think this team is headed in the right direction and Im excited to be

Sergei Gonchar let Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill know over the summer hed be willing to accept a trade if it meant going to a Stanley Cup contender. College Jerseys .Nill made his move Tuesday by sending the 40-year-old defenceman to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for left-winger Travis Moen. The Canadiens get the depth on the blue-line they were seeking, while the sputtering Stars get a role player up front and open up a spot for younger contributors.I dont want to run Montreals business, but when I look at their defence I just think hes a good fit for them, Nill said on a conference call. Theyve got some good puck-movers, they got a couple other good Russian players there. Hes going to be a good fit for them. Hes a first-class individual, he brings experience of winning.Gonchar, whos in his 20th NHL season, joins the Habs after previous stints in Dallas, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Washington. He played for current Montreal coach Michel Therrien with the Penguins.The veteran blue-liner joins fellow Russians Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin, likely pushing out a younger player like Jarred Tinordi or Nathan Beaulieu. Gonchar has a salary-cap hit of US$5 million on his deal that expires at the end of this season.After missing the first 11 games of the season with a broken foot, Gonchar played the past three and recorded an assist.Nill said Gonchar was a positive influence on 19-year-old Valeri Nichushkin and also on the Stars young defencemen. With other players like John Klingberg and Julius Honka in the pipeline, trading Gonchar opens up a spot in the lineup.Theyve earned the right, the opportunity, Nill said. I needed to start opening up some doors and some opportunity for them.And, Nill said, this is an opportunity in Montreal for Gonchar, who has 798 points (219-579) in 1,256 regular-season games since making his NHL debut in 1994-95.I think Montreals got as good a chance as anybody to win the Cup, and its a good opportunity for Sergei to go in there and show what he can do to help them, Nill said.Going the other way is Moen, a respected veteran in the Habs locker-room but someone who had been a healthy scratch a handful of times already this season. Because of that, the 32-year-old native of Stewart Valley, Sask., wasnt surprised to get the call from GM Marc Bergevin that hed been traded.Any time obviously youre not in the lineup youre always questioning, wondering whats coming down the road, Moen said on a conference call. This year I just wanted to play hockey and help my team and I was kind of in and out of the lineup. When something like this happens, you look back and youre not too surprised, thats for sure.Moen, who did not have a point in 10 games this season, said he did not request a trade and appreciated Bergevins honesty during the process.The trade of Moen is another change from the Habs team that went to the Eastern Conference final. Captain Brian Gionta left in free agency, and alternate captain Josh Gorges was traded to the Buffalo Sabres.In September, Gionta mentioned Moen as someone hed recommend to replace him as captain. Instead, Montreal went with four alternates — Markov, P.K. Subban, Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec.I think its just kind of a coincidence its veterans going, Moen said of the Habs changes. Its the way the game goes sometimes.By taking on Gonchars heavier salary this season, the Habs freed up some room in 2015-16. Moen has one more year left on his contract after this one at a cap hit of US$1.85 million.I have a lot of players I possibly could be losing next year I have to make decisions on, Nill said. Travis, I know what he is, hes a character player, were always going to need those type of players Nill expects Moen to be a big part of the Stars penalty-killing. But for a team that has lost seven in a row, getting a gritty bottom-six forward may not be the end of the moves.Its a start.Were open to it, Nill said. We have to find out internally what we have first. Thats what this trade allows us to do now.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Authentic Jerseys . Stepanek gave the Czech Republic its second straight Davis Cup title Sunday, sweeping past Dusan Lajovic in straight sets in the fifth and decisive match to secure a 3-2 win over Serbia in the final. Offcial Jerseys . Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game is also avialable on TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg at 7pm ct. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . According to MMAFighting.com, MacDonald needs an x-ray on his right ankle and doctors clearance to fight or he will be subject to a mandatory medical suspension that will end on August 22, 2014.HAMILTON - Craig Butler swears he wont be showing off his Grey Cup ring in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats dressing room. But the Canadian defensive back, who signed a three-year contract with Hamilton after spending his first three CFL seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, promises hell bring his winning attitude to a team he feels is already on a roll. "I want to bring some leadership to the team," said the 25-year-old native of London, Ont., and former Western Ontario Mustangs star. Its probably best to keep the ring under wraps. It would only rub salt in a wound after Hamilton lost the championship game 45-23 to the Roughriders. Butler was a big part of their success. He led the Grey Cup champions last season with 60 tackles and also had four interceptions and is happy to list his strengths. "Experience. Versatility. Passion. I love this game," he said. "Its my job but I love it more than anything. "Im going to bring that to practice every single day and a winning attitude." Butler was among the three free-agent signings Hamilton unveiled Thursday. The others included: defensive back Brandon Stewart from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and offensive lineman Steve Myddelton from the B.C. Lions. Hamilton has also signed import receiver Cary Koch from the Edmonton Eskimos and former Roughriders linebacker Abraham. The club re-signed Canadian linebacker Marc Beswick, the East Divisions top special-teams player last year, just before he was set to hit the open market Tuesday. And prior to the start of free agency, the Ticats signed quarterback Zach Collaros, who spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts before being released by the CFL club. But Butler was a big catch for Hamilton as well. He acknowledged it was hard leaving Saskatchewan, the team that drafted him in the second round, 12th overall and where he got that Grey Cup ring. But he said there were several factors that drew him to Hamilton, including the success they had last year in making it too the championship game. China Jerseys. He points to the coaches, locker room, overall organization and the teams new stadium thats scheduled to open in July. Butler has shown versatility on defence — four different positions since his university days — and says he doesnt care where he plays. "I like winning. I mean I like wanting to win championships and thats really my main goal," he said. "Wherever they play me Im happy with it. As long as Im on the field and Im making plays and contributing, Im all good with it." Stewart and Myddelton also say they feel theyve joined a winning organization. Stewart, 27, who has spent the past five seasons with Winnipeg, also brings versatility to the defence. While hes excited about playing with Butler, Stewart cant wait to perform for for Austin and defensive co-ordinator Orlondo Steinauer, a fellow Seattle native. "Hes going to make my game a lot better," Stewart said of Steinauer. The veteran says Hamilton is a good fit. "And maybe (Ill) bring a little attitude to the field, a little energy," he said. He started all 18 games for Winnipeg last year, recording 47 defensive tackles and 16 special-teams tackles and one interception. Myddelton, 27, will add experience to an offensive line missing its centre and leader in Marwan Hage, selected by Ottawa in the expansion draft, and Peter Dyakowski, who will miss much of next season due to knee surgery. "They have holes to fill, and thats my job now," said the six-foot-three, 305-pound native of Barrie, Ont. Hes entering his fifth CFL season (3 1/2 with Calgary before he was traded to B.C. midway through last year). He says being close to home and playing for a well-respected coaching staff drew him to the Ticats. "The success the team had last year under the adverse circumstances they had (playing at the University of Guelph), I think this team is headed in the right direction and Im excited to be a part of that," he said. ' ' '