#isabella hornqvist

[intermissionpenguins]

05/21/18 (x/x)

[ehghtyseven]

“Are you gonna be gentle with her?  Share all your toys?”

[vigilanteshit]

The Hörnqvist Family! (Via kadiwow on ig)

[happyhornqvist]

the photographer that did horny’s cup photoshoot posted a behind the scenes video!

[knifeshoeoreofight]

 Part 1   Part 2

He doesn’t see their visitor again until the next morning, estate business monopolizing his time until then.

When he steps into the kitchen, the man is sitting upright in a chair, wrapped in a blanket. He is giving a soft, amused smile to little Isabella Hornqvist, the blacksmith’s daughter, who is prattling happily away on his knee. Her mother sits in the chair across from them, smiling indulgently as she helps the kitchen maid peel turnips.

It is a charming scene, and Sidney stands in the doorway for a long moment, just watching. Isabella pokes at the man’s face, making him laugh and pretend to snap at her fingers like a dog. She bursts into a fit of giggles.

“My lord!” Mrs. Hornqvist greets him and makes as if to rise. He motions at her to keep her chair, and leans against the mantle instead, smiling at Isabella, who slides off of the shipwrecked man’s lap and reaches out her hands for Sidney.

“You are growing much too big for this,” Sidney pretends to complain as he picks her up. She just grins cheekily and plays with the polished buttons of his coat.

“How do you fare?” he asks the man.

“Good, Господин,” the man says, with a deferential nod of his head. Sidney finds that he doesn’t like it, somehow.

When the man raises his eyes to Sidney again, Sidney can see that he looks much improved. His cheeks have some color and his eyes are bright.

“I have been remiss,” Sidney says. “I beg your pardon. What is your name?”

“Evgeni Vladimirovich,” the man replies. “From Russia.”

“The Russian Empire?” Sidney says, surprised. “You’re an awfully long way from home.”

Evgeni shrugs. “Sailor. I’m go many places.”

Sidney marvels. He has personally never left England. And aside from his studies at Oxford and occasional trips to London, he has not even traveled very extensively in his own country.

“You must tell me of your travels, if you are willing.”

“Of course,” Evgeni says, smiling. Sidney is momentarily arrested by the sight. It lights up his entire face.

He is thankfully distracted from his impolite staring when Isabella tugs urgently at his lapel.

“What is it, poppet?” Sidney asks her.

“Kittens!” She exclaims, blue eyes wide. Her mother laughs.

“A cat had kittens in the smithy. She is very taken with them.”

“Will you take one, your lordship?” she lisps, and Sidney cannot refuse.

“Oh, I’m sure Mr. Dumoulin will be glad of a kitchen cat to keep the mice out of the larder, eh Dumoulin?”

Dumoulin looks over from where he’s picking the bones from a small heap of salted pilchards.

“It’ll be sleeping on your lordship’s own bed within a week, more like.”

Sidney laughs. Out of the corner of his eye he can see Evgeni’s eyes widen, most likely at the familiarity. Then he smiles, as if he has come to a conclusion and is pleased by it.

“You know me well,” Sidney answers Dumoulin as he sets Isabella back down. He checks his pocket watch and frowns.

“I must go. I’m due at Wheal Fortitude to meet with the foreman. Good day to you all.”

Sidney is loathe to leave the comforting environs of the kitchen, and even more loathe to leave the people within them, but he has business that cannot wait.

He receives Cole from one of the stable boys, making sure to compliment the lad on the neatness of his horse’s tack. Teddy is new, sent here by his family in the village to help them make ends meet while his father is recovering from a mining injury. Sidney wants to encourage the boy.

Cole dances a little, restive and full of spirit after a day or two without exercise. Sidney collects him, settling him a little so as not to go charging down the shell drive, making gouges that the groundskeepers will have to rake out.

As soon as he passes under the main gate of Ydhyn Dhu, he gives Cole his head. It’s a chill morning, and there’s a rime of hoarfrost on the grass and bushes lining the road. The cold only seems to give the horse additional exuberance, and he flies over the frozen ground.

Sidney’s favorite stretch of road curves up along the cliffs overlooking the sea, and he pulls up on the reins just to look at it for a moment. Everything is pale grey, sea and sky both. He watched the waves break on the rocks below, and thinks again of the events of two nights past. It is as difficult as it always is to contemplate the souls lost, but he finds solace in the fact that at this moment, Evgeni is safe and well. The sea had not taken all that night.

The cheery jingling of a tinker’s cart coming up the road towards him breaks his reverie. He shakes himself. He has much to do. A visit to the mines, an afternoon call on Baroness Chu and her wife, who is out of her confinement and able to receive visitors again after the birth of her daughter. He clicks his tongue at Cole and resumes his journey.

His business goes well. The new shaft that was dug the previous summer is still producing ore at a steady pace. Kunitz, his foreman, has nothing of significance to report, which is something of a relief.

Baroness Chu and Lady Caroline receive him warmly, and after the business of land use and their mutual shipping investments has been discussed, Sidney is free to heap compliments upon the new babe, and to tell Lady Caroline how well she looks.

Both ladies glow with happiness, and theirs is an enviable situation indeed. Not many among the aristocracy, or even the gentry, can marry for love as they have.

“So tell us,” Lady Caroline implores him. “We heard that there was a dreadful wreck at Ydhyn Dhu Cove two nights hence.”

Sidney shakes his head. “A prison transport, and thus a great loss of life. Only one man we found still lived. He will make a full recovery though, God willing.”

“Was he a soldier, or one of the prisoners?” asks the Baroness, wide-eyed. Sidney hesitates. He would not wish to see Evgeni in irons once more. But the Baroness and her wife are among his most trusted and like-minded friends.

“He was a prisoner,” Sidney admits. “But in order to ascertain if there was any danger to my household, I questioned him. I believe him to have been wrongfully imprisoned. He came to the defense of a woman’s honor, and the blackguard he fell upon happened to be a peer. And so Evgeni was clapped in irons, no matter the nobility of his actions.”

The ladies share a look.

“You are sure then, Sidney,” Lady Caroline asks gently. “That this Evgeni speaks the truth? You have always looked to the good in people. It is one of your most admirable qualities, yet perhaps also the most easily exploitable.”

Sidney looks down at the teacup he holds, as though the leaves within it would provide the answers he seeks. “I came upon the man myself, Caro, insensible and pale as Death upon the sand. I would not see further harm come to a man who has already been spared a terrible fate.”

Lady Caroline reaches over to pat his arm reassuringly. “You have ever shown yourself to be a perceptive man, Sidney. If you see good in him, I am sure it is there. I know you would never willingly endanger your household.”

Sidney thinks of Evgeni this morning, being sweet with little Isabella, and hopes she is correct.

***

He returns home in the late afternoon, handing Cole off to Teddy, and letting Jake divest him of his mud-splattered boots and greatcoat.

He has correspondence to attend to, and so retires to his study. It’s one of his favorite rooms in the house, aside from the library and the kitchens. There is a large diamond-paned window facing the sea, and a fireplace with a mantel of blue and white Dutch tiles. There are two comfortable armchairs covered in green damask in front of it, and Sidney often imagines, at some nebulous future date, sitting there with a spouse of an evening. Ydhyn Dhu has far grander and more fashionably appointed rooms, but this one has always felt like the one that suited him best.

The sun at first floods the room with gold light as it sets, and then the light fades as twilight falls. A servant comes in to light the candles and lamps, and still Sidney works. There’s a faint throbbing behind his eyes, and he knows he should rest, but there is always so much to be done running an estate as he insists upon running his, and not enough time in the day to do it.

He is rubbing tiredly at his temples when there is a knock at the door. When he calls that the person may enter, he is surprised to see that it is Evgeni, carrying a supper tray. He hovers a little nervously at the door, and Sidney hurries to stand and take the tray from him. He is momentarily taken aback with the full realization of how tall Evgeni is.

“Please, sit,” Sidney says, and indicates the chair in front of his desk, as he seats himself back in his own. Evgeni does so looking apprehensive, hands folded tightly in his lap. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” Evgeni answers. Then, in a rush: “I want speak with you, Mrs. Bullano say take tray in if I’m go. Say you’re forget eat.”

Sidney smiles wryly. “It’s true, I would forget often if she didn’t keep after me. Have you eaten?” The tray contains a cold supper of bread, cheese, and ham and he makes as if to offer Evgeni his choice of it. Evgeni raises a hand in protest.

“No, no, I’m eat.” He pauses, clearly still ill at ease, as Sidney spreads butter on a slice of Dumoulin’s good bread. “Had…” He pauses, probably to try and gather his words. Sidney takes a bite of bread and cheese and waits patiently.

“You tell magistrate about me?” Evgeni blurts, and Sid recognizes the tension in his broad shoulders and the quick rise and fall of his chest as indications of actual fear. He sets down his food, all attention on Evgeni.

“No,” Sidney says decisively. “I shall not  be going to him about you at all. I took you at your word when you explained what you’d been accused of. I am not of the opinion that you deserve further punishment.”

Evgeni closes his eyes and lets out a long, slow sigh of relief. Sidney feels a pang of sympathy, mixed with something else, and doesn’t know what to do with it besides hold out the plate with slices of bread again.

“It’s really very good bread.”

Evgeni smiles. For a moment, his eyes look fond, or something very like it. “Thank you, no. I’m eat a lot, before.” He looks about him, at the paintings on the walls and the shelves of books, interspersed with some of Sid’s more treasured possessions: a painted miniature of his sister, a captain’s spyglass, a sextant.

“This is good house,” Evgeni says softly. “Servants happy. Everyone eat well.” His gaze, when it meets Sidney’s again, is dark and pensive. “Not many rich men like this, in my home.”

“I’ve always done things a little differently,” Sidney says. “There are many that think me foolish.”

Evgeni shakes his head emphatically. “ No! No, other Господин are wrong!”

His vehemence is touching to Sidney. He is well used to the sneers and gossip his eccentricity breeds among his peers when he visits London. He has long since ceased to care, but the support warms him nonetheless.

“Thank you, Evgeni, I’m honored.” He smiles at him encouragingly. Evgeni has the look of a man with yet still more to say.

“I’m want..” He starts, and looks half-sick at his audacity at telling a lord what he wants. But Sidney is not that kind of lord, and so he just nods at him to go on, and takes a sip of claret.

“Can I stay?” Evgeni says, and he leans forward a little, hands tense on his knees. “This is good place, and I’m want...to stay. Please,  мой Господин.”

“You don’t wish to return home?” Sidney asks, surprised. He’d assumed Evgeni would be impatient to return to his homeland.

Evgeni shakes his head. “For me, in Russia nothing. Never see place like this. Want to stay.” He sits up very straight. “Can work hard, not just as sailor!”

Sidney hastens to reassure him. “I have no doubt you can. And we can always find something for someone to do. I’m not in the habit of throwing those in my care out in the cold. If you had wanted to return home, I would have secured your passage on a good ship. If you want to remain here, you are most welcome to.”

Relief surges over Evgeni’s countenance. He stands, and reaches out both of his hands, almost supplicatingly. Sidney isn’t quite sure what he wants, but it becomes clear when he raises his own hand, and Evgeni takes it, and repeats the medieval, romantic gesture of fealty he’d made before, pressing his lips to Sid’s ring. Sid’s breath catches, despite himself, and this time, Evgeni hears it.

His eyes are very, very dark in the candlelight when he raises his face to look at Sidney, and his full, generous lips are parted.

They stare at one another for one long, interminable moment, before Evgeni drops Sidney’s hand as though it scalded him, and bows, before swiftly exiting the room with one last murmured “thank you, мойГосподин.”

Sidney stares at the door after he’s gone. He blinks, marveling at the reaction such a simple yet singular gesture fosters in him, and berating himself for it. It is hardly the sort of behavior to set at ease a new servant. He feels a little ashamed of himself.

No matter. It is not likely that Evgeni will feel inclined to do it again.

Part 4

[nhl-stories]

Oblivious Part 1 – Olli Maatta

Requested: Yes ∆ No

Author’s Note: Kind of in love with this idea, thinking of potentially making this a multipart story so lmk what you guys think.

Word Count: 1.3 k 

Part 2

When your brother Patric and his Malin had Vendela, they asked if you could come to Pittsburgh and help out. You were quick to say yes. You were already planning on taking a year off from studying developmental psychology, trying to decide if you wanted to pursue your doctorate or not. So saying yes to Patric’s request was beyond easy. Not only would you some real life experience with developmental psych you’d get it by hanging out with your adorable nieces.

You didn’t expect to fall in love.

You instantly fell in love with Pittsburgh. It was a city full of kind people, had great food, and wasn’t too big, making your transition to a new country easier than expected.

Fast forward a few months, and it seemed like Pittsburgh wasn’t the only thing you were falling for.

You were sitting in the bleachers waiting for practice to end, bouncing Vendela on your lap and keeping an eye on Isabella who was running around the rink trying to get her dad’s attention

There was a tap on the glass in front of you, causing you to jump and Vendela to happily squawk. You looked up to see Olli making silly faces. You held the little one closer to the glass and she happily hit the glass back at the Finn. You gave him a quick wink and he gave you a shy smile and one last wave before skating back to practice.

“Izzy, stay on this side of the rink,” you yelled out as she started to turn the corner.

The older Hornqvist made her way back over to you as the boys made their way off the ice.

“Want me to help you put your skates on for when your dad gets back out,” Izzy nodded happily.

You went to sit down on the bench and helped Izzy with her skates as Ven fell asleep in her stroller.

“Y/N, can I go on the ice yet?” Isabella whined as she impatiently looked out at the ice.

“I’m sure your dad will–“ just then Patric swooped in and carried his daughter onto the ice. She squealed with laughter as he sped around the rink.

You smiled at the sight of your brother spending quality time with his daughter. You then pulled out your tablet and began looking over applications to university.

You felt eyes watching you. You looked up to see if it was your brother but he and Isabella were in their own little world, but you looked towards the edge of the bench and saw Olli standing there. He gave a gentle wave.

“Hi Olli, what are you still doing here?”

“Just wanted to say hi to you,” you both blushed a bit at the comment, “and my favorite girl, Ven.” He waved to the little girl who was dead to the world in her deep sleep.

You grinned at his quick save. Since arriving in the states, Olli had quickly become one of your best friends and few confidants. While you obviously didn’t have a lot of time to hang out during the season, it was nice to have someone who sort of understood your situation.

You had the shared experience of moving to a new country at a young age. Sure, you had family waiting for you across the Atlantic that made the transition a little easier it was still hard to carve out your own life. You both understood being homesick at times and talked about what you missed most about Scandinavia, and what you were happy to be without.

It didn’t hurt that he was so sweet… and pretty cute.

“What are you up to?” he sat down next to you and grabbed your tablet from you, “you’re going back to school?”

“I’m thinking about it, I’m just seeing what requirements I need to apply, I don’t actually have to go.” You snatched your tablet back.

“Well I hear Pittsburgh has some nice schools, just so you know.” You bit your lip to stop you from grinning at the implication.

“Have you guys eaten lunch yet? I was about to get some if you want to go out with me?” He blushed at his phrasing.

“Sorry, once Iz finishes with Patric I have to take her to dance class.” Olli sank a bit, “But are you coming to the party on Friday? There will be enough kids around that it’s almost like I’m getting the night off.”

Olli perked up again, “yeah I should be there. I’ll see you then, Y/N.”  You gave him a hug before he left, he wasn’t expecting it so it took a second before he wrapped his arms around you.

Just as Olli left your brother slammed into the boards. You could tell he had his inquisitive, protective brother look on, but you ignored it.

“Are you ready for dance class now, Izzy?”

Izzy screamed excitedly as you began to help her with her skates.

“You’re taking Ven home with you, right?” You asked as you packed up Isabella’s things.

“Yeah, and you’ll be home for dinner?” Patric asked.

“Always am.” You gave him a quick hug before you ran out of the arena with your oldest niece.

~~~~~

The party was in full swing; the whole team and all their wives, girlfriends and children filled the house. Well, all but one. You were sipping on a beer and looking around for that shock of blonde hair with no avail.

“Y/N come over here,” Malin called you over to a group of WAGs, “we were just talking about you.”

“Really?”

“Catherine says she knows a guy she wants to introduce you to,”

“Oh, that’s really nice but I don’t know if I’m really looking for anyone. My hands are pretty full with that little blonde menace,” you nodded to Isabella who was hanging off of Jake’s back.

“I hear that’s not the only blonde who wants to keep your hands full,” Kelsey waggled her eyebrows and a few of the other wives giggled, including Malin.

“What?” You choked on some of your drink.

“Oh come on, you have to know that Olli is totally crushing on you.”

You began to turn red and all the girls cooed and awed at your reaction.

“No, we’re just friends.”

“Well from what I’ve heard he definitely wants to be more than friends,” Kayla added.

You felt your stomach flip with excitement, but before you could reply you felt a tug on your hand, “Y/N come on! I want to play with you.”

Isabella dragged you up to her room where a few kids were having a tea party. And sitting in a way too small chair was Olli, wearing a tiara. He gave an embarrassed smile when he saw you come in.

“I should have known you were up here with your people.” You laughed sitting across from him.

“How can I say no to those blue eyes,” he said clearly referring to Isabella, but never breaking eye contact with you.

The kids served imaginary tea and cake to you two, but soon got bored and began to play tag. Eventually running out of the room, leaving you two alone.

You opened your mouth to say something when Olli leaned forward and kissed you, you felt it all the way to your toes.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” he looked down.

Before you knew what you were doing, your hands were in his hair pushing the tiara off and your tongues were battling for dominance. You pulled away and you both began to laugh.

“Oh my god, my brother is gonna be so pissed.”

“Your brother?”

“Yeah, I don’t think he’ll love the idea of his little sister and his teammate making out in his daughters room.”

All the color rushed from Olli’s face, “Horny is your brother?”

“Yeah?” You looked at him like he was an idiot, “what did you think?”

“I just thought you were the nanny.” You burst into laughter, “Hey stop, this isn’t funny.”

But you couldn’t stop laughing. “I’m. Sorry. It’s. So. Funny,” you finally got out between laughter and tears.

When you were finally able to catch your breath, you grabbed a completely mortified Olli’s hand.

“Well let’s just hope my brother is as oblivious as you are.” You gave him a peck on the lips and left the room.

[burning-up-ao3]

20 Penguins Thoughts: Teammates' concern for Patric Hornqvist is real

January 15, 2019 8:17 AMBy Jason Mackey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It’s a text message that Kris Letang doesn’t want to send.

Not because he doesn’t care — he does.

More how he knows it’ll be received.

But like many Penguins who’ve experienced multiple concussions, Letang knows exactly what Patric Hornqvist, who’s had five of them since December 2014, is going through. And Letang, while he cares an awful lot, doesn’t want to be burdensome.

“I’ve been through that,” Letang said. “The last thing I wanted was everybody texting me. That’s why I try to leave him alone. If you’re too [in his face], he might feel like he has to come back quicker. He might not make a good decision.”

Injuries in contact sports are inevitable. Even ones to your brain.

“It’s part of our sport,” Letang said. “We know what we signed up for.”

But with yet another one happening to Hornqvist, something has become clear when discussing the situation with his teammates: This isn’t the same as someone recovering from a knee injury or even his first or second concussion; Penguins players are genuinely concerned about Hornqvist’s head.

“When it’s a good friend and someone we all love and is important to us, you worry about it,” Matt Cullen said. “The positive is we have some pretty good people in place as far as taking your time off and allowing things to heal up and doing the best you can to control those things. Aside from that, we all just hope he’s alright.”

2. Hornqvist, who was concussed last Tuesday against the Panthers, has been skating on his own back in Pittsburgh, which is obviously a good sign.

While the Penguins look forward to getting Hornqvist back, they also don’t want him to rush anything, for fear that he comes back too soon and jeopardizes his long-term health.

“You have to be careful,” Sidney Crosby said. “He has to make sure he’s ready when he comes back.

“He’s been smart about it, though. Especially the way he plays and how tough he plays, he has to make sure he’s feeling good.”

There’s a pretty good reason Hornqvist should take this slow, too.

Actually a couple of them.

“He’s got a family and kids (daughters Isabella and Vendela),” Cullen said. “That’s the first thing that you worry about for him. … Our thoughts are all with him, that’s for sure.”

Mostly, the Penguins just want Hornqvist to be able to be himself again.

“He’s a heart-and-soul guy,” Cullen said. “He’s one of the most important guys in this room as far as keeping the team on the right track. He just brings so much life and energy to our group. He’s one of those guys that makes it really fun for all of us. It’s a lot different when he’s not here.”

3. The other thing area of concern — and this is probably more outside of the Penguins dressing room than inside of it — is Hornqvist’s style of play.

The same rough-and-tumble style that has made Hornqvist so good at what he does — enough for 20 or more goals in every full season he’s played and a $5.3-million-a-year contract through 2023 — is the same one that doesn’t age well.

When Hornqvist does come back, it’s easy to say that he should change. For his own health and career, sure, but also for his family. But can he? Crosby thinks that will be tough.

“You can’t adjust to a puck in the face,” Crosby said, referencing what caused Hornqvist’s latest concussion. “What are you going to do? He had one off his head in warmup. They’re fluke things.”

Which, again, is why Crosby doesn’t think Hornqvist can or will change his game whenever he does get back.

“He only knows one way to play,” Crosby said. “That’s the way he plays the game. Sometimes those things can happen. The way he competes and the way he plays, I don’t see him changing that.”

4. Hornqvist has said repeatedly that he’s not going to change his game, often reasoning that he can’t or he’ll be out of the league.

It sounds harsh, but Letang understands where Hornqvist is coming from.

The Penguins asked Letang to change his game last season — OK, tweak — to take fewer dangerous hits, but it wound up being one of the things that contributed to an off-year for him in 2017-18.

“You can’t really change your game, honestly,” Letang said. “Certain players have played their whole life like that. That’s why they have those contracts and why they’ve had so much success. If you change that, you might become ineffective.”

5. I hope Hornqvist can do something. For his health and for his family.

Staying objective as a reporter is one thing, but you root for everybody — player or not — to avoid serious brain injuries.

As Cullen said on concussions, “There’s still so much we don’t know.” He’s right. But we do know this: They’re scary. Especially when they occur with the frequency that they have with Hornqvist.

“I feel for him,” Matt Murray said. “It’s a tough situation. It’s not an injury that’s fun to deal with, obviously. I can’t speak to how he’s feeling or anything like that. I just wish him all the best, like the rest of us here. Personally, not anything to do with hockey, you wish that he’s feeling good.”

6. The NHL and NHLPA met recently to discuss the current CBA, which runs through 2022, although the league and players have the option to terminate it this September (to be made effective Sept. 15, 2020).

From the league’s perspective, commissioner Gary Bettman would seemingly like to hold another World Cup of Hockey in 2020, and that could play a part in whether or not there’s labor peace through 2020 and beyond.

While Crosby said he didn’t want to comment specifically on negotiations “because it can change so many times,” he said he would be in favor of another World Cup. Crosby also would love to play in the 2022 Beijing Games.

“I’m good with both,” Crosby said. “I’ve had good experiences in both. I don’t know about the timing of it and how it fits in with everything. They did a great job in Toronto [in 2016]. Definitely the two Olympics I’ve been involved with, I thought they were awesome. We’ll see what happens.”

7. Crosby said much must still be determined with how the event would be structured — he brought up the possibility of another Team Europe and the under-23 squad as variables — in addition to the length of time it would require out of players.

But Crosby did really enjoy the last World Cup, held in Toronto in 2016, and would be all for doing it again. Maybe both, if the NHL and NHLPA could swing it.

“I think it was a big thing,” Crosby said. “We’ll have to see how it works out. I don’t know if it’s going to be the same format or how that’s going to shake out. The length of time, too, and when they do it. It’s something they have to figure out. I think they’re both [meaning the Olympics, too] are pretty good events.”

8. My two cents: I think the NHL is more in favor of the World Cup, while the players would probably rather go to the Olympics. They see the latter as a bigger stage, and they’re probably right.

Bettman has said before he worries about the disruption to the NHL season, but with the 2022 Games being in Beijing, that’s a major business opportunity for the league.

Would it be the worst thing if they did both? As long as the players would be on board, I don’t see an issue. I think it could be a lot of fun.

9. With Washington’s Alex Ovechkin set to pass Sergei Fedorov in career points by a Russian-born player — he’s six away after Monday’s game — I thought it would be a good time to ask Malkin about hockey in his home country and sort of the state of the Russian player.

Malkin said he’s “proud” of what some of his countrymen have been able to do, name-checking Ovechkin (on pace for an eighth season of 50 or more goals) and Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov (NHL-best 75 points in 46 games).

There’s also other highly skilled players in Artemi Panarin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko, plus some solid defensemen (Ivan Provorov and Dmitry Orlov spring to mind) and a pair of Vezina Trophy winners/finalists in Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy.

“Russia loves hockey, first of all,” Malkin said. “When the national team plays, everyone watches on TV. Russia has always had so many good players — Fedorov, [Igor] Larionov. Lots of huge names.”

10. Malkin also lobbied for Russian players to come to the NHL and stay, believing it’s the best league in the world.

“If you have a chance, you need to come to NHL and try,” Malkin said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 years old or 25. Just try. It’s No. 1, for sure. Every best player plays here, for sure.

“If you [want] to be better and you want a challenge against the best players, you be here. Be better every day, play against good teams. Of course I’m proud of Ovechkin and Kucherov are doing right now.”

11. I dug into some recent numbers of current Russian NHL players, and it’s roughly the same this season as it has been for the past couple years. Maybe a tad better.

Thirty-eight Russian-born players have played at least one game in the NHL this season. That number was 39 in 2017-18 and 42 and 41 in the two years before that.

Last year actually saw Russian players produce more offense than they have in quite some time, with those 39 players combining to score 428 goals and register 1,048 points.

This season, Russian-born skaters should meet or exceed those numbers. Russian players currently have 204 goals and 586 points a handful of games past the halfway point of the NHL season.

12. In talking to Malkin, I realized that I had ever asked him who he idolized while growing up in Magnitogorsk.

He cited watching Detroit and the Russian Five in the late 1990s — Fedorov, Larionov, Slava Fetisov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Vladimir Konstantinov.

“I don’t know. It’s a hard question,” Malkin said with a smile. “I watched Detroit, Russian Five. You always hear, ‘Russian Five, Russian Five.’

“My style is more [like] Fedorov. Best player so far. He plays center. He plays wing. He can do everything. He’s a really, really smart guy and a smart player.”

13. Ever wonder why they call Marcus Pettersson “Dragon?”

Yes, seriously, that’s his nickname dating back to his time in Anaheim.

On Friday, before Pettersson played his first game at Honda Center since being traded to Pittsburgh, I asked him where the nickname came from.

Turns out it originated in Sweden. Pettersson had a high school basketball coach that called him and another kid “Dragons.” For no apparent reason, either.

Then one day in Anaheim, and perhaps because he’s tall and lanky, someone asked Pettersson if he ever played hoops.

Pettersson has always been kind of so-so on the sport but relayed the story from his home country.

“I just told the story as a joke, and they thought it was hilarious,” Pettersson said.

14. Turns out Derek Grant, a teammate of Pettersson’s in Anaheim who was there for the original story, retold it in Pittsburgh, and the nickname has remerged.

“I didn’t think it would stick,” Pettersson said. “Somehow it did.”

15. I talked to goaltending coach Mike Buckley about a few things in Anaheim, most notably what has helped Matt Murray get right again after returning from injury.

He brought up the team’s overall play and the emergence of Casey DeSmith as reasons why — the latter because he’s been able to shoulder some of the load and also the competitive environment it has helped create with Murray.

One of the things that outsiders have brought up relative to Murray is how he’s been taller in his net. Buckley said no tactical adjustment has been made, though he does think it may be at least a little bit true.

“He’s more confident,” Buckley said, smiling and standing up straight.

16. Another thing Buckley should get credit for this season is the emergence of DeSmith.

Both are New Hampshire guys and, like Murray, have a pretty good history together.

The biggest thing that has led to DeSmith’s breakout year, Buckley said, is how much better he’s been able to read the game. It’s similar to what has made Murray so successful.

“That’s where he’s made the biggest jump,” Buckley said. “He’s always been a pretty good play-reader and has anticipated well. But to catch up with how quickly it happens at this level, that was a big jump for him. I think he’s really adapted well with that.”

17. I also asked Buckley how the Penguins plan to manage the dynamic of Murray and DeSmith and what that might mean for each guy if both are playing as well as they have recently.

“I think it’s one game at a time,” Buckley said. “I think that healthy competition … keep that going right up until playoffs.”

If DeSmith can get this out of Murray simply by playing well, I think it makes his new extension — worth $1.25 million per season — even more of a bargain.

18. I don’t think it will take until Feb. 10 for Justin Schultz to come back.

That would be his original target date given the four-month timeline we were originally given, but the fact that he skated in full equipment for the first time last Friday likely bodes well for him joining the team soon.

The only complicating factor here is that, after this road trip, the Penguins have another week off because of their bye week and the All-Star Game.

Hard to imagine Schultz not being back with the team out of the break, if not before.

19. What will Jim Rutherford do at the trade deadline? Let’s use some deductive reasoning.

I have a tough time seeing Rutherford letting this deadline pass and not combining a good young goalie (Tristan Jarry) and a defenseman (they have nine) and doing something to help the NHL club. Rutherford is in win-now mode. He has a terrific opportunity to improve his team.

What needs to be better? Easy: third-line center. Their wings are fine. Defense has been good, too, and it’s about to get much better. They’re set at goalie, and they have three fourth-line centers.

It’s literally the only piece of this team that’s incomplete. I just don’t see how Rutherford can look at Tampa, Toronto and Washington and think the Penguins are getting enough from that position.

20. San Jose is my absolutely favorite road city. We get asked this question a lot — where do you like to go on the road? Well, here. And north of here.

Heaven for me came Wednesday. As soon as I landed in San Jose, I hopped onto a train bound for San Francisco and eventually wound up at Haight-Ashbury, the Grateful Dead/hippie Mecca.

Spent the afternoon and evening walking around and listening to music, doing some shopping and had dinner at Magnolia Brewery … just an amazing time.

If you’re a fan of the Dead’s music, or just a different-looking scene, I can’t recommend the Haight enough. And San Francisco, in general. What an awesome place.

Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.

First Published January 15, 2019 8:00 AM

[hockey-babies]

Isabella Hornqvist

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Malin, Isabella, and Patric Hornqvist

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07/31/17 ( x x x x x )

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“What kind of games are you going to play with her?”

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Isabella & Patric Honrqvist 

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07/31/17 (x) + watch the video here (or x)

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07/31/17 ( x x x x x x x x )

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Malin, Isabella, and Patric Hornqvist Excited for another summer of stanley cup pictures!!!

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Patric, Malin, and Isabella Hornqvist