Fredrik Claesson Jersey Womens from elaine's blog

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Shea Theodore and Alex Tuch had to have faith.When the Vegas Golden Knights decided to send them to the minors at the start of last season Tom Kuhnhackl Jersey Womens , Theodore and Tuch chose to believe what general manager George McPhee told them.“The message was that we were part of the future of this team and he definitely saw us in that long-term plan,” Theodore said.Within weeks, they were back in the NHL as part of the fastest-starting expansion team in history and played significant roles in the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. Each player got a long-term contract before he played his first game this season, and they weren’t alone as McPhee went about the process of turning Vegas from a one-year wonder into a perennial title contender.He locked up 75-point forward Jonathan Marchessault through 2024, signed face-of-the-franchise goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a three-year extension, inked defenseman Nate Schmidt to a six-year contract that begins next season, signed center Paul Stastny as a free agent and acquired big winger Max Pacioretty in a trade with Montreal. Those moves have paid off so far with Vegas five points back of first place in the Pacific Division and looking like its second act could rival its first.“We have a couple guys signed long term, and it’s fun because it means that we have a core and we’re building something,” Marchessault said. “You want to be part of a story as a hockey player, and it feels like we’re part of one here.”The Golden Knights’ story was a fairy tale: A team that looked on paper like it would be among the worst in the league won its division and steamrolled to the final before losing to McPhee’s former team, the Washington Capitals, in five games. Marchessault said he felt in June like this team could be a legitimate threat for years to come.McPhee’s job was to ensure that. The veteran executive who got to build the Golden Knights from scratch through a wildly successful expansion draft understood he had the benefit of not having to dig out from bad contracts. But he also shouldered the burden of drawing up a whole host of new ones after one season during which seemingly everyone overachieved.“We did have a lot of work to do because most of the guys that we acquired were either free agents or were on one-year deals and their deals had matured and it was time to negotiate again Anthony Beauvillier Jersey Womens ,” McPhee said. “And we just thought, we know what they are, we’re comfortable projecting what they will be in the future and we had the cap space, so why not use it now because cap space is like perishable inventory. If you don’t use it, it’s gone at the end of the year. We just wanted some cost certainty moving forward, so it would help us to plan for things better in the future.”Fleury got $7 million a year, Schmidt, $5.95 million, Theodore, $5.2 million, Marchessault, $5 million and Tuch Dustin Tokarski Jersey Womens , $4.75 million. Fleury leads the NHL with 26 wins, Schmidt has played over 23 minutes a game since returning from suspension, Theodore leads Vegas defensemen with 21 points and Tuch and Marchessault are 1-2 on the team in scoring.Beyond cost certainty, it was money smartly spent to keep morale up, raise expectations and get bang for owner Bill Foley’s buck.“When you have a guy believe in you like that, sign you to that kind of a term, you don’t want to make him look bad and I think every night you want to go out and you want to play your best,” said Theodore, who is under contract through 2025. “I think it’s been paying off for us and hopefully will in the future.”Even though only wingers James Neal and David Perron and defenseman Luca Sbisa aren’t back from the core group that went to the Cup final, McPhee couldn’t stand pat and think success would repeat itself. He consciously added Stastny, Pacioretty and Nick Holden to replace the lost production and provide an influx of talent.“When you’re a couple games away from winning, I think you’ve got to try and do whatever you can Valtteri Filppula Jersey Womens ,” Schmidt said. “You have to add something in order to beat the best teams.”The way Pacioretty looks at it, McPhee wasn’t scanning the aisles. He was shopping off a specific list. They weren’t part of the playoff run — Stastny was on the Winnipeg Jets team that Vegas beat in the Western Conference final — but brought some more balance.“They wanted guys like me and Stas to come in and play a little bit of a two-way game,” Pacioretty said. “That’s how we want to help our team. We know that especially offensively that this team last year had guys who were relied upon every night to create. And we still want to be those guys coming in, but we also know that there’s areas on both sides of the puck that we can help this team.”Injuries have hampered Pacioretty and Stastny so far, but they and the Golden Knights will really be judged in the playoffs. After falling three victories short of a championship, players feel like they have what it takes to win this time and for years to come.“As our owner said at the beginning of the year, we just don’t want to be a winning team. We want to have a winning franchise,” Marchessault said. “Last year we really felt like we have something special, and we have some unfinished business.” DENVER (AP) So about that swipe P.K. Subban took at the speedy forward causing Nashville so much grief.”Playoff hockey,” the Predators defenseman said a day after clocking Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon in the side of the head with his right glove. Once untangled, both were sent to the penalty box for holding during Colorado’s 5-3 win Monday.”Do it again next game,” Subban said .This series definitely took a step toward the chippy side as the top-seeded Predators lead 2-1 heading into Game 4 in Denver on Wednesday.”We’re just getting to know each other Fredrik Claesson Jersey Womens , right?” Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. ”It’s the playoffs. It’s always like that. It’s fun. They’re an experienced team that went to the final last season, and they know what to do to draw penalties. Sometimes after the whistle.”On a play in the second period Monday, Mackinnon was skating along the boards when Subban poked at the puck with his stick in his left hand and then delivered a blow with his right. Subban tossed MacKinnon to the ice as teammates rushed in. Subban was booed by the raucous crowd the rest of the night.”I just try to play hard,” Subban said. ”I don’t really hear it anymore. It’s happened so much over my career. Just try to go out there and do my job, be an impactful player when I’m on the ice.”Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog understands the heightened emotions this time of year. Even more so since the Avalanche haven’t been in postseason position since 2014.”There’s a lot on the line,” Landeskog said. ”If you’re not emotionally involved, it would be weird. You leave everything on the ice. That’s what we did. I’m sure they feel the same way on the other side.”Subban relishes the physical nature of a series – and perhaps getting under the skin of an opposing forward or two.”It’s easy to get into it when you know you’re going to hit somebody, when you know you have to finish all your checks,” Subban said. ”Next game should be another physical one.”So far, Colorado has scored the game’s first goal in each contest. What’s more, the Avs hold a 5-0 advantage in first-period scoring during the series.That’s partly why Nashville went through a frenzied practice Tuesday, complete with some light checking.”Today Dylan DeMelo Jersey Womens , there was a message behind it and some passion in our practice,” defenseman Ryan Ellis said. ”It was great to see. Not only competing but making plays. We need that to translate into the game.”Goaltender Pekka Rinne was sharp as well, turning back just about everything thrown at him during practice. That hasn’t been the case in a series where he’s given up 10 scores and has a 4.17 goals-against average. Rinne was taken out Monday with Colorado leading 4-0 after MacKinnon’s second goal of the game at 4:25 of the second period.”For sure, yesterday was a disappointing night for all of us,” Rinne said. ”We need to bounce back.”Nashville coach Peter Laviolette isn’t that concerned with the psyche of his elite goaltender – or that of his team, which advanced to the Stanley Cup Final a season ago before losing to Pittsburgh.”If we could’ve played at noon, they’d all want to play right away,” Laviolette said. ”That’s the nature of competitive people.”And that’s why Landeskog thinks the Avalanche will see a revamped Rinne on Wednesday.”He’s a real good goaltender and made it tough on us all series long really,” Landeskog said. ”I’m sure he’s going to want to come back and have a good game.”NOTES: Colorado D Samuel Girard practiced Tuesday while wearing a non-contact jersey. He’s day-to-day, coach Jared Bednar said.—