Matt Carle makes one thing clear.
"I'm not bitter about anything," he said.
The veteran defenseman has plenty of reasons to pout, having been a healthy scratch in two of the last four games. It's something Carle, 31, hasn't experienced in a decade, since his second season in the NHL.
Is Carle happy about it? Of course not. Is he frustrated? For sure. But Carle is not letting the situation impact his attitude and work ethic, as shown by him joking with the six teammates who joined him Friday for a very optional practice at Xcel Energy Center.