The story lines were predictable entering Winnipeg Jets training camp several weeks ago.
Air Jordan 1 Outlet . Who is going to play with Kane? Is Pavelec ready for a bounce-back season? Can Morrissey assume one of the top six D spots or Ehlers the ninth forward position? And to a significant degree, Paul Mauricea€?s first training camp as the cluba€?s head coach - and the seven pre-season games recently completed a€“ answered most of the aforementioned questions. In other words, boxes were checked and the blanks filled-in regarding open roster spots, physical conditioning and line combinations. After a warning shot fired by Maurice last spring to his players to come physically prepared this autumn for a a€?mana€?s training camp,a€? the Jets, to-a-player, arrived in peak condition. As a result, training camp was up tempo and grueling at times, testing even the most physically fit of the group. Days were long with skating and new systems the focal point. But there was also the evaluation process, which provided a glimpse into the future, both for this season and beyond. In year four of the NHLa€?s return to Winnipeg, the 2014-15 campaign offers a special look into a season in which the blend of Jetsa€? draft picks and established veterans are coming together. In fact, the young players are starting to push the conversation and forcing some veterans out of spots on the 23-man roster. The emergence of centre Mark Scheifele and defenceman Jacob Trouba last year started the emerging trend of prospects fighting their way into the lineup, while this season forwards Nic Petan and Nik Ehlers showed the organization they might only be a year away from being full-time NHL players. Both were reassigned back to their major junior teams last weekend in advance of the cluba€?s season opener in Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 9. But for the second straight October the Jets will open a new campaign with a rookie holding a significant lineup spot. After just one season in St. Johna€?s with the Jetsa€? top affiliate in the American Hockey League, centre-turned-winger Adam Lowry muscled his way into that position this fall. The 6-foot-5 son of former NHLer Dave Lowry will start the season on a line with newly acquired centre Mathieu Perreault and always compelling Dustin Byfuglien. Lowry will play the left side on the cluba€?s third line, a departure from the centre position he was drafted as in 2011 and played in 2013-14 with the AHL finalist IceCaps. a€?Ita€?s pretty exciting,a€? said Lowry when asked about making the Jets out of training camp. a€?You work all summer and your career to get to this point.a€? Prior to this yeara€?s impressive camp and preseason Lowry, 21, made an earlier impression on Maurice during St. Johna€?s deep playoff run last spring, a sojourn that concluded with the club losing in the championship final to Texas Stars. a€?Watching games in the playoffs last year I knew based on his intelligence and stick that he was going to play at the NHL level,a€? said Maurice. a€?Hea€?s got a game thata€?s developed from the defensive point of view first. From what Ia€?ve seen, I have complete confidence in him to play the role wea€?ve given him. Hea€?s earned it.a€? Lowry did not win the job without some effective competition at camp. He was tested by Petan and Ehlers, the cluba€?s 2014 first-round pick. Both showed tremendous potential for what the future holds on the Jetsa€? forward corp, especially Ehlers whose speed, puck control and positioning have fans and management excited about the future. Added into the mix is defenceman Josh Morrissey, who was also assigned back to junior last weekend for his 19-year-old season with the WHLa€?s Prince Albert Raiders. a€?Therea€?s a really good template there,a€? said Maurice, when queried about the teama€?s three teenage prospects. a€?I loved their camp, but forcing them into the lineup had absolutely no benefit to them or the hockey team. Theya€?ll go back to their junior teams and theya€?re going to get better. Theya€?ve learned something at (our) camp. a€?Ia€?d be careful with my words if I didna€?t think that all three of them were going to be Winnipeg Jets at some point.a€? When Jetsa€? training camp began there was a broad spotlight on individual conditioning. Among those under a closer eye than most was goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. The veteran netminder came into camp in excellent physical condition and when he was asked what he did as an altered off-season regimen to be so fit, he replied: a€?Ita€?s a secret.a€? Whatever he cryptically did different to prepare this summer has served him well out of the gate. Pavelec, whose performance the past two seasons has been met with frequent criticism from fans and media had an excellent preseason. The 27-year-old appeared in four exhibition games (starting all four) and produced a 2-1 record with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Now, putting stock behind preseason numbers isna€?t always a sage way to predict regular season success, but had those totals not reflected something as impressive as they are, a grass fire of Pavelec questions would have turned into an inferno before the teama€?s opening weekend in the American Southwest. The final chapter to Jetsa€? training camp stories was the subject of linemates for Evander Kane. Already entering his sixth season (fourth with Winnipeg), the 23-year-old was thought to be in need of better players around him in order to repeat or exceed the 30-goal season he amassed three years ago. Obviously the organization felt the same way and from Day 1 at training camp Maurice placed Kane, Scheifele and last yeara€?s scoring leader Blake Wheeler together. The trio played thrice as a unit during the preseason and appeared dynamic, quick, defensively responsible and prolific, especially in the cluba€?s final exhibition test when they combined for four points in a 4-1 victory over Calgary. Scheifelea€?s right-handed shot should put the puck easily on Kanea€?s stick all winter and the three could potentially become the teama€?s top offensive unit. But admittedly, the new combination will take some time to really reap the rewards. Under Mauricea€?s new system, defence is first but the quick-pace to puck possession and the transition to offence should result in more scoring chance and goals from that line. a€?When you throw three guys together ita€?s not instant magic,a€? said Wheeler, a newly anointed alternate captain on the team, who had 28 goals and 69 points last season. a€?We need to work at it in practice and talk about it. But we have the capability to create a lot of offence. Be patient.a€?
Vans Outlet . Two weeks after suffering a concussion, Foles will start in place of Michael Vick, who is out for the second time this season with a hamstring injury.
Vans False . LOUIS -- The St.
http://www.scontatescarpenikeoutlet.it/italia-saucony-offerte.html . Both the top-seeded Djokovic and sixth-seeded Fish took relatively easy paths, with the Serb winning when opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired in the second set with a sore arm and Fish dominating Janko Tipsarevic in two quick sets.1. Lou Williams & Lucas Nogueira (Raptors): I like this deal by general manager Masai Ujiri. I have always been a fan of Williams, who fell out of favor in Atlanta. In the final year of his contract, the Raptors will be getting a player who can score in bunches off the bench and give his team a lift on many nights. He plays with energy and can run the point for a possession or two but is definitely more of a scoring two guard. Nogueira is a guy that is under contract overseas for another year, which is a good thing because there is no rush to bring him over and start his NBA Contractual Clock. The Raptors want to be getting him when hes more mature and prepared to give them a greater return on their yearly investment. I like the move, though. Hes a young man who can make things happen in the lane with his rebounding and shot blocking potential. His offence is a bit raw yet but in time he should be a sound pickup. John Salmons was a good pro, but as we could all see in the playoffs, hes clearly on the downside of his career. For Salmons, this is a nice trade particularly with the fact that Williams is off the books after this upcoming season. Helps you, yet doesnt damage your salary cap long term. 2. Jason Kidd (Bucks): How about this for a Machiavellian Move on the part of J-Kidd?! You literally cant make this nonsense up. He tries to back-door GM Billy King in Brooklyn and gets shown the door for two second-round picks. I guess you beat the Raptors in Round 1 and win one playoff game against the Heat and youre a genius with the NBAs Highest Payroll. No one else in the league would have given him the shot he got last year to coach and this is the appreciation. I feel bad for coach Larry Drew, he gets one year and then the door from his new owners. This is a tough business and theres very little honour and respect left anymore in the coaching profession, thats for sure in this case. 3. Derrick Rose (Bulls): Rose is catching a lot of flak for saying that its not his job to recruit Carmelo Anthony. He is correct; its ownership, management and the coaches jobs to do the work. When you evaluate what he said after that about Melos skills, its pretty evident to me that hes impressed with Melos game and how it would help the Bulls. In defence of him, Im sure if management asked him to publicly make comments about Melo or behind the scenes recruit him, hed assist them. Hes a team guy. On the other hand, maybe he just deep down in his heart knows that Melo wouldnt be a great fit in their system/team identity. Well all know in the next few days if this has any impact on Melos decision with Chicago. Usually guys with the ego the size of Melo want to be recruited by everyone involved. 4. Nets coach: Youll hear the names of Lionel Hollins, George Karl & Mark Jackson among many for this job, as their agents cash in favours with media members to float their clients names to increase their profile and possibilities. In a market like New York, with such a high profile and a small window of opporrtunity with this older team thats got the huge payroll, it actually makes lots of sense to consider each of these guys for the job.
Air Force 1 Outlet. The Nets will need both a strong and capable personality/coach to handle this job. GM Billy King knows that and the fact that he was supported by ownership in the coup attempt doesnt mean hes not under tremendous pressure to win big right now. Kings has got to get the right guy and he better win lots of games next year or they might actually need a new GM next spring. I like Lionel Hollins for this job. 5. July 1: Here we go! Always a fun few days when free agency begins. The Big 3 and Melo set the tone and other movement will follow from a decent free agent class, when you look at the Top 10. Theres quite a drop off once you get past the Top 15 names. For Raptors fans, its very important to balance the desire to build on the 48 win season last year with the long term understanding that the Raptors as currently constructed (Even if Kyle Lowry, Patrick Patterson & Greivis Vasquez return) are still a ways away from being a legit contender to go to the NBA Finals out of the East. Particularly if the Big 3 stay in Miami, Chicago gets healthy and adds a guy like Melo and the Pacers improve and take a good look around. Other teams in the East added some pieces in the early part of the Draft that will make each win a little harder to get within the Conference. Remember back to Bryan Colangelos first season as GM with a 47 win season? You can win too early. As crazy as that sounds, its true. Truly be honest with your team and organization and always try to evaluate yourself vs. the top four and top eight in the East as well as the top four and top eight in the West this past season. How did you stand up vs. those teams and vs. the non-playoff teams? Obviously, a nice season in the NBA is when you beat who youre capable of beating and the Raps did that with some other fun wins sprinkled in along the way to make it a neat experience. Lots and lots of work still needs to be done for this team/organization to be a contender. Slow and steady wins the Race. Im quite confident in the patience and long-term view of Ujiri, that he wont get sucked in to believing that theyre close and try to build on a foundation that isnt there yet. Manage the cap properly, improve internally and be patient. The right defining move will present itself to you in the near future, youve got to be properly positioned when it shows up at your doorstep to be able to consummate the transaction. Yes, I love making the playoffs, but we all want more. So build with the idea of long term/organization vs. the 2014-15 team. You want to be in the playoffs on a yearly basis as well as - and this is what really matters - being a team with a legitimate chance to play in the Eastern Conference Finals & possibly get to the NBA Finals. Those are really hard steps to take. Obviously, if the Big Three break up, Melo goes to the Western Conference instead of the Bulls, etc. Then you reconsider that because you do have greater opportunity. But for now, big picture. It will be a fun few days to watch and follow. ' ' '
