Metaphysik » Toronto execs were determined to resolve t

WINNIPEG -- It was back to business for the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday, as they skated for the first time since the Olympic break and prepared to resume their quest for the playoff berth that has eluded the franchise for so many years. With 22 games left and just over a week till they play again, coach Paul Maurice says he wants to get started right away sharpening defensive neutral zone play and forechecking without the puck. "Our sole focus is trying to find ways that we can be more aggressive with it," he said. The Jets were still minus their four Olympians -- forwards Olli Jokinen, Blake Wheeler and Michael Frolik, plus No. 1 netminder Ondrej Pavelec remain in Sochi -- but they made up for that with a healthy Evander Kane, Jim Slater and Matt Halischuk, all back from the injury list. Slater was out the longest after sports hernia surgery in Montreal. The centre and one of the teams faceoff leaders last played Oct. 18 but he says he now feels strong and ready to compete. Its a far different team than the one he left, with the Jets on a roll since Maurice took over from Claude Noel. They now sit just two points out of that coveted playoff spot. Slater says its always tough to be on the sidelines when a new coach comes in. "The slates wiped clean and when you cant get out there and play and show him what youve got, its definitely tough, you dont know where you fit in," he said. But Maurice helped to set his mind at ease. "Ive played against Paul a lot of my career when he was in Carolina, so we had a talk, he knows what kind of player I am and just wanted me to get healthy, come back strong and ready to go." The focus may be on getting his team ready for their first game Feb. 27 when the Phoenix Coyotes visit Winnipeg, but Maurice says hes still arranged practice Friday to let the team watch Canada and the U.S. play in the Olympics. "Weve moved practice so that we can get together and watch that as a team," he said. "Its a big deal so we want to respect that and enjoy it. . . At the end of the day hockey events are what were all about, right, and this is a big game." Its been seven years since the Atlanta Thrashers were swept in the first round of the NHL playoffs in their only appearance. Kane last played Jan. 26 in Chicago. He was out twice with an injured hand, the second time after what turned out to be a premature return resulted in an infection that saw his hand swell to the size of a baseball. He says hes sure hell be ready to go Feb. 27 and he likes where the Jets are now sitting. "We put ourselves in a position now where we can make a push and we have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs and contend," he said. "The last part of the schedule we play the teams that kind of bunched in with us so its going to be an good opportunity for us to make a push and finish off strong." Team captain Andrew Ladd says the time to practice will help the Jets get their pace back up. "I think that was the best part of our game, the last 10 games or so . . We were playing (with) speed and confidence and weve got to find a way to get that back." He said its also good to see players like Slater and Halischuk return after long absences. "Its nice to have some extra bodies." Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop .com) - Chris Kreider tallied a goal and an assist as the New York Rangers capped a successful California road trip with a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Penguins Jerseys China . After rookie right-hander Alex Colome excelled in a 5-2 victory in the opener, the Rays fell to Chris Tillman and the Orioles 4-1 on Friday night. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . "I only want to go through this one more time," Crosby said Friday. The 24-year-old captain hasnt played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts . -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. Fake Penguins Jerseys .com) - Stanley Johnson had 18 points and No.The Jermain Defoe transfer saga is finally over with Toronto FC selling the England star striker to Sunderland.A source confirmed the long-awaited deal, which ends Defoes roller-coaster year in Major League Soccer.Toronto had been looking to send the 32-year-old Defoe to Sunderland with 25-year-old U.S. international forward Jozy Altidore and cash coming back to TFC.That is expected to still happen. But Altidores journey to Toronto will have to go through the leagues allocation process which governs the return of players to MLS.Goals have been hard to come by for Altidore in England but he remains a key player in the U.S. national team setup.Cash from the Defoe sale is expected to trigger a series of moves as Toronto, a franchise yet to make the playoffs since entering the league in 2007, looks to fill key defensive and midfield holes on its roster.Toronto is looking to add another designated player in a creative attacking midfield role, with two targets currently playing in Europe. Neither will be available until July 1 and the MLS club may find itself with a logjam of DPs unless something gives.Star midfielder Michael Bradley isnt going anywhere. Toronto execs look to make the intense American the team leader on and off the field.Reports in Italy have also suggested an interest in 27-year-old Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco. Toronto also has its sights set on Real Betis defender Damien Perquis, a 30-year-old French-born Poland international.Sunderland (3-7-11) currently stands 16th in the English Premier League, one point above the relegation zone. The move to the northeast of England reunites Defoe with Black Cats manager Gus Poyet, who was both a player and assistant manager at Tottenham.Sky Sports reported earlier Tuesday that up to 10 Premier League clubs had been in the hunt for Defoe. Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko said last week that most of the interest came from teams in the bottom half of the standings.The January transfer window is a sellers markets. Reliable strikers are hard to come by, even if they are on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a groin injury.The price of a player like Defoe may be high in January but it pales compared to the financial losses of falling out of the tony Premier League.Defoes future has been cloudy since Toronto turned down a franchise-record transfer fee from an English team at the end of the summer transfer window. That turned into a soap opera and Toronto execs were determined to resolve the matter in the January transfer window before Defoes return date of Jan. 17.Defoe seems to have landed on his feet, with Sunderland reportedly willing to take on wages of 80,000 pounds (C$145,000) a week. The MLS Players Union listed Defoes Toronto salary at US$6.18 million (which equals C$142,375 a week).Some will say Defoe was a disappointment in Toronto. But he was a striker, not a saviour.When healthy, Defoe was a force to be reckoned with in North America. Toronto did not lose (6-0-2) when he scored in league play.It speaks volumes about Torontos woeful offence in the past that Defoe, who ranked fifth on Tottenhams career scoring list with 142 goals in two spells, exits No. 5 on Torontos all-time scoring chart with 11 goals — a feat he achieved in 13 MLS games.He scored three goals in his first two games. But after potting a goal July 16 in a 1-1 tie with Vancouver, he did not score again, missing 12 of the next 18 games through suspension (one game) or injury (11). Defoe returned to England for injury rehab as rumours swirled about his future. And Toronto (11-15-8) failed to make the playoffs for the eighth straight year.Thats not on him. But Toronto oversold the quiet striker.Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, brought David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy and led the way in luring Defoe to town. Toronto pulled out all the stops, even enlisting Raptors global ambassador Drake to bend Defoes ear.ddddddddddddLeiweke did not expect Defoe to be Beckham. But the English forward did not become the face of the franchise and was seemingly ill-prepared for what awaited him.When he was surrounded by cameras and reporters in the Toronto locker-room at the first home game, he looked aghast as he walked out of the showers. Defoe was polite with the media — the biggest complaint was the occasional mild beef over how long he took to moisturize before talking to assembled reporters — and his teammates said he had little ego in the dressing room. But when he left for treatment in England, the soap opera surrounding his future was a distraction.Defoe arrived to unprecedented fanfare last January along with Bradley before a balcony full of chanting, singing fans at the hangar-sized Real Sports Bar & Grill.To come here and to have a reception like that is unbelievable. Such a great feeling, I feel at home already, Defoe said at the time.A double-decker bus was parked outside the news conference where Leiweke touted the signing of what TFC billed as a global football superstar.At some US$10 million apiece, Defoe and Bradley each broke the MLS record for transfer fees. Toronto had started the spending spree in December by signing Brazilian forward Gilberto, another marquee designated player.The club trumpeted the signing of Defoe with a marketing campaign titled Its A Bloody Big Deal, a slogan it perhaps began to regret as the forwards future became murkier and the losses mounted as the season wore on.The slender five-foot-seven striker said at his unveiling that he was here to win trophies and do my best for the club and the team.But a season that started with goals ended painfully with the former West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham star on the sidelines. Missing out on the England World Cup squad also hurt, raising the suggestion that moving to a lesser league had not helped his cause.In the end, while he never said it, he seemed he just wanted to get healthy and go home.The two phones that sat in his locker — one presumably for North America and the other for Britain — seemed to tell a story.By the end, Defoe was clearly upset that some had questioned both his commitment to the club and the extent of his injuries.There are a few fans that have said certain things and Im like well thats a bit harsh, but obviously I would never retaliate, he told reporters in October. But at the same time, I think if you do want someone to stay at a football club, at least support them. At least show them that you want them to be here.Defoe said he had never publicly asked to leave Toronto but didnt know what the future held. Toronto, meanwhile, said while he remained their property the club would listen to offers.Still the assumption remained that Defoe wanted to move on and Toronto was willing to accommodate him, as long as it recouped its considerable investment.Defoe underwent surgery to correct his groin problem in the off-season and was given permission by Toronto to train for a week with Tottenham as part of his fitness regimen.Leiweke said TFC would lose money this season due to its investment in its designated players. On the plus side, the club set a franchise record for attendance in 2014.Toronto drew 375,463 fans to BMO Field, up 30,928 over the previous franchise record of 344,535 set in 2011. TFC attracted 15 straight sellouts of 22,591 before attendance at the two final home games dropped to 18,269 and 18,329, respectively.The club drew 308,233 fans in 2013.Toronto averaged 22,086 a game this season, second only to the Seattle Sounders (43,734) and well above the league average of 19,147.Toronto had 17,000 season-ticket holders in 2014 — its most ever — with a waiting list of 3,000.___Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '