) all in the mix.
It's a dogfight, alright.
And competition is what it's all about.
"There's a good chance," Ruzicka said of the opportunity. "I spoke to the coaching staff and they want to try me on the wing. I'm playing there tonight and let's see how it goes.
"It's a little different role, but it stays the same. You've got to compete in every single position you're going to play. Just play hard and be good structurally and learn how to play that (position)."

Ruzicka had strong numbers with the Flames last year. In those 28 regular-season tilts, he put up 10 points (5G, 5A) and was a positive possession player, while averaging more than 10 minutes per game in a fourth-line role. Admittedly, his proficiency in the faceoff circle could use some work, winning only 46.2% of his draws - including a 41.5% mark in the defensive zone.
In time, that typically comes with a young player. But he also knew that he could use the off-season to his advantage, to improve that and other areas of his game that demand a more rigorous workload.
"Get faster, (better) conditioning and more agile," he said of his summer goals. "I got some good reps with the NHL guys back home. … (Tomas) Tatar, (Martin) Fehervary, (Richard) Panik. It's a pretty good group."
He certainly has the moxie part down.
When asked if he's ready for The Show on a full-time basis, there was no hesitation.
"I'm ready," he said. "Last year, I got comfortable playing in the NHL and got to pick up on the speed and get the chemistry with the guys.
"Just got to be consistent and be good in every single game that I'm going to play."