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CALGARY - Johnny Gaudreau was still living in a Calgary hotel seven weeks after reporting to Flames training camp.The hotel room represents both sides of a coin for Gaudreau. The Flames havent yet committed to keeping the 21-year-old in the lineup, but theyve liked Gaudreaus play enough to keep him in the NHL for now.Ive got a clean bed made every morning so thats nice, the rookie forward said Wednesday. Im going to sit there in the hotel and wait until Im told to get a place.Hopefully, I keep showing I belong here.Listed at five foot nine and 150 pounds by the Flames, there were questions about Gaudreaus ability to take NHL-sized checks over an 82-game season, and whether he should start the season with the American Hockey Leagues Adirondack Flames in upstate New York.But Gaudreau led the Flames in shots on net in the pre-season and dazzled with moments of brilliant playmaking. He earned his spot on the opening-day roster, but then managed just one shot on goal in his first five games.Gaudreau was a healthy scratch Oct. 17 in Columbus. He responded by scoring his first NHL goal of the regular season two days later in Winnipeg.After getting zero shots on net Saturday against Washington, Gaudreau shone in Calgarys 2-1 shootout loss to Montreal on Tuesday.He assisted on Calgarys lone goal and put six shots on Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who stole the game for the Habs.That was Johnnys best game, Flames head coach Bob Hartley said. I felt he was our best forward.Calgary (5-4-2) is at home against the Nashville Predators on Friday. Hartley is giving Jonas Hiller a second straight start in net. The Flames open a five-game road trip Sunday in Montreal.It would have been surprising if Gaudreaus first month in the NHL was a smooth learning curve. While he did turn the puck over during an early power play against Montreal, he hasnt been a major defensive liability despite his inexperience.After 11 games, the right-winger from Carneys Point, N.J., was plus-five along with a goal and three assists.Ive definitely been trying hard lately to be better in the defensive zone, Gaudreau said. Ive been talking to the coaching staff and going over clips about things I need to get better at.But its been Gaudreaus puck and passing skills that gets Flames fans buzzing. His nickname is Johnny Hockey. Its good timing if Gaudreau feels more confident on offence because the Flames are suddenly thin up front.Centre Matt Stajan is out up to six weeks with a knee injury he sustained in Tuesdays collision with Montreals Jarred Tinordi.Centre Joe Colbornes status is day-to-day following a wrist injury that took him out of that game. Winger Mason Raymond was already sidelined with a shoulder injury and is said to be week-to-week. Calgary called up centre Markus Granlund from the Adirondack Flames on Wednesday.The Flames drafted Gaudreau in the fourth round in 2011. Calgary signed him to a contract April 11, which was the same day he won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division 1 mens hockey.After his college career with Boston College concluded, Gaudreau tantalized Flames fans by scoring a goal in Calgarys final game of the regular season and his first in the NHL.When combined with NHL pre-season games and rookie-camp games, Gaudreau has played almost half a college season before the end of October.To prepare for the NHL marathon, he says he spent more time in the weight room to build strength and less time on the ice to build up his reserves in the off-season. Gaudreau knows hell have to be vigilant about managing his energy if hes to stick with the Flames.I definitely feel how many games weve played, Gaudreau said. Its my rookie year so its something Im going to try to think (about) and make sure Im getting rest and getting fluids in me throughout the days when I do have days off.Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy expects Gaudreaus learning curve to continue rising as he adjusts to NHL defences.Last year when I watched him, every time he got the puck, the first thing (the opposition) did was back up, Conroy said. They gave him all that room. In college, if they tried to pinch on him, he could make them look silly.Now in the NHL, the guys skate so well, theyre so big, they close gaps quickly.Theres going to be times, maybe four or five games, hes not very good. This is the best league in the world and guys are not going to cut him any slack. Theyre going to try to win the game and run him over and make it hard as they can on him.I think hes done a great job up to now. Hes got to protect himself and put himself in good positions. Hes starting to figure that out which is good for us. 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Andre Dawson Jersey .C. -- Clemson celebrated a senior class Saturday that brought the program back as a national contender.THUMBS UP Thumbs up to Dominik Hasek, Mike Modano, Peter Forsberg, Rob Blake, Bill McCreary and the late Pat Burns, the Hockey Hall of Fames Class of 2014, and thumbs down to any Hockey Hall of Fame debates … for the time being, at least. It is the right time to celebrate the achievements of six great men, and it is the wrong time to wonder who got snubbed this time, or who should or shouldnt be elected in 2015 and beyond. The HHOF will never escape controversy. It benefits from all the talk that accompanies the decisions of its selection committee, and there certainly wouldnt be as much talk if some of those decisions werent questioned. But nothing should get in the way of the celebration that is Hockey Hall of Fame weekend. Celebrate the people, their families, and their accomplishments and contributions to the game of hockey, and use them to remember again what hockey means to those who love it. Hockey Hall of Fame arguments? Some other time. THUMBS DOWN My thumb is down to the NHL for continuing to hold its nose when a shootout takes place.dddddddddddd It probably prefers to break the nose of anyone bold enough to suggest that the shootout adds to the entertainment of a hockey game that might otherwise have been lacking in that department. NHL general managers are set to discuss again the merits of adding a 3-on-3 overtime component in an effort to reduce the number of games decided via shootout. Okay, Im fine with that. But there will still be shootouts and the NHL will continue to decry their value. Imagine a restaurant praising its main courses and apologizing for its dessert menu. The alternative, which would be more consistent if less sensible, would be to eliminate the shootout entirely and return to the days of the old-fashioned, boring tie. And if the NHL is not prepared to do that, it should embrace the shootout. One or the other - is that asking too much? ' ' '