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The Pittsburgh Penguins got one of the top free agent defencemen on the market and didnt have to give up big money or term to get it done. Numbers Game looks at the signing of Christian Ehrhoff. The Penguins Get: D Christian Ehrhoff. Ehrhoff, 31, was surprisingly bought out of his contract by the Buffalo Sabres and became one of the most appealing free agent defencemen on a thin market, yet decided to accept a one-year deal with a championship contender. While Ehrhoffs possession numbers werent great in Buffalo, thats no surprise playing for the worst team in the league, and Ehrhoff has consistently posted very strong relative possession numbers, so even though the Penguins may not be a possession powerhouse, they are a better team and have a supporting cast that should allow Ehrhoff to thrive. Since 2008-2009, he has 223 points, which ranks 13th among defencemen and hes averaged better than 23 minutes per game in each of the past four seasons. In Pittsburgh, Ehrhoff effectively takes over for Matt Niskanen, which should include some power play time, but this will allow the Penguins to be a little more judicious as they bring in their young defencemen. Simon Despres is due to move into he lineup and both Olli Maatta and prospect Derrick Pouliot are coming off shoulder surgery, so having Ehrhoff, Paul Martin and Kris Letang gives them a core around which they can anchor their defence. This isnt to suggest that Ehrhoff is a saviour, but hes capable of handling top-pair minutes, so getting that calibre of defenceman without having to give up term or significant money is a virtual gift for the Penguins. Additionally, signing for one year and $4-million, Ehrhoff sets himself up for another big contract next season, should he be so inclined. From the Sabres perspective, they already know that they arent going to be good next year and, apparently, had concerns about Ehrhoff retiring before the end of his contract and the recapture penalties that would go with it. Theyre decidedly worse without Ehrhoff, but being worse when your team finishes 30th still means finishing 30th. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Jaguars Jerseys Authentic Cheap Jaguars Jerseys . Indeed, must be among the greatest challenges in all of sports. The pressure he applies, from set to set, game to game, point to point, shot to shot. http://www.cheapjaguarsjerseyselite.com/ . Al Horford said all he had to do was make the catch near the basket and then shoot a soft jumper. Wholesale Jaguars Jerseys . The deals were announced on Friday. Beckham will receive $4.175 million in base salary, while De Aza will receive $4.25 million. Beckham hit .267 with five home runs and 24 RBIs over 103 games last season, his fifth with the White Sox. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . The 90-plus minutes of play are about trends and approach.MALMO, SWEDEN – Canada has been searching for its identity at the World Junior Hockey Championship and they may have found it: underdogs. Consensus among Canadian players is that they enter Tuesdays first-place showdown with the Americans as the clear underdogs following a shootout loss to the Czech Republic on Saturday and a white-knuckle, come-from-behind win against Slovakia on Monday. "Its probably one of this first times were the underdogs in this and theyre really good," said defenceman Mathew Dumba, loaned to Team Canada by the Minnesota Wild. "Theyre a great team and weve got to be ready for them." "Oh for sure, I think were definitely the underdogs," agreed forward Bo Horvat. "Theyve been playing well all tournament and won all of their games so far. It should be a good test." "I think, maybe, were a little bit of the underdogs," said Jonathan Drouin, Canadas top-line centre. "They won last year, theyre 3-0 so we have to get off to a good start and play our own game and not watch them play.” The message from Canadian players was remarkably consistent. You almost got the sense they were happy to enter the New Years Eve clash considered the weaker team and Nic Petan, who scored the winner in Mondays 5-3 victory over Slovakia, admitted as much. "Yeah, definitely, it makes us work harder," he said. Canada as an underdog in hockey? A rare occurrence, especially at the World Juniors, but considering the sky-high expectations facing these teenagers, who can really blame them for trying to shift the pressure to the Americans? Only 16-year-old Connor McDavid, Canadas youngest player, balked at the idea that his group was an underdog. "I dont know," the Erie Otters sensation said. "I think a lot of people are viewing us the underdogs. Im not necessarily sure thats how we feel. Were confident in our abilities." The defending champion Americans tried to brand themselves as underdogs entering the event. Head coach Don Lucia noted theyd need big-time goaltending from Jon Gillies every night and would rely on a grind-it-out style to win some close, low-scoring games. Of course, the United States promptly cruised through the first three games of the tournament outscoring the Germans, Czechs and Slovaks 19-4. "Were not a star-studded team," insists Lucia. "I think the bottom line is our guys understand what our identity is and keep with that identity." That blue-collar identity that values hard work as much as skill is the same one Canadian head coach Brent Sutter has sought to install with his group. But the Americans, who have had 12 different players score, seem to have had an easier time adapting to the brand. "Anybody who asks about this team I tell them I dont think we really have any superstars," said forward Adam Erne. "Were a group that works really hard and really wants to win and I think thats what it takes in this tournament: different guys every game." DROUIN FACES ERNE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE CONCUSSION Erne is at the heart of this years rivalry game, because of what happened earlier this month in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Erne, who plays for the Quebec Remparts, leveled Halifaxs Drouin with a hit from behind. Drouin sustained the first concussion of his career on the play. Afterwards, Erne suggested the third overall pick in last Junes NHL draft may have made matters worse by trying to draw a penalty on the play and embellishing what happened. "It happened so long ago. Its not a big deal right now. Im not focused on that. Im focused on the upcoming game," said Erne, who reached out to Drouin after the game via text. "Everybody knows that hes a good player and we were drafted by the same team [Tampa Bay] so were going to have to get along so thats just how its going to have to be. Its in the past. It happened. Itts hockey so lets move on from there.ddddddddddddquot; Erne wasnt suspended for the hit and Drouin refused to comment on that decision. But the 18-year-old said winning on Tuesday would be the best revenge. "Yeah, for sure," Drouin said, "I dont think Im going to go for a cheap-shot on Adam. Its not the Q here. We have to win and its going to be a team game." MCDAVID vs. EICHEL IN 2015 NHL DRAFT PREVIEW Erne against Drouin is not the only juicy subplot in the Canada-USA rivalry these days. Tuesdays game will also feature two of hockeys brightest young stars going head-to-head, specifically: McDavid against American Jack Eichel. Both are expected to go very high in the 2015 NHL draft with the Canadian considered the odds-on favourite to go No. 1. "Yeah, you know, its nice to play against him, but I dont really think about playing against him," said Eichel, a Boston University recruit. "Its not a one-on-one battle were going to be playing in. Its a team game where the United States is going to be playing Team Canada. Im not going to be playing Connor." McDavid echoed that sentiment. "Its not really about me and him. Its about Canada versus the Americans. Thats it. I know hes on the team. Hes a big part of their team. Hes a good player and hell be a big part of the game." McDavid has struggled to make his mark on the tournament. He was benched after taking two penalties against the Czech Republic and started the next game against Slovakia as Canadas 13th forward before earning more ice time in the third period. Eichel, meanwhile, has been a solid presence in the American top-six forward group notching a goal and three assists. "I couldnt believe how young he actually is," said Team USA captain Riley Barber. "Hes a big player, strong and doesnt really look his age." "His all-around game is quick, so fast," said line-mate Ryan Hartman. "Ive been lucky enough to be playing with him the last couple games now. He knows where he is out on the ice and where all the players are at." Gillies, Barber and Hartman are the three returning players on the American roster. Drouin, defenceman Griffin Reinhart and goalie Jake Paterson are the veterans on the Canadian side. Paterson will be Zach Fucales backup on Tuesday while Reinhart will make his 2014 tournament debut after missing the first three games with a suspension. RIVALRY IS SOMETHING SPECIAL Last years semifinal showdown remains very much on the minds of the players. "Its a motivation," said Drouin. "We lost 5-1. It was a hard loss for me. This year, I want to battle back and make sure I dont lose again against the Americans." "It was one of the worst feelings Ive had in hockey for sure," admitted Reinhart. "Whether they played in it or not everyone on both teams was watching," said Hartman. "Everyones going to be riled up and ready to go." Indeed, Canada versus the United States is always an emotional encounter. When you add in all the subplots listed above and the fact the game will decide who wins Group A, well, its easy to get pumped up. "Its something special," said Erne with a smile. "I mean, Ive been watching since I can remember so its going to be a real honour to play in it and Im real excited." "Ive played in a few U.S.-Canada games and theyre always intense," said Eichel. "I know our teams looking forward to it and I imagine they are as well." "Its unbelievable," said McDavid, "especially this New Years Eve game. It has been quite a tradition for the past couple years and I usually never missed watching so it will be a lot of fun for sure." "I expect a lot of compete out of them," said Barber, whos tied for the team lead with three goals. "It should be a really, really fun game to watch." 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(Jack Warner)BELGIUM/NETHERLANDSNo issuesENGLANDMr. (Jack) Warner also asked England 2018 for favours and benefits related to a Trinidad and Tobago football club he owned, the Joe Public Football Club. Whether the England 2018 bid team ultimately provided any benefits to Mr. Warners club is unclear.England 2018 agreed to provide substantial assistance for a Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 team training camp in Britain in 2009.Mr. Warners conduct demonstrated an expectation that the bidding teams would react favourably and seek to curry favour with a voting member of the FIFA executive committee. According to the report, England 2018s response showed a willingness, time and again, to meet such expectation, thereby damaging the image of FIFA and the bidding process.The England 2018 bid team sponsored a gala dinner for the Caribbean Football Union at its annual congress in Trinidad in 2010, once again in an effort to curry favour with Jack Warner. ... The relevant support amounted to $55,000.England 2018 accommodated or at least attempted to satisfy, the improper requests of at least two FIFA executive committee members.JAPANThe Japan 2022 bid team distributed in 2010 several different gifts to senior FIFA officials, members of the FIFA executive committee and some of their wives. The value of the gifts (which included ... special balls, digital cameras and clutch bags) ranged from approximately $700 to approximately $2,000 each. ... Executive committee members concerned denied receiving any improper or valuable gifts from a bid team or did not attribute any significant relevance to the gifts.QATARAccording to the report, the conduct of two individuals who acted as consultants or advisers to the Qatar 2022 bid team raised concerns. The investigation identified certain questionable conduct.Qatar 2022 sponsored in January 2010 the CAF (Confederation of African Football) congress in Angola. The sponsorship agreement granted Qatar 2022 exclusive rights to market its bid during the event. For this privilege, the bid team paid CAF approximately $1.8 million.During previous investigations of Mr. (Mohammed) Bin Hammam (former Asian Football Confederation president and former FIFA executive committee member), it had been established that he had made several different improper payments to high-ranking CAF football officials during the time before the Dec. 2, 2010, FIFA executive committee vote. ... The record ... does not support the conclusion that the purpose of these payments was to promote the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid. Rather, the evidence ... strongly suggests that Mr. Bin Hamman paid CAF officials to influence their votes in the June 2011 election for FIFA president where he was a candidate. ... The same applies to a payment of $1,212,000 Mr. Hamman appears to have made to Mr. Jack Warner.Among the recipients of payments made by Mr. Mohamed Bin Hamman ... was also one to Mr. Reynald Temarii, the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) president and a FIFA executive committee member. ... There is no direct link between Qatar 2022 and any payments of Mr. Bin Hammam to Mr. Temarii.RUSSIAThe Russia 2018 bid committee made only a limited amount of documents available for review, which was explained by the fact that the computers used at the time by the Russia bid committee had been leased and then returned to their owner after the bidding process. The owner has confirmed that the computers were destroyed. The bid committee also attempted to obtain access to the Gmail accounts used during the bidding process from Google USA. However, the Russia bid committee confirmed in a letter dated Aug. 1, 2014, that Google USA had not responded.SOUTH KOREAMoon-Joon Chung, a vice-president on the FIFA executive committee and honorary president of the Korean Football Association sent letters to executive committee members in 2010 stating Korea intended to raise $777 million from 2011 to 2022 to aid confederation and member associations to build new football infrastructure and renovate existing facilities. ... The report concludes that the Global Football Fund letters created at least the appearance of a conflict or an offer of benefits to FIFA executive committee members in an effort to influence their votes.SPAIN/PORTUGALNo mentionUNITED STATESThere appear to have been certain discrepancies in the documentation and contact reports submitted by the USA 2022 bid committee to FIFA on the one hand and the testimonies of U.S. football officials on the other. ... (The investigation) concluded that the USA bid committee might not have fully complied with the relevant reporting requirements. Wholesale Golden Knights Jerseys . Winning more at home probably should be on the list. The Flames look to avoid a fifth defeat in six home games by winning a sixth straight meeting with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys China .com) - The Golden State Warriors have started another winning streak and theyll try to pad it Tuesday night when they head to Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Lakers. http://www.cheapgoldenknightsjerseys.com/ . This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . The struggling New Orleans Pelicans were simply overmatched. Crawford hit seven 3s on his way to 24 points, and the Clippers beat the Pelicans 123-110 on Monday night. "We understand what we do well. If we all do what we do well, well make our team stronger," Crawford said. Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. CHICAGO -- As soon as he stepped on the mound, Jake Odorizzi went on the attack. And nobody could stop him. Odorizzi struck out nine in six scoreless innings and combined with two relievers on a five-hitter to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. "The first at-bat itself I felt like I was throwing it where I wanted to, and once it carries over to the next batter you kind of know you have that going today," he said. Evan Longoria drove in a run and scored two. Yunel Escobar added two hits and three RBIs. Ben Zobrist had two hits and scored twice for the Rays, who improved to a major league-best 15-6 since July 12. They will try to complete the three-game sweep on Sunday. "If we keep the nose down and keep playing well, youre going to look up at some point and all of a sudden people are going to say, Hey, youre getting pretty close," manager Joe Maddon said. Odorizzi (8-9) gave up three hits and didnt walk anyone. The right-hander came within two strikeouts of his career high after getting hit hard in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Chicago starter Edwin Jackson (6-12) allowed four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in six innings. He is 1-5 in his past nine starts. Cubs prized prospect Javier Baez doubled but had a tough day overall, going 1 for 4 and committing his first error. He had three strikeouts after whiffing four times Friday in his Wrigley Field debut. The second basemans error came when he dropped a throw from Luis Valbuena after the third baseman made a diving stop on a ball hit by Longoria with a runner on first in the sixth inning. Jackson then walked Matt Joyce to load the bases, and Escobar made it 4-0 with a two-run single. The Rays also scored two in the fourth when Longoria doubled in a run and came around on Escobars base hit. Kirby Yates pitched two perfect innings, striking out three. Jake McGee then gave up two hits but struck out threee in a scoreless ninth.dddddddddddd. The Rays took a 2-0 lead in a fourth inning that featured some unusual plays. Zobrist led off with a ground-rule double to the right-field corner off Justin Ruggianos glove that stuck in the ivy. He moved up when centre fielder Arismendy Alcantara dove to his left to snag James Loneys liner and came around on Longorias double. Escobar added a two-out RBI single that Ruggiano pulled up on before making a flat-footed throw to the infield with the runner headed home. "It was just a mental mistake by me," he said. TRAINERS ROOM Rays: Outfielder Wil Myers (broken right wrist) was scheduled to start a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Durham and serve as the designated hitter. Cubs: Manager Rick Renteria said newcomer Felix Doubront (strained left calf) "looked good" during a bullpen session but had no word on a possible rehab assignment. The left-hander was acquired from Boston on July 30. ON DECK Rays: Right-hander Alex Cobb (7-6, 3.52 ERA) looks to continue his strong stretch as the Rays wrap up their three-game series against the Cubs. He has allowed two runs or fewer in five straight starts. Cubs: Left-hander Travis Wood (7-9, 5.08) looks for his first victory in nearly two months. An All-Star last season, Wood is 0-4 with a 6.10 ERA in nine starts since a win at Philadelphia on June 15. A LITTLE EARLY MLB Advanced Media, using the Cubs Twitter account, jumped the gun a little bit when it posted the Rays beat Chicago 4-0. That turned out to be accurate, but the problem was the game was still in the ninth inning. They later Tweeted an apology. DESIGNS ON SUCCESS With the Cubs wearing throwback uniforms from 1988 on Sunday, the Rays will also go retro -- sort of. Tampa Bay will wear uniforms with light blue shirts and pants, yellow sleeves and dark blue accents suggesting what the team would have worn had it existed in the 1980s. The designer? Owner Stuart Sternberg. 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