|
ANN ARBOR, Mich. Packers #27 Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U.S. to the silver medal in the 2010 Olympics. Unless Ryan gets a spot for the Sochi Games to replace an injured player, he will not have a chance to help the Americans go for gold. The U.S. Olympic hockey team was announced Wednesday after Torontos shootout victory over Detroit in the NHL Winter Classic. "We did not pick the 25 best players," general manager David Poile said. "We picked the 25 players we thought gave us a chance to win the gold medal." Ryan was perhaps the most surprising omission on the 25-man roster. Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson, a pair of defencemen who played in the Vancouver Games, also didnt make the cut. Jimmy Howard, who couldnt make enough stops to help the Red Wings beat the Maple Leafs, appears to be the Americans third goaltender behind Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller. At Sochi, the U.S. forwards will be: David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk and Blake Wheeler. John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan Suter will be on defence for the Americans. Miller was named MVP of the ice hockey tournament at the Vancouver Games, but he wasnt a lock to keep a spot because Quick, one of many players on the team who has been injured this season, has been perhaps the worlds best at stopping shots the past two seasons. Howard, Schneider, Gibson, Tim Thomas and Craig Anderson also were options for the selection committee. To play to their potential, a lot of banged-up players will have to get healthy this month and stay that way through February. Players who couldve potentially been on the team, but werent selected include: Ben Bishop, Keith Yandle, Kyle Okposo, Cory Schneider, Brandon Saad and Dustin Byfuglien. The Americans expect to be a medal contender after they were regarded as young underdogs in 2010, when they were a goal away from knocking off the host Canadians. The team will be led by Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. He has been at ease publicly, saying he likes the Americans chances to win gold for the first time since the Miracle on Ice victory in 1980. Packers #30 Jersey . -- Champ Bailey finally gets a chance to live up to his name. Packers #5 Jersey .Y. - Centre Corban Knight scored 3:30 into overtime, and the Abbotsford Heat rallied to edge the Utica Comets 5-4 on Wednesday in American Hockey League play.KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves added to their extensive wave of long-term deals with their young stars on Sunday by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract with All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel, 25, avoided salary arbitration. He was the last Braves player eligible for arbitration. Kimbrel gets a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $7 million this year, $9 million in 2015, $11 million in 2016 and $13 million in 2017. The Braves have a $13 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. "We are very excited to agree to terms with Craig, who we feel is the best closer in Major League Baseball," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "He is one of the key pieces of our pitching staff and we are happy to keep him in a Braves uniform for at least four more years." Kimbrels arbitration hearing had been set for Monday. The Braves offered $6.55 million and Kimbrel asked for $9 million. The Braves have been busy locking up some of their top young players and avoiding arbitration with long-term contracts. The deal with Kimbrel came only two days after the Braves and right-hander Julio Teheran, 23, agreed to terms on a six-year, $32.4 million contract on Friday. The deal includes a club option for the 2020 season. Earlier this month, the Braves announced multi-year deals with a pair of 24-year-old hitters -- first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward. Freeman agreed to the biggest contract in Brraves history -- $135 million for eight years. Packers #99 Jersey. Heywards contract is for two years and $13.3 million. The agreement with Kimbrel allows the Braves to retain one of baseballs most dominant closers. He has 138 saves in the last three seasons, including 50 saves with a 1.21 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 67 innings last year. He earned one save in 2010 as his introduction to his run of three straight All-Star seasons in 2011-13. Kimbrel has a 1.39 ERA with 381 strikeouts in 227 1-3 career innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has been successful in 139 of 154 career saves opportunities. Kimbrel, from Huntsville, Ala., said he wanted to remain close to home. "Im very excited," Kimbrel told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "If I didnt want to be here, this wouldnt be going on. Were playing to win. This is where I want to be." Kimbrel can add value to his contract through a points system. He would earn five points each time hes an All-Star, 10 for winning a Cy Young Award, five for finishing second or third in Cy Young, three for finishing fourth or fifth in Cy Young, five for being the top Cy Young voter-getter among pitchers with fewer than five starts; 10 for winning an MVP award, five for finishing second or third in MVP, third for finishing fourth or fifth in MVP, and three for each season with 57 or more games finished. Kimbrel would be paid $1 million for 20 points and $500,000 for each additional five points through 45. ' ' ' |
