Crafty Yzerman making his mark with Lightning
Hockey Betting Lines
07/20/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve
Yzerman brought a copious amount of credibility to the organization when he
was hired in May.
Less than two months later, he has also brought in a mass of talent that has
the Lightning thinking big for 2010-11.
New Tampa Bay owner Jeff Vinik knew what he was getting when he hired "The
Captain" on May 25: a four-time Stanley Cup champion with Detroit (three times
as a player) who already had established success building teams on a national
level. Yzerman served as Canada's general manager for the IIHF World
Championships, winning gold in 2007 and a silver the following year before
reaching the top of the mountain this past winter.
As executive director, Yzerman put together a Team Canada that won gold at
the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver with a thrilling overtime victory
over the United States, leading to his exit as Detroit's team vice president
and into his current role with Tampa Bay.
What Yzerman has done in his short time with the Lightning is nothing short of
astounding. Taking over a team that finished tied for the fewest points in the
NHL in 2007-08 and eight points out of a playoff spot last year, Yzerman has
turned his franchise into a club that has enough talent to end a three-season
playoff drought and maybe even challenge the powerhouse Washington Capitals for
bragging rights in the Southeast Division.
Even with all of the moves Yzerman has made since becoming GM, his best might
have come on Monday when the Lightning pulled the trigger on a trade with the
Flyers that brought two-time 40-goal scorer Simon Gagne into the mix for a
defenseman (Matt Walker) that isn't even likely to crack Philadelphia's NHL
roster, along with a 2011 fourth-round pick.
Yes, Gagne does come with some injury risk. The 30-year-old missed the start
of last season due to abdominal surgery and also suffered a broken foot in the
playoffs, though he returned early from that ailment. He has also battled
groin and concussion issues in the past, but still owns 259 goals in his
career and is a free agent at season's end.
In short, Gagne is a low-risk, high-payoff addition and Yzerman was able to
pounce on the forward for such a low price because he knew the Flyers had to
move salary to get under the cap.
"This trade not only makes us a better team in the short-term, it helps create
long-term flexibility for us, which all along has been one of our top
priorities," said Yzerman.
Also factor in that Gagne had to waive his no-trade clause to make the deal
happen, and it shows that Yzerman has made Tampa, nowhere close to a hockey
town, into an attractive place for players.
There isn't a single aspect of the Lightning's game that hasn't already been
touched by Yzerman. Most importantly, he has done so while displaying a keen
sense of how to work with the salary cap, an area many NHL general managers
have struggled with since its inception following the lockout.
With a solid core of Vincent Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Steven Stamkos and
Victor Hedman, Yzerman earlier locked up veteran and locker room leader Martin
St. Louis to a four-year extension, and offset the cost of that new deal by
shipping defenseman Andrej Meszaros' reported $4 million cap hit to the Flyers
for a 2012 second-round pick.
And that was just the start.
When free agency began, the Lightning inked Dan Ellis, a former promising
goaltender with the Predators who lost his starting job last year despite a
solid 2.69 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. The best part is
Ellis' deal -- a two-year, $3 million pact, which isn't bad for a player who
could overtake Mike Smith for the starting role.
Then came the defense. Pavel Kubina, who won a championship with the Lightning
in 2004, was brought back to add size and a point shot to the power play,
while veteran Brett Clark was added to help mentor the young blueliners.
"I talked to Steve ... and I was very impressed with the direction he's
going in with the team," Kubina said after signing with the club. "I always
wanted to come home. Other than Czech, Tampa Bay is my second home. I still
have my house there and even though I had other offers on the table, I
couldn't pass this up."
A 2009 Hall of Fame inductee, Yzerman has wasted little time in transforming
the Lightning into contenders, using a number of shrewd moves that would make
a fantasy sports owner jealous.
His next task, and maybe the most difficult, is making the fans in Tampa care.
Winning will take care of that.
<< United's Cristman out 2-3 weeks after surgery
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United announced Monday night forward
Adam Cristman underwent successful sports hernia surgery and will miss two to
three weeks.
Cristman traveled to Munich, Germany for surgery, where a tear to h
<< Revolution's Ralston to retire
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England Revolution and Major League
Soccer original Steve Ralston will announce his retirement from professional
soccer on Tuesday night.
Ralston, who has been a member of MLS since the league'
<< Gaming: Can the Mid-American Conference Rebound?
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mid-American Conference came into
last season fresh off a 28-21 against the spread mark outside its own league,
while going 17-12 against Bowl Championship Series competition. Unfortunately,
those solid
<< Bornstein to join Mexican club Tigres UNAL
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA and United States defender Jonathan
Bornstein, a four-time Major League Soccer All-Star, will join Tigres UANL of
the Mexican First Division following the 2010 season.
Bornstein will complete his c
<< Alouettes tangle with Tiger-Cats in home opener
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ranked fifth in the most recent power rankings
in the CFL, the Montreal Alouettes hope to move up as they contend against the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their 2010 home opener at Percival Molson Memorial
Stadium this
Big Guns in the Big Sky >>
Ogden, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Big Sky Conference will not be short on
offensive firepower this coming season. From the top down, the conference is
laden with talented, proven, and productive offensive threats.
Preseason favorite Montana
Phils option disappointing Kendrick to Triple-A >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies optioned struggling
starter Kyle Kendrick to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, recalling pitcher
Andrew Carpenter to take his place.
Kendrick suffered the loss as the Phils dr
Chelsea goalie Cech injures calf in training >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had to leave
training early Tuesday with a calf problem, putting his status for the start
of the English Premier League season in doubt.
Cech, 28, underwent scans Tuesday a
Tottenham, Arsenal ban vuvuzelas >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tottenham became the first English Premier
League club to ban vuvuzelas Tuesday, and fellow London side Arsenal followed
suit.
The vuvuzela, a plastic horn that produces a humming sound, was prominent a
Monmouth Park welcomes Horse of the Year >>
Oceanport, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra
has safely arrived at Monmouth Park in preparation of her start in Saturday's
1 1/8-mile Lady's Secret Stakes. The four-year-old champion filly was taken
from h
NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl
NFL Super Bowl Betting
The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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