to repay Connachts faith in guiding him through their ranks. | Forum

They dont earn major headlines, but the summer hockey landscape is littered with veterans who have signed a one-year contract with the goal of impressing a team enough to earn just one more multiyear deal. William Perry Jersey . And if it doesnt work out? Ask Alexander Semin, who last summer signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens after being bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes. He played 15 games, was placed on waivers by December and was last seen winning a KHL title.Players used to get paid for what they had done in the league. Now theyre paid for what we predict theyre going to do in the league. The cap has changed the mentality of how we look at players, said former?New York Rangers?and?Islanders GM Neil Smith. If you dont fit into one of two groups -- young, up-and-coming star or veteran superstar -- then youre going to have to sign a short-term deal because no one wants to use up their cap on a guy theyre scared of.Here are the players who have signed deals and are looking at a similar make-or-break season in 2016-17.Thomas Vanek, LW, Detroit Red Wings: Vanek appeared to be a crucial piece when the Minnesota Wild signed the high-scoring winger to a three-year, $19.5 million contract in 2014. At the time, he was fresh off a productive 68-point season and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals with the Canadiens. But Vanek never made it to the third year of that contract, being bought out by Minnesota last month before signing a one-year deal with the Wings. The two-time 40-goal scorer struggled mightily last season, scoring 18 goals and posting a minus-10 before going goalless in 10 Wild playoff games. Vanek, 32, isnt being signed to be a bottom-six forward, meaning he must recapture his scoring touch to stick around. Hell have every opportunity to do that with the Red Wings, who boast talented centers in Darren Helm, Dylan Larkin and fellow free-agent signee Frans Nielsen, not to mention scoring wingers in Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist.P.A. Parenteau, RW, New York Islanders: The one-year deal Parenteau signed to return to the Islanders makes it four teams in four seasons for the veteran. But Parenteau might have found the perfect landing spot after navigating between the Colorado Avalanche, Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. A ninth-round pick in 2001, Parenteau enjoyed his greatest success with the Islanders, including a watershed 2011-12 season in which he collected 67 points riding shotgun alongside an emerging John Tavares. That breakout season came at the perfect time because Parenteau signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Avalanche the following summer. But he never regained his scoring touch and has struggled to maintain consistency since then. He did manage to score 20 goals on the rebuilding Maple Leafs last season, his first time reaching the mark since his first season with the Islanders. The opportunity to rekindle his old chemistry with Tavares could be the 33-year-olds best chance to earn one last multiyear contract.Chris Kelly, C, Ottawa Senators: Despite being an important depth forward on the Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, Chris Kelly seemed destined to end up elsewhere. Despite being beloved by teammates and fans alike, Kelly was the subject of trade rumors for years. His production dipped and he missed almost all of last season with a broken leg, leaving Kelly with little leverage negotiating with a front office at a cap crossroads. Like Parenteau, however, Kelly might have found the perfect landing spot. The center was drafted by the Senators in 1999 and spent parts of seven seasons there before being traded to Boston in 2011. At 35, hell be looked to for leadership and depth, but saddled with a one-year deal, there isnt much room for Kelly to slip in his return to Canadas capital.Mason Raymond, LW, Anaheim Ducks: If the 2011 Stanley Cup finals were a career-defining triumph for Kelly, it was very much the opposite for Raymond. Playing for the runner-up Vancouver Canucks in that closely contested seven-game series, Raymond sustained a severe back injury on a Johnny Boychuk hit in Game 6. The injury sidelined him for several months and Raymond still hasnt fully recovered. He signed with Toronto in 2013 and enjoyed a 19-goal season with the struggling Maple Leafs. That performance earned him a three-year contract with the Calgary Flames. But Raymond failed to fulfill expectations in Calgary, finishing the season in the American Hockey League before the Flames bought him out in June. At 30, hell have an excellent opportunity to recapture his scoring touch with the Ducks playing alongside world-class players Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler. Hell also be playing for new Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, who is back for his second stint in Anaheim and coached Raymond during his comeback 2013-14 season with the Leafs.Cory Conacher, C, Tampa Bay Lightning: This might actually be the third or fourth chance for the diminutive Conacher, who played last season in Switzerland after spending much of 2014-15 in the AHL. If Conacher is looking for one last shot at the NHL, hell do no better than Tampa. An undrafted free agent out of unheralded Canisius College, Conacher was the 2011-12 AHL MVP before bursting into the NHL with the Lightning. Seeing considerable ice time with both Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier, Conacher collected 12 points in his first seven NHL games. Then he was traded to the Senators for goalie?Ben Bishop in what remains one of the more lopsided deals in recent NHL history. Conacher has bounced around but is still only 26 and cant expect many more chances to prove himself. With all the talent surrounding him in Tampa, there might not be a better opportunity for him to get one last crack in the NHL. Quintin Demps Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Gale Sayers Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. http:///...c-dan-hampton-jersey . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Bundee Aki has edged closer to Test rugby with Ireland by rejecting a move to France to sign a new Connacht deal until 2020.Irelands highly-promising lock Ultan Dillane has also completed a two-year contract extension to remain at Connacht, in a big double-boost to boss Pat Lam.Auckland-born powerhouse Aki is understood to have rejected moves to Bordeaux and Munster, and will now qualify for Ireland on residency next year.Dillane is also thought to have fielded interest from Munster, but two of Connachts key stars have instead opted to remain with the reigning Guinness PRO12 champions.Im really pleased that Bundee and Ultan have committed their futures to Connacht Rugby, said head coach Lam, admitting both stars had fielded offers to move elsewhere.Two talented rugby players, naturally their performances have attracted a lot of attention and there is no doubt that they had options in terms of where they could play.But I believe it is a massive statement about what we are doing here as a team and an organisation that they were both so determined to continue to play their part.Former Chiefs centre Aki has lit up Connachts back division with his powerful line-breaking instincts since his 2014 arrival.The 26-year-old will add a bullish midfield edge to Irelands Test options once available next year after completing the three-year residency period.Home grown 22-year-old lock Dillane already boasts six Irelannd caps after bursting onto the senior scene in the last 18 months. John Timu Jersey. he physical second row adds an extra dimension around the park to both Connacht and Ireland, and has now extended his stay at the Sportsground until 2019.Both Bundee and Ultan made it clear from the start that they were keen to stay and play their rugby with Connacht, said Connacht CEO Willie Ruane.They are truly committed to the overall vision for the province and their signatures are a big boost to the future of Connacht Rugby.Were delighted, for the two players and for our supporters, to be able to share this news.Aki insisted he now calls Connacht home after two years in the west of Ireland.The last two years with Connacht Rugby have been incredible, said Aki.I moved over here not really knowing what to expect but this place has become home to me and my family now.I am proud to be part of this Connacht team and Im excited to see what we can achieve together.Academy graduate Dillane admitted his eagerness to repay Connachts faith in guiding him through their ranks.Connacht Rugby has given me so many opportunities since I started in the academy and Im delighted to have signed on again, said Dillane.I am enjoying my rugby so much here and am excited about the future of this team and the province. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys' ' '