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PHILADELPHIA - Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin sees picking 26th in the NHL draft as a sign of success. For Bergevin, the best pick is the 30th — which traditionally goes to the Stanley Cup winner. "Thats our goal. Every team wants to win," he said Thursday on the eve of the draft. "Picking 26th, yeah its far back but again you want to make the playoffs and you want to have success. And thats what happened. Thats the price you pay." After falling short in the Eastern Conference final, the Habs find themselves with a first- and third-round pick and then five selections well down the draft ladder (117th, 125th, 147th, 177th and 207th overall). Their second-rounder went to the Islanders in the Thomas Vanek deal. Bergevin says he is open to moving higher or lower with his first pick, depending on the offers or scenarios. "We could use help everywhere," he said candidly. "Were a good team but we need to get better. Im always open to make our team better." The Canadiens have already made some decisions. Bergevin says free agents Vanek, defenceman Douglas Murray and tough guy George Parros wont be back. Defenceman Andrei Markov and coach Michel Therrien have signed new deals. Talks continue with three other free agents: captain Brian Gionta, and defencemen Mike Weaver and Francis Bouillon The Montreal GM also says there has been a meeting with star defenceman P.K. Subbans agent about a new contract. While much has been made of the Habs lack of size, Bergevin says its only one variable. "Size is something every team looks at," he said. "But character for me and compete (level) always comes into play. You can have a big guy who doesnt compete or you have (five-foot-nine) Brendan Gallagher — Ill take Brendan Gallagher all day long." Trevor Timmins, the Habs director of amateur scouting, said his staff will be keeping its fingers crossed as the first round unfolds. "We think positive about the player we want to get," he said. The good news is he believes there is a lot of parity in players available between the 15th and 40th picks. However he said it is a down year for francophone talent compared to 2013. The Habs scouts have done their homework, with Timmins and his staff having met with some 100 prospects. Jason Kipnis Jersey . LA (SportsNetwork. Eddie Robinson Jersey . He is nigh unstoppable against the leagues worst. The 31-year-old dangerman set up two goals and scored two himself as Toronto FC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the slumping Houston Dynamo 4-2 on Saturday night. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-bob-feller-jersey/. It was the start of one nice night for the goalie and the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom made 33 saves in his first win of the season and the Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Saturday in a rematch of their first-round playoff series. Satchel Paige Jersey . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. Kenny Lofton Jersey . CEO Steve Koonin on Tuesday told the Hawks flagship radio station that he made the decision to discipline Ferry but allowed him to keep his job managing the team. He did not say what the punishment was, but noted that he relied on a law firms three-month investigation of Ferry and him describing Deng as someone who has a little African in him.PHOENIX - When the conversation turns to Super Bowl losers, the Bills and Vikings immediately come up.Both are 0-4, Buffalo managing the feat in consecutive seasons.The Broncos were in that sinking ship until John Elway completed his Hall of Fame career with two championships.The Patriots? They own a share of the short-term success mark in Super Bowls: three in a four-year span. Theyve been back twice since their previous championship victory and failed to add to their collection.Should they lose to Seattle next Sunday, they will become three-time losers, too. Those with short memories could begin wondering where that winning touch went?Then again, a win at University of Phoenix Stadium will tie Tom Brady with the likes of two more Hall of Famers, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, for Super victories. It would lift Bill Belichick onto the same level as Chuck Noll, the only coaches with four Super Bowl rings.But the other side of the ledger cant be ignored: Despite their amazing run of success in their division — the admittedly mediocre AFC East — the Patriots have gone a full decade between titles.I would say the excitement is high, but its also more focused, says receiver Julian Edelman, who was on the squad that lost to the Giants three years ago.You have guys that have been to this game, guys that havent been to this game. You have guys that won the game; you have guys that havent won the game when theyve been there. Everyone is kind of just focused and trying to get ready to prepare for this team. Were playing the champs.They used to be the champs, but since beating Philadelphia in Jacksonville for the 2004 NFL crown, the Patriots have seen the Giants grab the Lombardi Trophy twice against them; seen Pittsburgh also win it two times; seen Baltimore, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Seattle conclude their seasons with a championship. What has happened for New England, other than dozens of wins except for one in the big game?Many factors have contributed to the streak the Patriots can end next weekend:—Slippage on defence.Yes, Belichick earned his stripes as a defensive mastermind, but ever since Brady matured into a dominant passer, New England has been an offensive team. Thats been important to remain a contender as the NFL has evolved into a high-scoring league. But in the biggest matchups, often against other potent attacks, the Patriots defence has been lacking. They havent had a true stud pass rusher or a star defensive back ((until signing Darrelle Revis this season), and theyve also had some unfortunate injuries, particularly to linebacker Jerod Mayo.dddddddddddd—Unbalanced offence.Belichick has been willing to make do with inconsistent running backs or retreads, and he also has soured on some of them, especially if they cant hold onto the football. That disorder in the backfield has put more pressure on Brady and the passing game. Fortunately for New England, Brady is an all-time great.But the changing cast behind him can be disruptive.Of course, since that most recent Super Bowl win, hes had the likes of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Edelman to throw to. Any QB would like that group.Yet opponents have found in the playoffs that they rarely will be beaten by the Patriots run game, so they have loaded up on the pass rush, on coverage, and on making Brady uncomfortable.—No fear.The opposition, especially when the Patriots were winning their past two titles, often reacted to what New England was doing instead of emphasizing their own strengths. That changed altogether in the 2008 Super Bowl, when the Giants unleashed monstrous pressure on Brady, didnt make mistakes on either side of the ball, and shattered the Patriots chase of perfection.Pretty much the same thing has occurred in every post-season since, including after the 2011 schedule when the Giants beat them again for the prize. Think of how Baltimore and the Jets strutted their stuff in post-season matchups at Gillette Stadium.—Coaching.Say what? Belichick holds the record for postseason victories with 21, surpassing Tom Landry last week. But twice he was outmanoeuvred in Super Bowls by Tom Coughlin and his defensive co-ordinators. And two other times, John Harbaugh made many more correct moves in a playoff matchup.It would be foolish to think that Belichick no longer can handle the sharpest spotlight — which he ignores anyway. So it will be one of the most intriguing story lines of this Super Bowl to see how the chess match goes against Pete Carroll, perhaps the finest coach Belichick will have faced at this juncture.It would also be ill-advised to play up the recent post-season shortcomings and ignore the earlier successes. Still, should they lose, lots of people could wind up judging the Patriots more on what has happened in the past decade than what occurred in those glorious early seasons of Brady/Belichick.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Authentic Bills Jerseys Dolphins Stitched Jerseys Cheap Patriots Jerseys Wholesale Jets Jerseys Wholesale Texans Jerseys Cheap Colts Jerseys Jaguars Jerseys Store Authentic Titans Jerseys Authentic Broncos Jerseys Authentic Chiefs Jerseys Cheap Raiders Jerseys Chargers Jerseys Store Cheap Ravens Jerseys Wholesale Bengals Jerseys Cheap Browns Jerseys Steelers Jerseys Store Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys Wholesale Giants Jerseys Authentic Eagles Jerseys Cheap Redskins Jerseys Authentic Falcons Jerseys Panthers Jerseys Store Wholesale Saints Jerseys Authentic Buccaneers Jerseys Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Seahawks Jerseys Store Wholesale Rams Jerseys Wholesale Bears Jerseys Authentic Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Vikings Jerseys Store ' ' '