By BRUCE BERLET, Courant Staff Writer
The Wolf Pack's young players could take a cue from Daniel Girardi.
A year ago, Girardi quietly arrived in Hartford. He had a Memorial Cup ring after helping London win Canada's junior hockey championship - but no contract.
Girardi, a defenseman, earned an AHL/ECHL deal in training camp and started the season with Charlotte. He was called up to the Pack Nov. 12 and never returned to the ECHL, earning a spot on the AHL all-rookie team.
"One day [general manager and coach Jim Schoenfeld] came in and said Thomas [Pock] was an all-league pick and I was on the all-rookie team," Girardi said Wednesday. "I thought, `What? Who? Gee, that's a great honor.'
"When I went home in the summer, I wasn't just a guy who played in the AHL. I had a nice award and got a lot of congratulations. It was definitely something to be proud of."
Girardi's climb continued in Rangers camp last month, when he had lunch with Brendan Shanahan and played exhibitions against the Devils, Islanders and Bruins alongside Darius Kasparaitis.
"Playing with the big guns was definitely a real good experience and tester to see where I was at," Girardi said. "I felt I was taking more sustained strides, and playing with a 15-year veteran like Kasparaitis made you feel like you can't do anything wrong. He really helped me out talking between periods.
"And the Czech guys are all great talents. You give them the puck and they can do whatever they want to. I called and e-mailed some buddies that I was playing with Kasparaitis and had lunch with Shanahan. It's a good feeling, but I definitely know I have to improve a little on everything so I can hopefully get called up."
Girardi, 22, admits he might even be nervous in his first AHL home opener Saturday against Springfield. But he believes the team being together in a hotel the last few weeks has helped build unity.
In the early going, the defense and goaltending of Al Montoya and veteran Steve Valiquette (who cleared NHL waivers Wednesday and was reassigned by the Rangers) will likely have to carry the offense.
The forwards include rookies and players who didn't arrive in Hartford until at least mid-March, including Greg Moore, Lauri Korpikoski, Brandon Dubinsky, Jakub Petruzalek and Ryan Callahan, a teammate of Girardi's for 21/2 years in Guelph of the OHL. Girardi will room with Callahan.
"We've got a couple of new guys on the back end with Martin Richter and Marvin [Degon] playing his first full season," Girardi said. "The goalies and defense have to be solid because there are a lot of different faces and younger guys who are trying to prove themselves. But guys here last year are going to talk to them to help them.
"They know they can play at this level because they made the team, but now it's just a matter of getting through their head that they can play at this level, that they have to compete hard every day and just do their own job, not try to do anyone else's."
Three Sent To Charlotte
Goalie Chris Holt and forwards Bruce Graham and Rick Kozak were reassigned to Charlotte, leaving the Pack with two goalies, nine defensemen and 14 forwards. A few more will join the Checkers next week.
