rmer No. 1 Rafael Nadal will meet 19th-seeded fellow Spa | Forum

SOCHI, Russia – Leo Komarovs KHL club had one flight this season of the marathon variety, precisely the kind of tiresome experience that has the former Leaf winger reconsidering his career status. Boyd Gordon Oilers Jersey . “It took us 12 hours or something,” he said of the near 10,000 kilometre flight from Moscow to Vladivostok, quick to mention the one stop required to refuel along the way. It may not be in Toronto, but Komarov seems to have his sights set on a return to the NHL next season. The 27-year-old had his first (and long-desired) taste of the league in 2013 – calling it “probably the best time of my life” – before returning to Dynamo of the KHL last summer for reasons both financial and otherwise. “I want to get back,” Komarov said of the NHL. “Its a big goal for me for next season. [But] Im going to see how its going to work out. Dynamo is playing pretty good right now so its like everything is good there too, but I really enjoyed it in Toronto. It was really good.” Komarov played in 42 games with the Leafs and was the pesky, agitating force the organization hoped hed become when they drafted him in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. But with the lure of a hefty one-year contract in Moscow and more opportunity ahead of the Olympics this winter, Komarov chose to leave Toronto after just one season. “No hard feelings against Toronto,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. Everything was good, but Dynamo gave me a really good offer.” More money than a cap-strapped Leafs brass was prepared or even able to pay this past summer. But just as important as the dollars gained by returning to Russia was the chance to play big minutes with a powerhouse squad in Dynamo. And with keen hopes of representing Finland for the first time on the Olympic stage here in Sochi, Komarov wanted to ensure his best was on display as often as possible. “I need to play a lot to make this team for Olympics and I knew Im going to get a lot of ice-time in Dynamo,” said Komarov following practice with a trimmed down Finnish Olympic squad, NHL players yet to arrive on this day. “You go in the NHL and play on the fourth line – five, six minutes – its hard. I wanted to make 100 per cent sure that Im going to make the team. “Maybe the contract situation was a little bit [a reason] too. It was a hard decision, like I want to play in NHL, but what happened happened.” Though he is quite at home in the KHL, where hes played for four seasons now, Komarov certainly enjoyed the upgrade in lifestyle associated with the NHL. From the lavish hotels to comfortable charter planes to do-it-all training staffs to visits in New York, Montreal and Boston, the NHL just has more to offer than the league in Russia, up-and-coming as it is. “Its like the best thing that can happen to a hockey player to be there,” said Komarov of playing in the NHL, remaining in touch with current Leafs Phil Kessel, Frazer McLaren, Tyler Bozak and Nikolai Kulemin. “Its so nice.” Toronto was also a more desirable resting place for his Finnish girlfriend. Unlike Komarov, who speaks four languages including Russian, Swedish and Finnish, his better half has nothing to fall back on as far as communication is concerned, this in a place where English is rarely spoken or understood. “She liked Toronto really much, did whatever she wanted by herself there, but in Moscow she always needs me around,” said Komarov, noting the challenge of simply traveling around the city without knowing the Russian language. An unrestricted free agent this summer, Komarov is open to returning to the Leafs and the city of Toronto, but he appears more focused on simply getting back into the NHL however possible. Yet to receive any offers he remains hopeful about his prospects with a fallback plan of good money and opportunity in the KHL. “Theyve got good money in KHL, but its not all about the money either,” he said. “NHL is the best league you can play in.” Connor McDavid Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Bill Ranford Jersey . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. http://www.hockeyoilersofficial.us/Jean-Francois-Jacques-Jersey/ . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club.Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - World No. 1 and former champion Novak Djokovic enjoyed a stress-free fourth-round match Tuesday at the U.S. Open, while defending champion Andy Murray shook off a slow start and moved into the quarterfinals. Djokovic swatted unseeded Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 in 1 hour, 19 minutes at Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Serbian star broke Granollers seven times, while the Spaniard was unable to earn a break on Day 9. "The second and third sets (were) some of the best tennis that Ive played on Arthur Ashe in my career," admitted Djokovic. "Its a fantastic feeling when youre playing this well. You love spending time on the court and experiencing such a great zone where you are at that moment." Djokovic won 25 straight points on his serve to open the match. The 26-year-old Djokovic has reached at least the quarterfinals in New York every year since 2007 and at least the semis at every major event since Wimbledon in 2010. The reigning Australian Open champion titled here in 2011 and was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2007, 2010 and last year when he succumbed to Murray in a marquee final. The six-time Grand Slam titlist from Belgrade also lost to Murray in Julys Wimbledon finale. Djokovics quarterfinal opponent on Thursday will be 21st-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Murray, the third seed and the current holder of the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Olympic titles, ran his record to 17-1 in Grand Slam play this year with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Denis Istomin. Murray had his serve broken twice, as many as he had in his first three matches combined. Istomin was trying to become the first player from Uzbekistan to reach the quarterfinals in a major. Ninth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland advanced through fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych with a 3-66, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 decision. Ryan Smyth Jersey. Berdych was a semifinalist here last year, but the Czech was done in by 45 unforced errors. Next up for Wawrinka is the defending champ. "I think if I start well, if I stay with him, I can have some good chances to do something," a confident Wawrinka said. Earlier, the 31-year-old Youzhny came from behind to outlast unseeded former world No. 1 Aussie Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 7-5 in a war of attrition that lasted just under four hours at Armstrong Stadium. Youzhny broke Hewitts serve 10 times, while the Aussie veteran settled for eight breaks in a tough defeat, one in which he was two points away from victory at one point. Hewitt had more winners (55-47), more total points won (146-145), and had fewer unforced errors (54-63) than Youzhny, but still exited the draw on Day 9. The 32-year-old Hewitt pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in the mens draw here by stunning sixth-seeded fellow former Open champ Juan Martin del Potro last week. Hewitt captured the U.S. Open in 2001 and was the runner-up here in 2004. He also corralled a Wimbledon championship in 2002. The gritty Aussie was trying to reach his first U.S. Open quarterfinal in seven years and first Grand Slam quarter since Wimbledon in 2009. Youzhny was a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2006 and 2010. Hell now appear in his sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal (2-3). The mens quarterfinals will commence Wednesday, as second-seeded former No. 1 Rafael Nadal will meet 19th-seeded fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo and fourth- seeded French Open runner-up David Ferrer of Spain will encounter eighth- seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Nadal owns 12 major titles, including this years French Open and the 2010 U.S. Open, where he also finished as a runner-up in 2011. The amazing Nadal is perfect 19-0 on hardcourts this year. 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