ANAHEIM, Calif.
[b]Clay Matthews Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . - Teemu Selanne took one last tour of the Anaheim rink after the final horn, waving his stick at cheering fans while players from both teams banged their sticks on the ice. Despite the melancholy look on his face, the Finnish Flash said he has no regrets about returning to the Anaheim Ducks for one last season, even after they fell well short of another Stanley Cup title. Selannes 21-season NHL career likely ended Thursday night with a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 of their second-round series. The 43-year-old forward has maintained hell retire this summer, keeping to his plan even after starring in his sixth Olympics and playing a significant role during the best regular season in franchise history in Anaheim, his home for parts of 15 seasons. "Ive been flirting with this decision for a long time, but the passion and the fun always brought me back," said Selanne, who didnt score in the finale. "I still love this game, and I still know I can play, but it is better this way than having different situations, and thats why I think it is the right time." The crowd chanted "Lets Go Teemu" in the final minutes, with even Kings fans joining in. After the final horn, Selanne accepted congratulations and eventually made it to the dressing room, where his famed composure slipped. "I tried, but when I came in here, I couldnt hold myself anymore," Selanne said. "I didnt know what to do out there." Selanne kept returning to the Ducks for seven straight years after he first contemplated retirement following their only Stanley Cup championship in 2007, each time hoping the Ducks would make another title run. He kept moving up the NHLs career scoring chart, currently sitting 15th with 1,457 points and 11th with 684 goals. Selannes ice time with the Ducks dwindled this year while coach Bruce Boudreau worked younger players into key roles. He still played a dependable role in Anaheim, bottling his frustration for one more run at a Cup. "The 2007 Stanley Cup has to be the biggest crown for my career," Selanne said. "To be honest, the most proud I am is I have been able to play so many years and at this age. You all know when you get older, its not going to get any easier. But to be able to compete against these young guys and still enjoy this and play well, that has been the greatest thing in my career. Im really thankful for that." Selanne has a full life in Southern California waiting for him after retirement. He opened a successful steak house in Laguna Beach last year, and his four children are comfortable in their year-round home in Coto De Caza, an Orange County community on Selannes beloved golf course. Yet in classic Selanne fashion, he didnt slam the door completely shut on the possibility he could play elsewhere next season. Speculation has been rampant in Finland and Russia about the possibility of luring Selanne to Jokerit, the Helsinki-based club thats joining the Kontinental Hockey League in the fall. "I dont know, and I dont think so," Selanne said a potential move to Jokerit. "I know there is a lot of interest for that, but I always said I was going to retire here. To be honest, I really dont have to play anywhere anymore. I could if I want, but right now I dont want to." Selanne began his pro career with three years in Jokerits junior development program, and he played three seasons with the big-league club before joining the Winnipeg Jets for his record-setting NHL rookie year in 1992-93. The game also might have been a finale for Saku Koivu, Selannes fellow Finn and longtime friend. The 39-year-old Koivu was the Montreal Canadiens captain before moving to Anaheim five years ago. "I really dont have an answer for you," Koivu said. "Usually after the season, the last three or four years, Ive been signing one-year contracts. And Im going to go the same road, just to get away from the game for a couple of weeks and really take a good careful look at what happened, how the season went, and if there is enough left to come back and push for another year."
[b]Kevin King Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . Hall had a goal and three assists in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Tuesday, had an assist in each of Edmontons next two games the capped the week with a goal and two assists in the Oilers 4-2 win over Anaheim on Sunday.
[b]Raven Greene Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . He even addressed his group of relievers Sunday morning. Dustin McGowan made those worries a nonfactor, at least for a day. McGowan pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Todd Bowles is coming home and taking over as the New York Jets head coach.The Jets hired the Arizona Cardinals defensive co-ordinator Wednesday to replace Rex Ryan, who was fired, along with general manager John Idzik, on Dec. 29 after six seasons.Bowles, 51, was highly sought after leading Arizonas aggressive-style defence the last two seasons. This will be his first full-time head coaching job at any level after serving as Miamis interim coach for the final three games in 2011.Its an honour and privilege to coach the Jets, Bowles said in a statement. I cant help but be humbled by the chance to coach this team. I am going to do everything I can to build a consistent winner.It is a homecoming of sorts for Bowles, who is a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He also served as the Jets defensive backs coach under Al Groh during the 2000 season.Bowles beat out five other candidates, including Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn and former Buffalo coach Doug Marrone, who interviewed with owner Woody Johnson and consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, both of whom Bowles has ties to.Bowles had a second interview Tuesday with Johnson, Casserly and Wolf — along with newly hired general manager Mike Maccagnan — and impressed the Jets enough to move forward. New York cancelled a scheduled interview with Carolina defensive co-ordinator Sean McDermott that was set for Wednesday. Bowles also called off a second meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday with the Atlanta Falcons for their head coaching vacancy.He is a hard-working and dedicated leader who has garnered the respect of players and coaches, Johnson said. I am confident that Todd and Mike Maccagnan are the right combination to lead this team.Bowles becomes the fifth black head coach currently in the NFL, joining Pittsburghs Mike Tomlin, Cincinnatis Marvin Lewis, Tampa Bays Lovie Smith and Detroits Jim Caldwell. He also is the Jets sixth straight defensive-focused head coach and fifth since Johnson took over the Jets in 2000, joining Ryan, Eric Mangini, Herm Edwards, Groh and Bill Parcells.With the Jets, Bowles will inherit a solid defensive front seven with rising star defensive linemen in Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. The secondary, however, needs a major overhaul.Along with Maccagnan, who was hired Tuesday night, Bowles will try to help the Jets bounce back from four straight seasons out of the playoffs. The franchise is also starving for a Super Bowl appearance, something it hasnnt had since 1969.
[b]Kenny Clark Super Bowl Jersey[/b]. When we first met, it was immediately clear how sincere and very real he is, Maccagnan said. While he appreciates the need for discipline, players love playing for him and I believe he has outstanding qualities to help make the Jets a competitive, winning team.Several key decisions will need to be made in the next several weeks, including assembling a staff and figuring out the quarterback position.A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that former Dallas and Buffalo head coach Chan Gailey will be Bowles offensive co-ordinator. Gailey was out of football the last two seasons after being fired as the Bills coach after the 2012 season.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Jets have not announced Gaileys hiring.Bowles brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience with him to New York. He played college football and was a team captain for current Cardinals coach Bruce Arians at Temple.He was signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent in 1986, but worked his way to a major role with Joe Gibbs Redskins — including starting at free safety against Denver in the 1988 Super Bowl. Bowles played eight NFL seasons, including two stints with Washington while Casserly was in the Redskins front office, sandwiched around one season (1991) with San Francisco.Bowles was hired by Green Bay after his playing career, working in the Packers player personnel department from 1995-96 — when Wolf was the GM. He then made several stops as a coach at the college and pro levels, first as the defensive co-ordinator at Morehouse College and then Grambling State — both under former Washington teammate Doug Williams — and as an assistant with the Jets, Cleveland and Dallas, under then-coach Parcells, whom he considers a mentor.He was hired as the Dolphins assistant head coach and secondary coach from 2008-11. He went 2-1 as the teams interim head coach at the end of the 2011 season after Tony Sparano was fired.Bowles went to Philadelphia in 2012 as the Eagles secondary coach, but was elevated to defensive co-ordinator when the team dismissed Juan Castillo. After that season, Bowles was hired as Arizonas defensive co-ordinator and firmly established himself as one of the leagues up-and-coming assistants.Were sorry as hell to lose him, Arians said, but we all knew this day was coming, especially with the job he did here the last two years.___AP NFL website:
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