close. It is a well-deserved extension. And

Notes on Phil Kessel, Nazek Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Thomas Vanek, Raphael Diaz and more in Scott Cullens latest blog. 1. While the Toronto Maple Leafs were on on a nice run, 9-1-1 in their previous 11 games, prior to Tuesdays 4-1 loss in Florida and a couple of their most skilled forwards have been at the forefront of the Maple Leafs charge. In the past 13 games, during which he has recorded points in 11, Kessel has 10 goals and 13 assists. He ranks second in the league with 30 goals and fifth with 61 points. The thing about Kessels hot streak is that hes not even generating as many shots as he typically does -- 3.39 per game over the past dozen, 3.79 per game for the season -- so hes on a pretty good run with percentages, and currently has the second-best shooting percentage (13.6%) of his career. While those percentages may be higher than normal, its hardly unusual for Kessel to score goals. Since the start of the 2008-2009 season, he ranks fifth in the NHL in goals, behind Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Corey Perry and Patrick Marleau. Also, not surprisingly, Kessel isnt the only Leafs forward on fire. Nazem Kadri has tallied four goals and 11 assists in the past 10 games, doing good work primarily with Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin on the Leafs second line. This run has left Kadri with 41 points in 54 games, which is, incidentally, right around the pace of the points projection I had for him in the preseason, when I forecasted 58 points in 76 games. It also turns out that, on a team with disastrous puck possession numbers, Kessel and Kadri have been two of the best at driving play towards the offensive zone. This is relative, of course, but it turns out that the Leafs skilled forwards are the ones leading the way. 2. Predators D Shea Weber has gone on a scoring binge, putting up eight goals and 17 assists in the past 26 games. Percentages are working in Webers favour, as he is scoring on a career-high 11.3% of his shots, while his 2.46 shots per game is his lowest rate since 2006-2007, but Weber leads defencemen with 15 goals and is tied for fifth among blueliners with 38 points. Webers 0.70 points per game is a career-best. Considering that Weber does this while facing the oppositions best lines, night after night, hes forcing his way into Norris Trophy consideration again. 3. Januarys Rookie of the Month was Tampa Bay Lightning LW Ondrej Palat, who scored 16 points (5 G, 11 A) in 15 games in January. Palat was a seventh-round pick in 2011, after scoring 96 points in 61 games with Drummondville of the QMJHL as a 19-year-old. Its pretty serious draft value to secure a player who can play top-six forward minutes two seasons later. Following his impressive January, Palat played a career-high 23:00 against Montreal on February 1. Palat and fellow rookie C Tyler Johnson have been thriving on a line with veteran RW Martin St. Louis, a situation that figures to change soon when Steven Stamkos returns to the lineup, and Palat has been benefitting from strong percentages at both ends of the rink, but even if his role changes, Palat has established that he can be a contributing part of the Tampa Bay attack. 4. Palat may have been the rookie of the month, but the current frontrunner for Rookie of the Year sure appears to be Avalanche C Nathan MacKinnon, the first overall pick in last summers draft. MacKinnon was eased into the NHL, playing 14:33 per game in October, scoring a goal and seven points in 11 games, but hes been up over 17 minutes per game since, tallying 19 goals and 16 assists in 45 games since the beginning of November. MacKinnons possession numbers still have room to improve, but hes 18-year-old and already emerging as an offensive force. 5. The top scorer for the past two seasons with the Florida Panthers, LW Tomas Fleischmann has fallen on hard time this year. Hes gone 20 games without a goal, registering just five assists since he last lit the lamp on December 17. Fleischmann has been shuffled around the lineup, playing at times with C Nick Bjugstad and one of Jonathan Huberdeau and Scottie Upshall on the wing, though Fleischmann has most recently found himself skating with Marcel Goc and Tomas Kopecky, not exactly recipe to get his offensive game back. At 29-years-old and under contract throught next season, at $4.5-million, Fleischmann might be better in a new location, but its not easy to get a team to take on that salary for a player with five goals in 54 games, even when hes scoring on a career-low 3.8% of his shots. 6. Canadiens C Lars Eller got off to a strong start this season, scoring nine points in the first dozen games, putting to rest any fears of lingering effects after suffering a concussion in last years playoffs, but hes been crashing since. Eller has 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in 45 games since and his ice time has steadily decreased. Ellers assist against Calgary Tuesday ended a 15-game scoreless drought, and he played 12:04, his second-lowest ice time of the season. 7. The Los Angeles Kings are having an incredibly difficult time scoring goals, yet made the decision to demote winger Tyler Toffoli to the AHL, even though he was the teams top point producer per minute of play at even strength. But, necessity being the mother of invention, Toffoli has since been recalled and has found his way to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter. Toffoli had two points against Chicago Monday, and Saturday he had a season-high six shots on goal while playing 18:42, his most since opening night. Its one thing for a contender to want a young player to round out his game or play more soundly, but Toffoli has strong possession stats, strong enough that the Kings need to see whether he can be part of the solution to their goal-scoring woes. 8. Last season, Blues RW Chris Stewart was his teams leading scorer, with 36 points in 48 games. This year, hes playing 14:37 per game, his lowest since his rookie season, and finding his name in trade rumours. The Blues have terrific depth and the emergence of younger scorers Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko could make it easier to part with a player who, even with relatively poor possession stats this season, ranks 35th with 104 goals scored since 2009-2010. 9. Islanders LW Thomas Vanek has made it clear that he intends to test the free agent market on July 1, which assures that he will be traded before the deadline, potentially even before the Olympic Break if the right deal comes along. Any team could use a scoring winger with Vaneks credentials, but his salary could complicate matters somewhat for teams that are pushing up against the salary cap. Dealing for Vanek is complicated because he intends to test the free agent market July 1, which is entirely fine, but there has long been suspicion that his preferred destination could be Minnesota, which could make him nothing more than a rental (which is also fine) for whichever team acquires him this season. While the Islanders might want a lot, having surrendered Matt Moulson a first and second-round pick to get Vanek, it may be a lot to expect three assets of similar value for the last quarter of the season plus playoffs. Here are some teams that might be able to provide a package that will suit the Islanders as they attempt to replenish the franchises talent base. Pittsburgh - With all due respect to Brian Gibbons or, potentially, a healthy Beau Bennett, the Penguins could use a top-tier winger to play with Sidney Crosby. The Penguins have some prospect depth on the blueline, with D Simon Despres, D Derrick Pouliot, RW Jayson Megna some potentially moveable parts. The bigger challenge for Pittsburgh could be finding a way to fit Vanek under the salary cap. Los Angeles - If any team needs scoring help, the Kings would fit and putting Vanek on the wing with Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter would be interesting. Presuming that the Kings wouldnt be inclined to move Toffoli for a rental, then prospects like Linden Vey, Tanner Pearson and Derek Forbort could be part of the package. Anaheim - The Ducks have had plenty of success as is, but Vanek would be an upgrade to the left wing spot on the number one line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, a spot that has seen Dustin Penner, Patrick Maroon, Kyle Palmieri, Matt Beleskey and Jakob Silfverberg rotate through this season. The Ducks have plenty of prospects, including some of the aforementioned young forwards along wiht C Rickard Rakell, RW Emerson Etem and LW Devante Smith-Pelly, a couple of which could form the nucleus for a Vanek deal. Minnesota - There is some presumption that the Wild would be Vaneks eventual landing spot, the question is whether or not the Wild would be prepared to offer prospects to acquire Vanek now when they might have the inside track to get him on July 1. It would also be easier to make that move once winger Dany Heatleys $7.5-million comes off the cap. Montreal - Goal-scoring, and general puck possession, has been an issue for the Canadiens and there would certainly be room to include Vanek on Montreals top line. Some combination of picks and prospects including forwards Sven Andrighetto, Tim Bozon, Mike McCarron, Louis LeBlanc and Christian Thomas could get discussions started. Ottawa - There has been plenty of talk of the Senators adding scoring help for Jason Spezza, and while they dont appear to be inclined to add salary, maybe taking a rental like Vanek (or Matt Moulson or Mike Cammalleri) would be feasible. The Senators have all sorts of options, from relatively inexperienced NHLers like Colin Greening and Patrick Wiercioch, to wing prospects Shane Prince, Matt Puempel and Andre Petersson. 10. The Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks made a deal this week, with the Canadiens sending D Raphael Diaz to the Canucks for fourth-line LW Dale Wiese. While Diaz isnt a dominant defender, hes a capable puck-mover who has averaged nearly 20 minutes per game in 129 career NHL games (he played 25:26 in his Canucks debut at Boston). With the Canucks missing Kevin Bieksa, Chris Tanev and Dan Hamhuis due to injuries, Diaz fills an immediate hole but, long-term, can be a useful third-pair defenceman who can play the power play. Hell be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end. Weise is a fourth-line winger who will be a restricted free agent in the summer. He has 26 points and 185 penalty minutes in 163 career games and has been consistently beaten in terms of puck possession. Basically, hes a fourth-line forward who is as replaceable as most other fourth line forwards. FIRST NHL GAMES Greg McKegg, C, Toronto - A third-round pick in 2010, McKegg had started to pick up offensively, scoring 16 points in 15 games prior to his call-up, but he only saw 4:$3 in his NHL debut before getting returned to the AHL. Simon Moser, C, Nashville - 24-year-old Swiss forward had 25 points in 40 AHL games and played more than 10 minutes, alongside Colin Wilson and Taylor Beck, in his NHL debut. Colton Sissons, C, Nashville - A second-round pick in 2012, Sissons had 16 goals and 28 points in 42 AHL games to earn his promotion, and has spent most of his first three games skating with Paul Gaustad and Rich Clune, contributing one assist while playing under nine minutes a game. 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. Nike Air Max NZ Sale . "That was a great lift for the staff," Padres manager Bud Black said. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal homered, and Chase Headley drove in three runs, as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Friday night. Air Max 720 Womens Nz . -- Jacksonvilles offensive makeover is just getting starting. http://www.airmaxnzwholeale.com/cheap-air-max-axis-nz.html . Poti played in 824 regular NHL games with four teams in his career; the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals. Nike Air Max 720 Nz . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Air Max 95 Womens Nz . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri.The CFL and the CFL Players Association has just concluded two days of negotiations on the new CBA, former NFL receiver Chad Johnson is getting a look at Montreals spring camp, and the careers of a couple of big-name players are still up in the air. We are just under 80 days from kicking off the regular season in the CFL and these are just three of a handful of football stories that have been circulating around the country. So, just so sports fans can take a little break from the what the heck happened to my hockey team talk, lets take a look at some of the football topics that have managed to wedge their way into the odd sportscast. Lets start in Montreal, where Alouettes GM Jim Popp is taking a look at former NFL Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson at the teams spring camp in Vero Beach, Florida. Johnson hasnt played since 2011, and is 36 years old, but he does have an impressive resume; six times voted to the Pro Bowl after racking up over 11,000 yards and scoring 67 touchdowns in 11 seasons in the NFL. Wally Buono and the Lions passed on him but Jim Popp wants to take a longer look, and on the surface, there really is nothing lost by the Als inviting him to a workout at their spring camp. Popp says Johnson wants to play football again, adding "he wants to play, he wasnt ready to stop and didnt like the way his career ended in the NFL, and this is not about money." The Als GM also said that the workout in Florida is basically around 25 per cent of the process. Obviously, he wants to evaluate where Johnson is at physically, but that is just one question that needs to be answered. The others include: Where is he mentally? Can he help the Als with what will be a new offensive system? There are work visas to be considered as well. Chad Johnson can obviously play the game, and according to Popp, who has seen video of the former Bengal working out, thinks he is still in great shape. However, a contract offer to Montreals main camp has not even been discussed and there are lots of questions to be answered before that occurs. The biggest question is really not whether Johnson can still run or whether he can still catch, he proved he could still do those things in his first workout, it is whether he is willing to completely commit to continuing his football career. We have seen it too many times, in fact it was happening back in the 80s and 90s as well. A former NFL starter thinks they can cruise into a CFL camp, show everyone how it is done, and play for fun for six months, only to find out quickly, that whether youre making $1 million or $100,000, the game of football requires an all-in philosophy. When Ricky Williams signed in Toronto, while serving a suspension in the NFL in 2006, there were some reports and speculation that Williams would dominate in the CFL, and rush for, well some even said, 3,000 yards without trying. Williams totals in 11 games with the Argos were 109 carries for 526 yards and two touchdowns, which is hardly tearing it up. Before some start making excuses for that lack of production, like its a different game, and he didnt get as much opportunity, simply look at his average: it was 4.8 yards/carry. Williams went back to the NFL in 2007 and, in 2009, rushed for over 1,000 yards in Miami, and has rushed for over 10,000 yards in the NFL. The point being, like Williams, Chad Johnson has been a good football player, but he can only help Montreal if he is willing to be all-in, and approach the CFL in a respectful and professional way. Its never wrong to take a look, but even Popp admitted that he is looking at much more than just whether or not he can still run routes, and catch the ball. CBA Talk Last week in Calgary, the CFL and the CFLPA met to begin discussions on a new CBA. Both sides are being careful not to leak any information as to how the meetings went. Its safe to say that both sides believe that the players should be making more money, but how they get there and how much more money is going to make these negotiations challenging for both sides. For example, the players making more money isnt as simple as the owners writing a bigger check, and allowing the teams GMs to spend that money where they please. If the players do get a much bigger piece of the financial pie the question is where should that money be spent? Should starting quarterbacks get a raise due to the degree of difficulty with the position? Should the entire roster get an across the board bump? Or would it be better for the league to raise the minimum wage, and how would the league even regulate that, when each owner and or GM will run their own teams the way they want? The term revenue sharing has come up and apparently is going to be an issue that is on top of the agenda, but again - it isnt as simple as saying lets split revenues down the middle between the clubs and the players. The players will cite the fact that a new and lucrative TV contract has changed the financial landscape of the league, and they want, as the new head of the Players Association Scott Flory has said, "their fair share." On the surface that sounds reasonable, and again everyone believes that the players should be paid more. However, the new TV deal starts this year, and no club can honestly say right now what the revenues will look like at the end of this season and beyond. In fact, it makes you wonder if revenue sharing at this point is even a good idea for the Players when they dont know what, if any the revenues will be. All of which makes all of these negotiations clear as mud, but the bottom line is both sides know the players should get paid more, and it is safe to say, that in the end, that will happen. Under The Radar Now on to a couple of big-name players that are managing to stay well under the radar and whose futures are still very much up in the air.dddddddddddd The first is quarterback Kevin Glenn, who has both publicly and privately, asked to be traded from Ottawa, and who did not attend the teams spring camp in the United States. Glenn, who led the Stamps to the West Final and a Grey Cup over the last two seasons, is an interesting one for a couple of reasons. First, despite getting the majority of the snaps in Calgary, Glenn was the back-up to Drew Tate, and in fact last year as the team entered the playoffs, there was all kinds of debate and discussion by the teams fan base over whether or not it should be Glenn, or third string QB Bo Levi Mitchell to start in the playoffs. So he is still a back-up QB to most, yet Glenn has shown he has the skills to lead a team to the championship game. Its tough for management on any team to put a real value on what exactly they are getting when they talk trades for Kevin Glenn. Secondly, Glenn has chosen not to talk publicly, except to say that he wants out of Ottawa. Now you have to believe that he and his agent are trying to get the message out, behind closed doors, to any team that will listen that if acquired, Glenn will be a good teammate like he has been in his career to date. However, it will not be a newsflash to teams that Glenns agent is selling him as a team-first guy. One does have to wonder if those same teams are concerned that Glenn will only go to a camp if he is guaranteed the starting job, based on what he has said so far in public. Thats another reason why it will be tough on teams trying to assess what they would be willing to give up for Glenns services and what that might mean to their current rosters. The second player that has been under the radar of late has been free agent Keron Williams. Last year in BC, Williams was asked to move from rush end to defensive tackle and saw his sack totals go from 12 in 2012 to just four last year. Williams did not complain in the media about the move, and only he and the Lions coaching staff know if he said anything behind closed doors. Now whether he complained about it or not, the fact of the matter is, it is very difficult to move from the left to the right side of the formation, let alone move to a different position all together. Williams has been asked to do this twice by the Lions. As a member of the Als in 2008 and 2009, he played on the interior of the defensive line and dominated, accumulating a total of 18 sacks in two years. When he packed his bags and moved to BC, then head coach Wally Buono asked him to move to defensive end, a position that requires a completely different skill set, and in fact a different body type. Williams took a year to get used to his new position, which is completely understandable when you consider most players could not even do it. In his first year playing off the edge in 2010, Williams registered five sacks, but in the back half of the season, you could see he was going to be a force. In his last two full years as a rush end, he was arguably the premier pass rusher in the league and recorded a total of 23 sacks. Now Williams, who is just 29 years old, is likely waiting to see what happens to the salary cap as the CBA negotiations continue. It also goes without saying that most, if not all, the teams in the league have shown some level of interest in the free agent, and yet it has been all quiet on the Williams front. All of which leads to speculation that he is either going to wait and see if there is an NFL tryout possibility for as long as possible or stay in BC and he and the Lions have already come to some agreement. The only other scenario is that he is still testing the free agent market in the CFL. However, if thats the case, why wouldnt he and his agent want to, say, leak out the level of interest to create a bidding war for his services? Williams could not be reached for comment. The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced on Wednesday that starting quarterback and Grey Cup champion Darian Durant has agreed to a contract extension with the club, which is ahead of schedule. Durant said recently that he didnt think that the deal would get done until just before training camp, but clearly the Riders made their franchise player, "an offer he just couldnt refuse". Terms of the deal have not been released but, with what he has now accomplished and a playoff run last year that was as close to perfect as any quarterback has had in recent memory, Durant may not be the highest paid QB in the league, but it is not a stretch to think he will be close. It is a well-deserved extension. And finally, according to CTV reporter Heath Brown who was in attendance at a fan forum event in Calgary recently, Stampeders head coach John Hufnagel addressed the crowd and mentioned the organization has come to a "handshake agreement" with their star running back Jon Cornish on a contract extension. Cornish had as good as season as any player in the history of the game in 2013, a season where he was named the leagues Most Outstanding Player and the Most Outstanding Canadian. He also received the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy as Canadas top athlete, and most recently was named the Male Athlete of the Year by the Calgary Booster Club. Apparently, when asked after the event to further discuss the Cornish extension, Hufnagel refused to go there, which may have meant the coach regretted letting the big news slip out. However, whether he meant to or not, the news is huge for Stamps fans, as they will be able to continue to cheer for the most dominant running back in the CFL over the last two seasons. Okay, now back to the what happened to my NHL team discussions. ' ' '