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EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have hired Craig Ramsay as an assistant coach. Custom Royals Jersey . The 63-year-old has over 40 years of NHL experience since being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres as a forward in 1971. After spending his entire playing career in Buffalo, Ramsay moved behind the Sabres bench. He served as an assistant with the team during the 1986-87 season and took over as interim head coach late that year. He also spent time as Buffalos assistant general manager and director of player personnel prior to his departure in 1993. The Weston, Ont., served as head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11. He also served as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers (1998-2000) and was named the teams interim head coach in February 2000, compiling a record of 16-8-1-0 while guiding the Flyers to an Atlantic Division title. He has served as an assistant or associate coach for several teams including the Ottawa Senators (1996-98), Florida Panthers (1993-95, 2011-13), Boston Bruins (2007-10) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2001-07), where he won the Stanley Cup in 2004. As a player, Ramsay accumulated 672 points (252 goals, 420 assists) and 201 penalty minutes in 1,070 games with Buffalo. He won the 1985 Selke Trophy as the leagues top defensive forward. The team also announced that after spending the past six seasons behind the Oilers bench as an assistant coach, former Oilers captain Kelly Buchberger will transition into a new role in player personnel. Also, assistant Steve Smith is considering his options for next season. Mike Moustakas Jersey .J. -- A couple of comeback kids helped the New York Giants continue their winning streak. Eric Hosmer Royals Jersey . Brooks and Harrison, along with tackle Walter Jones and coach Tony Dungy, were the first-year eligible candidates to make the cut from 126 to 25. Brooks won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, while Harrison and Dungy were champions with Indianapolis.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss the Canadians taken in the NFL Draft, Steve Nash of the Suns, Joel Ward of the Capitals, and the Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom. Dave Naylor, TSN: My thumb is up to the three Canadians who were selected in this weeks NFL draft - Windsors Tyrone Crawford to the Cowboys, Torontos Philip Blake to the Broncos and Ottawas Christo Bilukidi to the Raiders. It wasnt that long ago that Canadians were almost as rare in the NFL as ... well, rouges. But as the sport of football continues to grow in Canada, that has definitely changed. With five players drafted in the past two years alone, there will likely be at least 15 Canadians in the NFL this coming season. Not necessarily good news for the Canadian Football League. But a very good sign for Canadian football in general. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Steve Nash, still Canadas greatest athlete at 38, not just for having another MVP-like season for the Phoenix Suns, but for how it all came to an end on Wednesday night with the genuine emotion between player and his fan base. This kind of feeling doesnt happen often anymore. The Suns didnt win the game or make the playoffs but Nash received standing ovation after standing ovation throughout the night, with fans saying thanks for his 10 seasons in the desert. Nash, with no plans to retire, is a free agent this summer. He hasnt said where he wants to play next year so Ill inquire for him: why not Canada? Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Joel Ward for his casual grace in dismissing the racist comments directed at him via Twitter. Eric Hosmer Jersey. Ward said he wasnt going to let the hateful spew ruin his day after he scored a Game 7 overtime goal for the Capitals against the Bruins, combating the taunts with the pitch-perfect response. This is not really a Boston story, even in the context of the citys turbulent racial history. This is a story of social media, our great unexpurgated democracy where all voices - even the cranks - seem to carry equal weight. Ward counter-attacked with an unconventional weapon, one beyond the incendiary capability of 140 characters. He shrugged. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is down to the near-certainty that Nicklas Lidstrom will never see his name on the Lady Byng trophy. Its an award that is apparently reserved for forwards with low penalty totals, never mind that Lidstroms time spent in the penalty box is always remarkably low for those who play defence, and hardly high by any standards. Florida defenceman Brian Campbell is a Byng finalist this season - hed be a worthy winner, but how ironic if a defenceman other than Nick Lidstrom beat the Byng curse against blueliners. Maybe one day itll be called the Nick Lidstrom trophy - one way, the only way, apparently, to put his name on it. ' ' ' |
