Short shift w/ D Jason Garrison
Favorite Christmas gift this year? I like when teammates send family cards. Some guys take funny pictures. For me, those are the best ones.
Who had the best card? I'm going to say (defenseman Anton) Stralman. Very formal, in a tux.
Go-to restaurant in Tampa: I find myself at Fresh Kitchen a lot. Dinners, Timpano, Ulele.
First job? Boston Pizza (a Canadian chain). A cook.
Can you still make a pizza? No. It's been awhile.
Most prized memorabilia: I have a (Nicklas) Lidstrom (Red Wings Hall of Fame defenseman) signed stick. It's the only player that I've ever asked to get a stick from. I was young; it was pretty cool. So that's it for me.
Extreme makeover
D Victor Hedman started the new year with a haircut, his first in a long time. Hedman, known for his long locks, said it was "time for a change." (See the before and after above.)
"I felt lighter out there," he joked.
Hedman said he got some great reviews from teammates. Someone told him he looked like a "young Brad Pitt."
"The big joke in the locker room was, one day he left a Viking and the next day he came back and looked like he was on Wall Street," coach Jon Cooper said.
Quote to note
"Good things the stats don't count."
G Ben Bishop, on being named to the All-Star Game, which has a 20-minute 3-on-3 format this season
Fountain of youth
C Steven Stamkos was named an All-Star for the fifth time, and what makes his selection Wednesday unique is he gets to be teammates with ageless Panthers wing Jaromir Jagr, 43, who was voted captain of the Atlantic Division team by fans.
Stamkos, 25, said he plans to ask the future Hall of Famer for a signed stick to add to his collection. Jagr has 14 goals and 16 assists.
"That will be pretty cool and pretty special to play on this team," Stamkos said. "It's amazing to see what he's been able to do and continue to produce in this league at his age. (It's) pretty remarkable."
Laughing landlord
C Brian Boyle, wife Lauren and son Declan are living in the Tampa condo owned by former Lightning wing Teddy Purcell, who is now with the Oilers.
Purcell joked Friday that Boyle is late with his rent checks.
"He's up to date," Purcell said, smiling. "But the tab is going this year."
A Purcell No. 16 Lightning jersey still hangs on the wall, and a Big Buck Hunter video game is in a corner. "It used to be the biggest bachelor pad," Purcell quipped. "It was all one color. Then I had a designer redo it."
Purcell said he plans to keep the condo, which he bought six years ago, and was happy to allow the Boyles to use it. "It's worked out for everybody," he said.
From the fans
Question: Who is your favorite teammate to follow on social media/Twitter?
G Ben Bishop: I don't really follow too many guys, but (RW J.T. Brown, @JTBrown23) I heard is pretty funny."
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