Younger Kronwall Wants to Play, Especially Against the Wings

Staffan Kronwall is a defenseman for the Flames, which is great for the 26-year-old in many respects. He's absorbing things from one of the best defensive units in the game, watching and learning.

The flip side of that: Kronwall doesn't get much ice time. He's been a healthy scratch the past five games after playing the previous five. So he works his tail off in practice and he gets a master class in his position from players such as Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr and Jay Bouwmeester. Regehr has been particularly helpful, Kronwall said, when it comes to sharing tricks off the trade, but all have made the reserve feel welcome.

"These are some of the best defensemen in the world," Kronwall told FanHouse by phone. "I'm trying to see what they're doing, pick up some things. It's little things, but those things make a difference because the game is so fast. You don't have the time and space you have in the minors. Things like positioning, and where to place the puck."

"Obviously, I want to get in and play. We're playing really good hockey right now, and I'm working really hard in practice to push guys. I'm improving, and I'll get in there in time."
-- Staffan Kronwall on the Flames' stacked 'd' Kronwall's other defensive mentor, of course, is his older brother Niklas, who plays for the Red Wings. Nik Kronwall told FanHouse recently that he was eyeing Saturday on the calendar -- the day that Detroit plays the Flames. The Swedish brothers are close and phone each other frequently, but they're also extremely competitive, being just two years apart.

"I've always been a bigger guy than him and we did get in a few fights when we were kids, but now we're like best friends, really close," said Staffan Kronwall, who is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds to his brother's 6-foot, 189 pounds. "I probably don't look like him on the ice, but we do have similar styles. I've played with him a lot (in Sweden), I've played against him. It would be cool to do that in this league, for sure. "

Kronwall doesn't know if that will happen this Saturday. He understands that the Flames have been on a little bit of a roll, with three wins in a row. They've worked their way right up behind conference-leading Colorado in the Northwest Division, and they're playing the Avalanche tomorrow night before taking on the defending conference champion Red Wings on Saturday.

The highly regarded defense, though, hasn't improved its numbers from a disappointing 2008-2009 season. The Flames are allowing 3.3 goals per game, 24th in the league. Last year, Calgary was 23rd, a primary reason they made an aggressive move for Bouwmeester. So perhaps there is room for some shuffling when it comes to the unit.

"Obviously, I want to get in and play," Kronwall said. "We're playing really good hockey right now, and I'm working really hard in practice to push guys. I'm improving, and I'll get in there in time.

"I would love to play against Detroit -- it's like the Swedish national team nowadays. I'm working my butt off to get in and to help us win."

Nik Kronwall said he always pays attention to how his brother is doing, so he was delighted earlier this month when Staffan scored his first NHL goal, the deciding goal against visiting Montreal.

"I've been waiting quite awhile," said Staffan Kronwall, who has played 148 games in the minors. "I'm happy it came on home ice and was a game-winner. That's something to remember for sure."