Diskussionsbereich » give the Penguins depth, but also leave plenty t

Jim Rutherford didnt expect to fill all the holes on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster in a day. Good thing, because it didnt happen. Not even close. Still, the new general manager isnt panicking despite losing six players in free agency, including defencemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen, and talented winger Jussi Jokinen. Less than a month into the job, Rutherford is taking a pragmatic approach to replenishing the talent around stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The process began Tuesday when the Penguins signed defenceman Christian Ehrhoff, forward Blake Comeau and goaltender Thomas Greiss to one-year deals. The team also retained forward Marcel Goc. Hardly the kind of splashy signings made elsewhere -- Washington spent $67.5 million alone to bring in Orpik and Niskanen -- but Rutherford isnt complaining. "We dont necessarily have to have our team all set for a playoff run in September," he said. Ehrhoff came onto the market over the weekend after the Buffalo Sabres bought out the final seven seasons his 10-year contract. The 31-year-old will make $4 million next season in Pittsburgh. The German-born Ehrhoff has 69 goals and 313 points in 692 games, and Rutherford believes Ehrhoffs skill set will fit in well under new coach Mike Johnston. "He plays a lot of minutes, 23-24 a game, can play right or left defence, power play, penalty kill," Rutherford said. "Hes in great shape and a great team guy. He can really skate and with the kind of team we have, having a guy back there that can skate and move the puck is important." Rutherford is confident the young defencemen in Pittsburghs minor league system will give the Penguins a solid blue line even without Orpik -- the longest-tenured defenceman in team history -- and Niskanen, who cashed in after a career year. Still, Rutherford didnt waste a chance to grab Ehrhoff despite the shortness of the deal. "He loved the opportunity to come with the Penguins," Rutherford said. "He just felt that, lets give it a one-year try with a good team and have a chance to win and then well look at it at the end of the season." Comeau provides depth as a third or fourth line forward. The 28-year-old had five goals and 11 assists in 61 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. Greiss, who went 10-8-5 with a 2.29 goals-against average for Phoenix in 2013-14, will compete with Jeff Zatkoff for the backup spot behind Marc-Andre Fleury. The signings give the Penguins depth, but also leave plenty to address going forward, including who is going to play with Malkin after the departure of Jokinen and James Neal. The Penguins traded Neal to Nashville for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling on Friday, and Jokinen left on Tuesday to sign a four-year deal with the Florida Panthers. Hornqvist is a candidate to fill out a top six spot, and the return of Pascal Dupuis from a knee injury and Beau Bennett from a wrist injury should give the Penguins some options. Rutherford didnt rule out a run at free agent forward Nikolai Kulemin -- who happens to be a good friend of Malkins -- but isnt sure the money will work. "Theres always a chance but it would take someone getting very, very creative to figure out how that contract fits into our cap," Rutherford said. ------ AP Sports Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, NY contributed to this report. Nike React Cheap Wholesale . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum. Buy Nike React .While Rosberg is coming off a strong victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton is dwelling on a mistake that ended his streak of five consecutive wins and kept him from increasing his advantage. http://www.cheapnikereact.net/. -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent. Nike React Cheap Online . Englands only win in the four most recent trips north had been tight, and Scotland was expected after losing 28-6 to Ireland six days ago to show some venom against its archrival. Cheap Nike React .com) - Stephen Currys jumper with 3.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- As expected, Denver Broncos slot receiver Wes Welker was officially ruled out of this weekends game at Houston. Hes also expected to be held out of the Broncos regular-season finale at Oakland on Dec. 29 as a precaution against a third head injury this month, which would end his season. The Broncos (11-3) are hoping to gain home-field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye that would give Welker more than a months rest. He hasnt played since leaving the Broncos Dec. 8 game against Tennessee shortly before halftime with his second concussion in a three-week span. He was cleared Thursday to resume light workouts. Welker has a career-high 10 touchdown catches on 73 receptions for 778 yards in his first season in Denver after six years as Tom Bradys favourite target in New England. Bubba Caldwell started in his place last week against San Diego with Eric Decker moving over to the slot. Caldwell caught six passes for 59 yards and two TDs, his first multi-score game of his six-year NFL career. But the Broncos, who are averaging 38.2 points a game, also had their lowest output of the season in a 27-20 loss to the Chargers. Also ruled out against the Texans (2-12) was rookie cornerback Kayvon Webster, who had surgery Monday to repair two fractures in his right thumb. "Everything is good," coach John Fox said. "He missed this week just because he is recovering from an actual surgery. You dont want to risk any kind of infection. Players health and safety first. But I think next week there is more of an opportunity in a cast that he could be able to play." Websteer first told the Broncos medical staff of his injury after tackling Chargers running back Ryan Mathews following a 1-yard catch on the fourth play of the third quarter, but Webster revealed Friday that he actually injured his thumb covering a punt in the first half and played through the swelling and pain before letting anyone know he was hurt.dddddddddddd Even then, he never came out. After the game, X-rays revealed two breaks and the following day he needed an operation in which seven pins and five screws were inserted. He was told hell be in a cast for four weeks, he said. Webster said hes been doing field work on his own and intends to return to practice Wednesday and not miss any more games. Also, defensive end Derek Wolfe will miss his fourth straight game as he continues his recovery after suffering what the team called seizure-like symptoms on the bus ride to the airport Nov. 29. The Broncos signed former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey this week to shore up their defensive front and help hold the edges that were exposed in their loss to San Diego in which the Chargers ran for more than 100 yards on first down. Mincey was released by the Jaguars Friday after a falling out with the front office that gave him a four-year, $20 million contract last year when he was coming off an eight-sack season. The Broncos feel that Mincey will be rejuvenated by his second chance in Denver, where he was greeted by familiar faces in defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio, his former head coach whom he thrived under in Jacksonville, and former Jaguars run-stuffer Terrance Knighton. ' ' '