WINNIPEG – We’ve seen this one before…
George Costanza went to great lengths to change the narrative and covertly ‘plant’ his own office nickname after “KoKo” (named after KoKo the Monkey) was thrust upon him.
“I’m just a t-bone kinda guy,” he said, emphatically ordering a thick steak for lunch at one of the many brainless meetings at Kruger Industrial Smoothing.
“In fact, you might as well call me…”
Blast.
Plan foiled.
Even after hiring a woman named KoKo to help with his goofy scheme, Costanza was back to Square 1. Just goes to show… Whether it’s in hockey or in life, you never get to pick your own nickname.
“It’s hard because we have a Big Z already,” laughed The New Guy. Radim Zohorna, after his first morning skate with his new troupe. “We have to figure it out.”
At 6-foot-6, 220-lbs., Zohorna is impossible to miss. But Nikita Zadorov is also listed at that height, so we might have to break out the fractions to officially declare a winner.
“They (my teammates) said I’m taller than him,” Zohorna said. “I’m not sure. I don’t know. I don’t want to (be the one to) tell him.”
You can’t really blame him for not wanting to rock the boat. In what’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for the 26-year-old Czech, the morning skate was literally his first chance to get acquainted with his new mates. That would be a challenge for any player, to fly across the continent and get to know a whole new group of players this late into training camp.
But after being put on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, the Flames were the beneficiaries – and Zohorna, despite that feeling of having his world upended – is thankful for the opportunity in Calgary.
Video: “I hope now I can prove myself here”
“I was on my way to the airport because we had a preseason game in Detroit,” Zohorna said of Monday’s abrupt change of plans. “My buddy called me – he saw (the news) on Twitter. It was like five minutes after 2 o’clock and then I was happy. I was really happy. It’s a great opportunity. I’m going to be myself.
“I know I can be an NHL player full time and now I’m here.
“And I’m so happy I’m here.”
It’s clear in watching him during the 10-minute skate what the attraction is. The size, certainly, is the first thing you notice. But it quickly becomes apparent how well he moves for a big man. His quickness, edge work and 0-60 is as good as anyone on the ice. He also has incredibly soft hands, a great release, and seems to thrive in tight areas, evading checks and using his vision to spot the open man.
Zohorna will play on the wing tonight, with Adam Ruzicka in the middle and Blake Coleman on the right.
It’s an excellent opportunity, with both Cody Eakin and Sonny Milano – two of the Flames’ three PTOs – sitting out tonight against the Winnipeg Jets.
“I try to play hard and physical and use my size and speed,” Zohorna said. “I had a really good summer and think I had a good camp in Pittsburgh. There was just no room for me.
“I will have an opportunity to make the team here and play with these guys, so it will be fun.”
Zohorna has spent the past two years splitting time with the Penguins and their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He had 12 goals and 21 points in 39 games with the Baby Pens last year, before adding another five points (2G, 3A) in four playoff games. In 25 NHL games, he has 4 goals, 10 points and eight penalty minutes.
“I had a few games last year and in my first year, and I think I did pretty well,” Zohorna said. “I didn’t have much time and (not many) games to prove myself, but I hope now I can prove myself here.”
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