Iginla lauds Keith, Seabrook

CALGARY, Alberta - Jarome Iginla, the Calgary Flames' star winger, routinely plays against the best defensemen in the NHL and puts the Blackhawks' top pair of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook at the top of his list of the most challenging to beat.

"They've gotten better over the last couple years and have taken their game to another level," said Iginla, who will be teammates with Keith and Seabrook on the Canadian Olympic team. "They really read well off each other and you can see they have a nice chemistry. They've just been getting better and better and are a tough challenge."

Iginla pointed out how well Keith uses his stick, which often is an overlooked part of a defenseman's game.

"He's not the biggest guy or the strongest guy, but his speed and with a good stick like that he's tough to get around," Iginla said. "If you think you have a step on him out of the corner ... he never gives up. He competes very hard. Some guys run guys over, but you don't have to do that to be effective."

Keith's Norris Trophy chances appear to be getting better and better with the Calgary Herald now pumping his candidacy in Thursday's edition.

"He's had a great year," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We didn't think he'd produce this kind of offense, to be honest. Whether it's gap control, zone patience on the blue line or his shot, he's really improved."

Olympic fever: Jonathan Toews said he only thinks about the Olympics when a reporter asks him about it.

If that's the case, the Hawks captain is in the wrong place this week.

Toews and the other Hawks going to the Olympics faced a media swarm Thursday morning at the Saddledome and there could be even more reporters traipsing around the dressing room this weekend in Vancouver, the site of the Winter Olympics in a little over three weeks.

The excitement and pressure is building for Canadian Olympians Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Once the Games begin on Feb. 16, all that's going to matter for this country is winning the gold medal.

"It's obviously getting close to the Olympics, we're back in Canada now and everybody is getting excited for it," Keith said.

A pro's pro: Flames coach Brent Sutter had John Madden for two years in New Jersey and knows exactly what the veteran center has brought to the Hawks.

"Johnny is rock solid," Sutter said. "He comes to play every night and is a true professional in everything he does."