Dein erstes Forum » thats what I would expect

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - The Los Angeles Kings decided they could wait no longer for Mike Richards to regain his championship form.The Kings put Richards on waivers Monday when they returned from the all-star break, finally acknowledging the veteran centres declining play.Richards has been a key part of the Kings two Stanley Cup championship teams in the past three seasons, playing a responsible two-way role and providing leadership. But his plummeting offensive production hasnt matched his exorbitant contract since shortly after he arrived in Los Angeles, which acquired him from Philadelphia in 2011.The Kings stuck by Richards, hoping he would reclaim his formidable offensive game. But when Los Angeles returned from the break in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, general manager Dean Lombardi made the move.I felt he deserved that chance for all that he had done for us, Lombardi said during practice at their training complex. I dont think theres any question we dont win that first Cup without what he did for this team, and obviously you dont win the second one. But youve still got to be at a certain level here that has to get done.Richards, who turns 30 next month, has only five goals and 10 assists in 47 games with Los Angeles this season. He has a minus-7 rating and has won only 48 per cent of his faceoffs while playing on a depth line with the Kings — not the contributions expected of a player with a 12-year, $69 million contract that has a $5.75 million annual salary cap hit for the next six seasons.If Richards clears waivers and the Kings dont work out a trade, he could be headed to their AHL affiliate in Manchester if he accepts the assignment. Lombardi sees no reason why he cant come back ... and be what he usually is in the playoffs if his game improves in the minors.The Kings clearly are in need of a spark after losing four straight and seven of eight heading into the break, falling out of the playoff picture. Los Angeles recalled rookie Nick Shore to take Richards roster spot.We understand its a business, but in here, youre a family, Kings captain Dustin Brown said. So thats why its really hard to see (Richards) go on waivers. ... As a group of guys who have won together, its even harder.Lombardi and Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter have ardently defended Richards in recent years, even declining the chance to do a money-saving buyout of his contract last summer.Lombardi, who values continuity and player loyalty in a league that has largely lost touch with the concepts, finally made the move long anticipated by Kings fans after trying to trade Richards in recent weeks.Its been a big part of the success of this team, Lombardi said. If youre going to expect loyalty from certain players, at times you have to show loyalty to them. The issue becomes, wheres that line? Im never going to lose my belief in those values being critical, but as we see in the cap era, the cap is actually designed ... to eliminate those type of emotions. Unfortunately, I still believe theyre a critical part of a good team.Richards scored 89 goals over three seasons with the Flyers from 2007-10, and the club made him its captain and signed him to that mammoth extension in December 2007.But the Kings gave up Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn when Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren decided to break up his core with separate trades of Richards and goal-scorer Jeff Carter, who ended up being reunited with Richards in Los Angeles several months later.Richards contract still runs through 2020. His scoring production has dropped every year since 2010, down to just 11 goals last season.The Kenora, Ont., native became the first hockey player to win Olympic gold, world-junior gold, the Memorial Cup and Stanley Cup. He was part of the 2010 Canadian Olympic team that won gold in Vancouver.In 704 career NHL games, Richards has 133 goals and 216 assists. His career high in points was 80, back in 2008-09 with the Flyers.— With files from The Canadian Press. Cincinnati Reds Gear . "First, I would like to offer my deepest and sincerest apologies for any harm I have inflicted on University of Missouri defensive lineman, Michael Sam," the statement read. Cheap Reds Jerseys . The Canadians led for much of the game before Argentina forced overtime in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter. Canada weathered the storm after squandering a lead with a series of made shots. "Its a fantastic win for our country with 11 first-time Canadian national team members," said head coach Roy Rana. https://www.cheapredsjerseys.us/.com) - Wayne Simmonds, Scott Laughton and Jakub Voracek each posted a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, on Saturday. Reds Jerseys 2019 . JOHNS, N. Reds Jerseys 2020 .A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question.BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell would like to keep the World Series champions together for another run at a title. And yet he knows thats unlikely to happen. "That was felt when we got off the duck boats, knowing this was one last chance to celebrate with a million people in the city," Farrell said Monday, two days after the teams victory parade and hours before the deadline to make qualifying offers to four free agents who were key to the teams title. "Hopefully well be able to retain all of them. The reality is that might not work out." One year after a midseason and off-season overhaul that turned a last-place team into World Series champs, the Red Sox began building for 2014 on Monday by making $14.1 million qualifying offers to free agents Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew. General manager Ben Cherington said the team decided not to make an offer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, though he would like to re-sign the catcher. "Theres interest in every one of them," Cherington said. "I also think its unlikely that every one of them will be back. ... Were going to keep the conversation going with all of them, and also with alternatives, and see where the market shapes up. In a vacuum wed like to have all of them back." The Red Sox went from worst to first a year after dumping three of their biggest contracts -- Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford -- on the Los Angeles Dodgers at a savings of about $261.7 million. Instead of making a big splash in free agency last off-season, they signed mid-market players like Napoli, Drew, Shane Victorino and Koji Uehara. Cherington said the lessons learned from their successes and failures wont be forgotten. "I think we have to go into this off-season with the same general mindset: to build a roster as deep as we can," he said. "The general philosophy would lead us toward a lot of the same things we were looking for last year." The oft-injured Ellsbury is expected to seek a long-term deal averaging $20 million or more. A year after missing more than half the season, he played in 134 games and batted .298 with nine homers, stealing 52 bases in 56 tries. "Jacobys a terrific player, as everyone knows. Of course we know were a better team when hes on the field than when hes not," Cherington said, adding that if they cannot sign him they would consider moving Victorino, who won a Gold Glove in left field, to centre field and looking for a corner outfielder. "That would be one possibility," Cherington said. "We recognize how good he was in right field, and how valuable his defence was in right field. Hes capable of doing it." Napoli and Drew might accept the qualifying offer or use it as the basis for negotiations on a multiyear contract. Saltalamacchia, who made $4.5 millionn this year, could still re-sign with the team at a lower salary.dddddddddddd. The Red Sox declined to make qualifying offers to infielder John McDonald and reliever Joel Hanrahan, who were not on the World Series roster. Also Monday, the team said outfielder Quintin Berry and infielder Brandon Snyder were sent outright to Triple-A Pawtucket and became free agents. Right-handers Andrew Bailey and Alex Wilson, outfielder Ryan Kalish and left-hander Andrew Miller were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. "The game doesnt stop," Farrell said. "The baseball calendar doesnt stop just because we played to nearly Halloween." Complicating Napolis negotiations is a hip condition that prompted the team to back out of a $39 million, three-year deal that had been tentatively agreed to and instead sign him to a one-year contract for a guaranteed $5 million with performance bonuses -- which he eventually earned -- that brought him back to $13 million. "Mike Napoli played a lot this year and was a huge part of our team," Cherington said. "Were making a qualifying offer to him, so we obviously have interest in him returning on a one-year deal for $14.1 million. Hell have an opportunity to consider that." On other topics Monday: -- Koji Uehara, who inherited the closer job and was selected the AL championship series MVP, is the leading contender for the job in 2014. The Japanese right-hander, who will turn 39 in the first week of the season, is coming off a season in which he set career-highs with 73 appearances and 74 1-3 innings. "I think were completely comfortable starting next year with Koji as our closer," Farrell said. "He didnt leave here with any physical ailments. We went into this spring with the same thought, that we need to be careful with his age and his workload. And he exceeded everything." --Cherington is content heading into spring training with six candidates for the starting rotation: Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, Felix Doubront and Ryan Dempster. "We could certainly envision a scenario where every one thats currently under contract is in Fort Myers. And in fact, at this point, thats what I would expect," Cherington said. "Well see what the off-season brings." --Second baseman Dustin Pedroia has not yet had surgery on a torn ligament in his left thumb. "As far as I know, theres been no date or site set for the surgery," Cherington said. "But it certainly looks like its headed in that direction." --Cherington said no other teams have asked for permission to interview Red Sox coaches for other jobs. Bench coach Torey Lovullo is reportedly a candidate for the managerial job with the Chicago Cubs, who are run by former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. ' ' '