Dein erstes Forum » month, the Braves announced multiyear deals with

WHISTLER, B.C. - The Vancouver Canucks know a return to the playoffs will largely hinge on rediscovering their mojo with the man advantage. The club had the NHLs top power play when they went to the Stanley Cup final in 2011, but that unit with mostly the same cast plummeted all the way to 26th last season. That stinging lack of success proved fatal for a team that scored the third fewest goals in the league overall, and was a big part of why Vancouver missed the post-season for the first time in six years. However with some new faces — and more importantly new ideas — the Canucks are confident they can get that critical element of their game back on track. "In this league you win by having great special teams. If you look at the best teams on the power play, theyre the ones making the playoffs," said captain Henrik Sedin. "It was impossible for us to make the playoffs with the power play we had last year." New head coach Willie Desjardins said one key will be to have two units going instead of leaning on Daniel and Henrik Sedin, as was the case under John Tortorella last season. "I just dont like (having) guys on the ice when theyre tired. I dont think thats fair to them and I dont think they get the best results," Desjardins said. "Last year the Sedin unit had a good year, it was just that there was nothing off the other unit. For us to be good we need both units. "I think the Sedins get rested more and then when theyre out there, theyre more effective." A big part of any team success in 2014-15 for the Canucks will probably come down to how Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino fit in on the power play. Vrbata signed with Vancouver in the off-season after recording 10 goals and 11 assists on the man advantage with the Phoenix Coyotes last season, while Bonino — who arrived from Anaheim in the Ryan Kesler trade — finished with seven goals and 13 assists playing 5-on-4 with the Ducks. Judging by how things have gone at training camp ahead of Tuesdays split-squad games against the San Jose Sharks, it looks like Vrbata will start on the first line and first power-play unit with the Sedins. "(Vrbatas) got tremendous hands, great shot, great finisher and he can make plays," said Henrik Sedin. "I just have a good feeling about our power play this year." Vancouver bottomed out on the man advantage in Tortorellas only season behind the bench, but the slide actually started in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign when it fell to 22nd under Alain Vigneault. "We saw some clips from last year and it didnt look like a bad power play to me," said Vrbata. "Theres lots of skill and smart guys who can play." While the Canucks were abysmal playing up a man last season, the penalty kill also faded late to finish ninth after being at or near the top of the league for long stretches. "Our power play was not good enough," said Henrik Sedin. "Our PK was not good enough and we lost ourselves there in January. We couldnt get it back and that was tough." Desjardins is a big believer in players that have had success in the past, and has faith this group can find a way to break through with the man advantage in situations it couldnt last year. "The first unit for sure is good, real good," he said. "Then you have Bonino, you have (Alexandre) Burrows, thats been a scorer in the past ... you have lots of guys who have done it, so why cant they do it this year? They can put up some numbers." Henrik Sedin said with all the video in todays game that its critical for power plays to be unpredictable. "The other teams spend so many hours watching your power play and penalty kill and everything," he said. "You have to have a foundation where you start, but then need to build from there." Veteran assistant coach Perry Pearn will work with a power play that has defencemen Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis and Alexander Edler, among others, vying to man the points. Like his captain, Desjardins hopes the Canucks will be able to provide more varied setups after becoming a little too predictable in recent years. "Weve talked about a lot of different situations. Perrys had a lot of experience and is a real smart guy," he said. "Hes good with the power play, but I think there will be a couple of different looks. "At the same time, this power play has been real good in the past." Wholesale Air Jordan 1 .Manager Brendan Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo on Friday that Sturridge pulled his calf muscle in training as he prepared to return from a five-week layoff due to a thigh strain. Air Jordan 1 Outlet Sale . PAUL, Minn. http://www.airjordan1cheap.com/ . Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators. Cheap Air Jordan 1 For Sale . Canada wasnt in the game from the outset. Head coach Dan Church left Calgary in the morning without addressing the players. He told The Canadian Press he felt the organization lacked confidence in his ability to defend the Olympic gold medal in February. Cheap Retro Air Jordan 1 . Plata blasted a rising shot to the upper left corner for his team-leading seventh goal of the season. He got the kick after referee Allen Chapman ruled Chris Tierney fouled John Stertzer in the penalty area.ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves and shortstop Andrelton Simmons agreed on a $58 million, seven-year contract on Thursday, a record deal for the latest young star locked up by the NL East champions. The deal, which runs through the 2020 season, is the largest ever awarded to a player subject to American draft rules with less than two years of service time. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo signed a $41 million, seven-year contract last May. Simmons, 24, showed power potential in 2013, when he hit 17 home runs, but he earned the big contract with his defence. He won his first Gold Glove award in 2013, when he led the major leagues with 499 assists. "We feel that Andrelton is one of the premier shortstops in the game today, and we are happy that we were able to agree on this multiyear contract," general manager Frank Wren said in a statement released by the team. The Braves this month also reached multiyear agreements with first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Jason Heyward, closer Craig Kimbrel and right-hander Julio Teheran, committing $280.7 million to the rising stars, including Simmons. Simmons hit .248 and drove in 59 runs last season. He earned the new contract after playing in only 206 career games. Simmons received a $1 million signing bonus and will earn $1 million this season. He will earn $3 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $8 million in 2017, $11 million in 2018, $13 million in 20119 and $15 million in 2020.dddddddddddd It has been a busy month for the Braves and Wren. On Sunday, the team agreed to a $42 million, four-year contract with Kimbrel, 25, the All-Star closer. That came two days after the 23-year-old Teheran agreed to terms on a six-year, $32.4 million deal. Earlier this month, the Braves announced multiyear deals with a pair of 24-year-old hitters — Freeman and Heyward. Freeman, the All-Star first baseman, agreed to the biggest contract in Braves history — $135 million for eight years. Of all the new deals, only Heywards is for fewer than four years. Heyward, the outfielder who won his first Gold Glove in 2012, signed for two years and $13.3 million. Even management has been included in the wave of new deals. Manager Fredi Gonzalez and Wren also have been given contract extensions. Simmons ranks with Freeman, Kimbrel, Teheran, Heyward, Justin Upton, left-hander Mike Minor and others as the foundation for the Braves future. Chipper Jones retired after the 2012 season, and Tim Hudson and catcher Brian McCann departed as free agents after last season, leaving the team that won 96 games last year with a young roster. Simmons hit only .216 against left-handers last season, and he hit only .219 in 283 at-bats as a leadoff hitter. The team took off when Heyward was moved to the leadoff spot, and Simmons was more productive in other spots in the lineup. ' ' '