| Autor |
|
|
|
| to go more years and dollars than we believe in, people m |
|
|
| 2070 Beiträge - Forenlegende
|
|
|
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkins balancing act between the Washington Capitals and the Olympics in Russia could get a whirlwind test in a few weeks. Russia would like to have Ovechkin carry the torch after it is lit in Greece on Sept. 29. That would be a tight fit -- because its only two days before the Capitals open the regular season at Chicago. "We just have to find a plane," Ovechkin said Tuesday. Ovechkin said his agent is working with the organizers of the Sochi Games to figure out the logistics. He joked he could "take some medicine" to sleep while flies back and forth across the Atlantic. It helps that the Capitals arent scheduled to practice on Sept. 29, but hell want to be back in time join his teammates on the ice the next day for their final skate before travelling to Chicago. "Its a huge honour for me," Ovechkin said. "Im very proud the Russian federation asked me to do that. ... Its only a once in your life opportunity to carry the torch and represent your country." The Sochi Olympics have stoked a passion in Ovechkin -- he has said he would have played in them even if the NHL hadnt worked out a deal to interrupt the season -- but he was diplomatic about his dual goals as he reunited with his Capitals teammates ahead of Thursdays opening of training camp. He wants to win the first Olympic title for Russian players since a "Unified Team" of former Soviet republics took gold in Albertville in 1992, and he wants to win a Stanley Cup with Washington after several seasons after early-round flameouts in the playoffs. Ovechkin said the Olympics are "huge," but he stressed that the Capitals are important as well. As far as trying to peak for both events -- Olympics in February and NHL playoffs starting in April -- he said hell have to be smart and listen to his coaches and trainer. Theres been speculation whether Ovechkin would return to Russia for good to play for Dynamo Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League. Countryman Ilya Kovalchuk stunned the NHL in July when he left $77 million on his New Jersey Devils contract to go to the KHL. Ovechkin would make a similar financial hit: His 13-year, $124 million contract with the Capitals runs through 2021. "The answer is, like, Im here, I have a contract," Ovechkin said. "It was very enjoyable to hear president of Dynamo and GM wants me to sign, and be honest with you, I love Dynamo, its my first team and I play (there) when it was (NHL) lockout. But I have a contract. So I have to play here and I respect my teammates, I respect my fans, and all that kind of stuff. Thats about it." Ovechkin said hes recovered from the hairline fracture in his left foot, suffered when he blocked a shot in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Rangers. He played in Game 7 the next night and represented Russia for one game at the world championship before the injury was diagnosed. Hes also looking forward to a full season under Capitals coach Adam Oates, who rallied the club to a playoff berth after a horrific start in a lockout-shortened campaign. "Last year we have only like a half-season," Ovechkin said. "And you could see the success we have at the end." VANCOUVER -- Alex Anthopoulos was a busy man last off-season. The Toronto Blue Jays general manager made a series of bold moves that reshaped the club ahead of what would turn out to be a disastrous 2013 campaign. The lead-up to the 2014 season has been relatively quiet in comparison, with the Blue Jays biggest splash coming when they cut ties with catcher J.P Arencibia and replaced him with free-agent Dioner Navarro. While that deal wasnt not on the same level as the headline-grabbing acquisitions of Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey, Anthopoulos says he wont be adding any pieces through trade or free agency unless it fits into the teams model. "We made a lot of big moves early last off-season. It wasnt by design, it just worked out that way," Anthopoulos said Friday. "Weve had a lot of dialogue. Theres still a lot of players out there, just havent been able to line up with respect to a price, whether its trade or free-agent cost. "We do have the ability on some trade fronts to just say Yes. We know what the asking prices are -- just not willing to pay that price. From a free-agent standpoint ... we have been given a price and we just dont necessarily see the value right now." The starting rotation continues to be a point of emphasis after a miserable 2013 that saw Toronto finish last in the American League East after starting the season as World Series favourites. Free agent starters Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez are still on the open market, but Anthopoulos said theres a chance that the rotation could be filled out from within. "We have a lot of candidates and a lot of options. Someone like Brandon Morrow coming back (from injury) is a huge boost for us, some of our young kids that are coming back are certainly going help," he said. "We still have dialogue and try to upgrade but we do have some upside to some of the guys that are coming back." Anthopoulos, who was in town for a luncheon with the single-A Vancouver Canadians, also touched on the New York Yankees signing of Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka earlier this week. The 25-year-old right-hander inked a seven-year deal worth $155 million dollars with Torontos AL East rivals that also includes a $20-millionn dollar payment to his club team.dddddddddddd The Blue Jays, who have an internal policy of not signing player contracts longer than five years, were rumoured to be in the running for Tanakas services early on in the process. "Obviously hes a great starter and there was a lot speculation on where the dollars would go just based on the previous two Japanese starters (Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish)," said Anthopoulos. "I think it was expected that he would go north of (their price tags) -- $175 million, I dont know if anybody predicted that. "Hes very talented and the Yankees certainly got better." Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays use the five-year limit on contracts as "a guideline" but tend to shy away from longer-term deals because they offer clubs very little wiggle room. "Weve held firm on our five-year policy in terms of contracts. When free agents are signing for seven, eight years, then normally thats where we tap out," he said. "We definitely have the resources financially in terms of annual value and salaries and things like that. I think weve proven that with some of the players we have acquired. But just the length of term -- very rarely do those seven-, eight-year deals work out." Anthopoulos and manager John Gibbons will be feeling the heat if the Blue Jays stumble out of the gate as the they did in 2013. Fans flocked to Rogers Centre with dreams of a return to the teams glory years of the early 1990s that included two World Series titles, but were instead bitterly disappointed with the product on the field. With pitchers and catchers set to report for spring training on Feb. 17, a repeat in 2014 surely wont fly. "Youre always anxious to try to improve the club and to add to it, but you dont necessarily have to guard against it when you know theres a deal that just doesnt make any sense," said Anthopoulos. "We just dont want to force a deal and do it for the sake of doing it. "We want to make moves that we think are going to help the club. If we have to go more years and dollars than we believe in, people might get excited now but a few months into it we may be regretting that deal and be hamstrung with a contract that we dont want." Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
|
| Beitrag vom 26.07.2016 - 12:32 |
|
