Dein erstes Forum » his year. So far

The NHLs Western Conference should be wild all season, perhaps as much as ever as parity reigns and points are tough to come by on any given night.A slew of teams have a shot at advancing to the Stanley Cup finals.The defending Conference champion San Jose Sharks, who had five players in the World Cup of Hockey finals , certainly appear to have a chance to be among the final two still skating in mid-June. That alone would be a feat because no team from the conference has pulled it off since the Detroit Red Wings, now an Eastern Conference team, won the Stanley Cup in 2008 and came within a win of repeating.Chicago, Los Angeles, Anaheim and St. Louis will likely be among the contenders. Dallas, too.The Blackhawks and Kings, who alternated as champions from 2012 to 2015 and won five Cups in a six-season span, failed to even make it out of the first round last in 2016.Both teams certainly have a chance to bounce back this season.This is my sixth season in the Central Division and this looks like the most challenging year yet, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said Thursday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. The crunching between the top and bottom started last year, and its going to be closer this year.Hitchcock and Stars general manager Jim Nill both believe the teams that were at the bottom of the conference last season on moving up.The Winnipegs and the Colorados are going to be better teams, Nill told the AP. I think its going to be tighter than ever.How tight?Everyone has a shot, San Joses Logan Couture said.How many teams?Fifteen, Couture insisted. There are no easy-to-beat teams in our conference.Some things to watch for this season:SHARP SHARKSSan Jose, which joined the league in 1991, advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time last season. The Sharks pushed Pittsburgh to Game 6 before its speed proved to be too much to handle. The Sharks showed they have some of the best players on the planet at the World Cup with Couture, Joe Thornton, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic helping Canada win the title against Team Europe and one of their new teammates, Mikkel Boedker. The Sharks signed the forward to a four-year, $16 million deal on Day 1 of free agency.HUNGRY HAWKSThe Blackhawks, who hoisted the Cup in in 2015, 13 and 10, are coming off their shortest postseason run in coach Joel Quennevilles eight seasons. The Blues beat Chicago in Game 7 of their first-round series, giving its players a longer-than-usual summer. I think it will help us recharge, Marian Hossa said.SWAN SONGHitchcock has said hes retiring after this season more than 20 years after getting his first job with the Stars. The Blues plan to replace him with Mike Yeo. The 64-year-old Hitchcock led the Stars to the Cup in 1999 and St. Louis to the last conference finals, its longest playoff run since 2001. Im excited about the year because weve raised the bar with expectations and accountability, Hitchcock said.SPLASHY SUMMERA handful of teams in the West made major moves July 1, including the Edmonton Oilers signing winger Milan Lucic to a $42 million, seven-year deal to give 19-year-old center Connor McDavid some help. Vancouver, which failed to make the playoffs in 2016 for the second time in three years, added winger Loui Eriksson with a $36 million, six-year contract to give the 36-year-old Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, an opportunity to make at least one more postseason push. Calgary signed forward Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18 million deal, hoping he can provide a steady veteran presence to go with spectacular, 23-year-old Johnny Gaudreau. Four years after giving Zach Parise and Ryan Suter 13-year, $98 million contracts, the Minnesota Wild signed center Eric Staal to a three-year, $10.5 million deal.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Custom USA Soccer Jerseys . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Cheap USA Soccer Jerseys . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. USA Soccer Jerseys China . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court.The pressure is on for the 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders; and it comes in two distinct forms. First and most obvious, to have a great season; one that generates sold out stadiums and propels them to the Grey Cup. Second is to win the Grey Cup at home; just like the BC Lions did in 2011 and the Toronto Argonauts in 2012. Throughout CFL history hosting a Grey Cup used to be a detriment to the host team, proven by the fact that so few of them won the game. Obviously that hasnt been the case recently. In both the Lions and Argos wins, the atmosphere was what I remember most. There were between 55,000 and 65,000 people, all in a good mood - as you know, the Grey Cup is a party with a football game, not necessarily the other way around! The same atmosphere can be created at Mosaic Stadium, Taylor Field. And if the Roughriders can make it to the Grey Cup, I will say this: it will be even more of a home field advantage then what the Argonauts and Lions experienced in 2012 and 2011. The Riders did only finish 8-10 last season, but at the risk of sounding too optimistic, it was a good 8-10. I thought Cory Chamblin did a good job as a first year head coach, they found a running back in Kory Sheets, and defensively the only team that allowed fewer points was BC. The Riders were also second in total yards against, second in passing yards against, and third in rushing yards against. Offensively, they had the second fewest two and outs and were second best in the red zone. After those positive points there is a lot to improve upon. Priority one is pass offence (seventh in the league). I thought the turning point off the season was the injury to Jock Sanders.dddddddddddd He has an acceleration/power balance that was a difference maker last year; the Riders need him for all 18 games this year. So far this year the best person in the organization is not a player, but rather General Manager Brendan Taman. He is on a roll in terms of finding and signing effective personnel. From Brendon LaBatte to Xavier Fulton, Geroy Simon to Sam Hurl; Taman has used both the draft and free agency very effectively. The defensive line for the Riders could be special this year; Tearrius George and Keith Shologan at tackles, and new defensive ends Ricky Foley and the returning John Chick. Rey Williams will also make a difference at linebacker with leadership and commitment to winning. The way the season ended was nothing short of heart-breaking for Rider faithful. They had Calgary beat but one combination of hesitation and a poor angle and it was the Stampeders with a six-point win instead of a one-point loss. It is easy to make a solid argument for any of the four teams to finish first in the West: Edmonton has a true quarterback in Mike Reilly, BC dominated in 10 of the top statistical categories in the league last year; Calgary will return with the a team that finished 12-6 and made it to the Grey Cup; and the Riders, in Chamblins second year, have better personnel at defensive end and a proven running back. And yes, they also have the best fans in the country; it makes a difference. I like Toronto to win the East and the team that stays the hungriest over the next 21 weeks will win the West. Could that be Saskatchewan? ' ' '