Crazy Rebel(l)s
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28.01.2019 07:21
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CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to contracts with free agents Chris Kunitz http://www.officialhurricanes.com/authentic-adidas-jordan-staal-jersey , Cam Ward and Brandon Manning on Sunday, addressing their depth in every position group after missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.Kunitz got a one-year deal worth $1 million, and Ward’s one-year contract is for $3 million. Manning received a two-year deal.The 38-year-old Kunitz gives Chicago another experienced forward, Ward adds to the Blackhawks’ depth in goal after Corey Crawford missed most of last season, and Manning joins a mix of aging veterans and intriguing prospects on defense.”The main thing for us is that we’ve been able in the past couple of years to accumulate a lot of really good young players who are on the cusp of breakout status,” general manager Stan Bowman said in a conference call with reporters. ”In the process of turning it over to the young guys, you still have to mentor those young guys.”Kunitz had 13 goals and 16 assists in 82 games with Tampa Bay last season. He also had an assist in 17 playoff games with the Lightning. The four-time Stanley Cup champion – with Anaheim in 2007 and Pittsburgh in 2009 Womens Justin Faulk Jersey , 2016 and 2017 – also won gold with Canada at the 2014 Olympics.”The goal from an organizational standpoint is to win a Stanley Cup,” Kunitz said. ”That’s what they’re looking to do every single year.”He joins a Chicago team looking for a comeback after finishing last in the Central Division. Crawford got hurt in December and the Blackhawks tumbled to 33 wins and 76 points, their lowest totals since they went 31-42-9 during the 2006-07 season.Upgrading its situation in net was one of Chicago’s top offseason priorities. Bowman said last month he expects Crawford ”to be back and ready to go in training camp,” and the goaltender is among the listed players who will attend Blackhawks Convention July 27-29, an annual event where current and former players meet fans and speak with reporters.Anton Forsberg was acquired in the Artemi Panarin trade with Columbus last June, but he struggled in his first year as Crawford’s backup and his status is up in the air with the addition of Ward.”We felt that was an area we wanted to get better at,” Bowman said. ”Anton had a great season for us the first few months when he was getting his feet under him as a NHL goalie Justin Williams Jersey , with Corey sort of carrying the load. … I think Anton can work his way to (being No. 1 guy) over time, but Cam has the long-time pedigree of being able to handle that.”The 34-year-old Ward was selected by Carolina in the first round of the 2002 draft and spent his first 13 seasons with the Hurricanes. He went 23-14-4 last year with two shutouts, a 2.73 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.Ward also has 41 career playoff appearances. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2006 as playoff MVP when Carolina beat Edmonton for its only Stanley Cup title.Ward noted the Hurricanes did not contact him during the week leading to the start of free agency.”I understand they’re going in a different direction and that’s their idea,” he said. ”I always imagined myself retiring as a Hurricane and playing my whole career there. That being said, this has opened the door for a new opportunity and a new challenge for me. I’m excited to see what comes out of it.”The 28-year-old Manning set career highs with seven goals and 12 assists in 65 games last season with Philadelphia. He also played in six postseason games.Chicago also announced it had agreed to a three-year contract with defenseman Adam Boqvist. The Blackhawks selected the 17-year-old Boqvist with the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft.— The hot Calgary Flames look to continue their torrid starts when they take the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday afternoon at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.The Flames became the fourth team in NHL history and the first in nearly 30 years to score five or more goals in consecutive first periods in Wednesday’s 6-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Calgary. The Flames also scored five times against visiting Vegas on Monday in a 7-2 win.The St. Louis Blues were the last team to accomplish the feat in November 1989.Article continues below ...“We’ve got three (wins) in a row right now and I think everyone in our locker room feels great,” said Flames goaltender David Rittich, who has won five straight.Calgary (13-8-1) moved back into first place in the Pacific Division. Vegas (10-12-1) is sixth in the division after Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win at Arizona.Vegas left winger Max Pacioretty gave the Golden Knights the win Custom Florida Panthers Jerseys , scoring his fourth goal in the last three games. Vegas completed its three-game road trip with four points.“I had just hopped on the ice,’ Pacioretty told the Las Vegas Review-Journal of his goal. “I saw Shea (Theodore) had some speed against some flat-footed defensemen. He put it on net and I just pounced on the rebound.”Theodore split the defense and put a shot on Arizona goaltender Darcy Kuemper that came off long and Pacioretty backhanded it back through Kuemper’s pads.Tomas Nosek also scored, and Marc-Andre Fleury had 19 saves for Vegas. The Golden Knights outshot the Coyotes 5-0 in overtime.Pacioretty, who turned 30 on Tuesday, had two goals in the game, the third straight game in which he has scored.“We’re really happy,” coach Gerard Gallant said of Pacioretty’s recent play. “He’s one of those guys who when he puts the puck in the net http://www.officialhurricanes.com/authentic-adidas-rod-brind_amour-jersey , he gets confidence and feels better about himself. He definitely did that tonight.”Calgary left winger Sam Bennett is also thriving, especially with his recent increased playing time.Bennett scored the go-ahead goal and added an assist in Calgary’s win over Winnipeg on Wednesday.Elevated to the second line alongside Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund to start the four-game home stand, the 2014 fourth overall pick remains in that spot. The move helped Calgary win three of the four games played at the Flames’ Scotiabank Saddledome.“I’ve wanted this opportunity for a while and I said I’d make the most of it. I’m not going to let my foot off the pedal now,” Bennett told reporters after the win over Winnipeg. “The confidence is definitely pretty good right now. I feel confident in my plays and I’m able to make plays and not be scared to make mistakes. It’s a great feeling.”Added Tkachuk: “(Bennett’s) playing awesome right now. I love how heavy and physical he’s been. He’s creating more space for myself and (Backlund), but he’s creating more space for himself as well. You saw his speed on that breakaway in the third.” |
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