process that saw him drafted and now on the verge of the NHL. "But they say its not about | Forum

P. Keenan Lewis Jersey .K. Subbans Norris Trophy-winning talent and style of play often make him a highly-visible figure on the ice. But recently, hes also become a highly-visible figure on the Montreal Canadiens bench. Subbans lack of ice-time – particularly in late game scenarios – has become something of a trend over the Habs most recent stretch. In the Canadiens 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, he watched the final four-plus minutes of regulation time from the bench and didnt come out until the start of overtime. He was also fourth in ice time among Montreals blue liners, trailing Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges and Raphael Diaz. "I will not comment on the ice time of any player," head coach Michel Therrien said Wednesday morning when questioned about Subbans minutes. Therrien did, however, add that Subban played "a hell of a game for us...exactly what we needed from him." TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie found the timing of the most recent focus on Subbans ice time to be interesting. "Its a real interesting dynamic at a real interesting time that all this is happening probably a week or two before P.K.s representatives are going to start contract negotiations with the Canadiens," McKenzie told TSN Radio 690 Montreal on Wednesday morning. Subban is in the final year of a two-year deal he signed with the Canadiens during the 2012-13 NHL season. That deal, signed after Subban missed the first four games of the truncated 48-game season, was worth a total of $5.75 million, with $2 million going to Subban in the shortened season and $3.75 million coming his way this year. So with a couple of years before Subban is eligible to test unrestricted free agency, it could be argued that the two-year bridge deal that he signed last season may now play in his favour. "There are some people who think that a lot of whats going on now might be contract-related and that the Montreal Canadiens want to be able to say to P.K: "Look, we dont trust you defensively. Youve still got so much growing to do before you can justifiably ask for $7 million per year like Drew Doughty," McKenzie said. But as McKenzie pointed out, a two-year deal could now be what Subban seeks, especially should he elect to go to arbitration where his offensive numbers and Norris Trophy would likely net him a handsome dollar figure on a one- or two-year term, getting him one step closer to the open market. McKenzie also noted that there are mitigating factors beyond Subbans perceived defensive responsibility or lack thereof in the case of Tuesday nights loss. "If you look at it, yes, he didnt play in the last four minutes," McKenzie told TSN Radio 690. "But he had a 1:54 power play shift right at the 14-15 minute mark. Think about that for a moment. He just played a minute and 54 seconds on a power play. So, hes not coming out on the next shift, no matter what. "What were talking about here is – and Im not saying that theres not an issue – but in last night specifically, he probably missed one shift of five-on-five hockey in the last minute of that hockey game." That said, how do you think this saga will end? The Canadiens arent even a quarter of the way into the 2013-14 season, so plenty of time remains for the situation to play out. Will the Habs continue to limit Subbans ice time late in close games, or will they let the defender grow and accept that the game may swing for the better or worse with him on the ice? And will Subbans upcoming contract negotiations lead to a short-term deal that sees him hit the open market earlier or that big multi-year contract that keeps him in Montreal for the long term? As always, its Your! Call. Craig Robertson Saints Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Austin Johnson Jersey . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. http:///...nthony-Elite-Jersey/ . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision.TORONTO – Around the table sat the future Maple Leafs prospect and his family. One major decision loomed at the time for Andrew MacWilliam, one that would decide his future in many ways. Drafted by the Spokane Chiefs, the teenage defenceman had the option of joining the Western League club as a 16-year-old. Then there was college, the route his father, Alex, preferred – ever the believer in the value of a degree – and the course that would offer a more lenient curve of development. "I never watched college hockey growing up," MacWilliam, a Calgary native said. "Being from western Canada you dont see it much." It took a trip down to Denver, Colorado for the West regional of the 2007 NCAA tournament, a tour of the pristine facilities there and an opportunity to watch Jonathan Toews and Kyle Okposo before a choice was made. Recruited by head coach Dave Hakstol, MacWilliam opted for the hockey-rich program at the University of North Dakota, where he spent the past four seasons before arriving at Leafs training camp this fall. "Probably the best decision of my life so far," MacWilliam stated sincerely of choosing college, where he was voted captain by teammates last year. "I definitely would recommend it to any young guys deciding what route theyre going to take." Selected with the 188th overall pick in the 2008 Draft from the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior League – where he played alongside Joe Colborne – MacWilliam has climbed slow and steady to the edge of the NHL. Now a mature 23-years-old and a thick 230 pounds, the 6-foot-2 defender has definite darkhorse potential for the Leafs this season. A combative protect-the-house type with a penchant for rough play, MacWilliam has offered a positive impression to the Leafs brass and coaching staff in the first week of camp. While still a long-shot to make the NHL club at the outset and more likely pegged to join Steve Spott and the Marlies initially, MacWilliam has not looked out of place in the early going. "I just wanted to show what I can do," he said of expectations coming into camp. "I obviously want to make it a tough decision for the coaching staff. I know theres a lot of numbers [on defence] already up top, but I just wanted to come in and show what I can do and how I can play." MacWilliam has no illusions about his role. His job, quite simply, is to protect the house. He projects as a defender in the Mark Fraser mold, though he probably moves the puck more efficiently than his NHL counterpart and owns better foot speed. Vonn Bell Saints Jersey. Because he remained at North Dakota for the full freight of four years – where he also played alongside former Leaf Matt Frattin – MacWilliam also appears physically ready to play at the next level. At one point in practice on Wednesday, he capably battled for net-front position with Joffrey Lupul, eventually ousting the All-Star to the ice. MacWilliam attributes his solid frame to years of lifting weights at school – where they play in and around 40 games – adding 15 pounds from the point of his freshman year. "Just that extra little oomph I guess is just huge at this level," said MacWilliam, who played in two games with the Marlies at the end of last season. "It helps you out in the net front and in the corners, being able to handle a mans game." Named to the Western College Hockey Associations all-academic team three years straight, MacWilliam also found time to focus his efforts on foot speed, improving his quickness laterally over his junior and senior seasons. Maybe most important to the college experience though was the reward of a degree, which he earned in business management. "Youre not going to play hockey your whole life right," he observed with the savvy of someone far beyond his years. "Youre not guaranteed anything as far as a pro career. Having that to fall back on is something that I take a lot of pride in and down the road will have some use for me." Whether he makes the jump now to the NHL is a question that will decide itself in the coming days of camp. The Leafs have a number of more experienced defenders on the roster and one in Cody Franson who remains unsigned. All of which makes an initial stint with the Leafs unlikely. But if MacWilliam demonstrates continued readiness and progression in the coming two weeks he could just sneak onto the roster or at the very least, provide the club with options to play with on the back-end. "Its been a long five years," MacWilliam concluded of the process that saw him drafted and now on the verge of the NHL. "But they say its not about the destination, its the journey. "The whole process, along the whole way of my career, we havent taken things too fast, we just take it slow and it hasnt hurt me yet." Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '