OTTAWA -- Given the tumultuous off season in Ottawa, forward Clarke MacArthur has flown under the radar since signing with the Senators as a free agent this
past summer.
Maillot Lucas Digne France . MacArthur, who spent the last three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, is expected to add
some veteran experience and scoring to a second line that finds itself without
the skill and leadership of Daniel Alfredsson. Alfredsson left the Senators to
sign with the Detroit Red Wings, leaving a gaping hole to be filled. MacArthur,
who signed a two-year deal worth US$6.5 million, says has no intention of
attempting to replace Alfredsson. He is just hoping to find some chemistry with
Kyle Turris and a yet to be determined right-winger and add some offence. The
Senators said they believed MacArthur had the potential to score 15 to 20 goals
for them when they made the signing. While hes not one to make bold predictions,
MacArthur admitted he would love nothing more than to find the offensive touch
that allowed him to post back-to-back 20 goal seasons. "The first two years in
Toronto I had 20 goals and I want to get back to that kind of hockey," he said.
"Getting an opportunity to play with (Turris) is great. He seems like a real
solid two-way player and Im excited to have an opportunity there." A former
third-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, MacArthur has 93 goals and 213 points in
403 NHL games. Over the course of the past three NHL seasons MacArthur has
actually posted better numbers than Alfredsson, but it would be unfair to make
any comparisons to the beloved former Ottawa captain. MacArthur just wants to be
the best he can be. Strangely enough, MacArthur now occupies Alfredssons stall
in the locker-room. "Im not a guy that youre going to see dominate night in and
night out," said MacArthur. "I like to get things done and be good defensively
and I feel I can make offensive plays, but consistency is something everyone
fights and this year I want to strive to be better with that." MacArthur got off
to a strong start picking up a goal in the Senators 4-2 victory over the Calgary
Flames in his first pre-season game with Ottawa. Turris and MacArthur have been
working hard at developing chemistry and so far feel like they compliment one
another. "The majority of it is just logging time together on the ice and
getting a feel for each other," said Turris. "Were definitely starting to build
that chemistry. Hes a great player. Hes got good speed, got a good shot and the
best part is he reads the ice, he sees everything develop and thats something I
love working with." With most of the pressure expected to be on Ottawas top
line, Turris says he and MacArthur have an opportunity to add some secondary
scoring. "Theyre going to have lots of pressure on them and they obviously will
be one of the best in the league," said Turris. "We want to ease a little bit
off of them. We want to be scoring and be contributing as well." Senators coach
Paul MacLean has been happy with what hes seen so far and MacArthur is likely to
be given every opportunity to succeed. "Right now were going to take our time
with any projections as to what hes going to be," said MacLean. "Hes as
advertised, hes a 400-game player, and to me hes been very good, very
professional." Choosing Ottawa was an interesting choice for MacArthur
considering the rivalry between the Senators and the Leafs. Strangely enough
MacArthur agreed to the deal while in Prince Edward Island to attend Leafs
captain Dion Phaneufs wedding. It goes without saying that his former teammates
had some fun at MacArthurs expense. The 28-year-old will get his first chance to
play against some of his former teammates Tuesday night in an exhibition game in
Toronto, but the real test will come Oct. 5 when they play the first of four
regular season games against one another. "Its one of those things where I have
a lot of friends on that side, but when it comes to playing the game both sides
have to play hard against each other," said MacArthur. "Thats just the nature of
the game. Its going to be a lot of fun to go up against those guys." Notes: G
Robin Lehner will get the start in Toronto Tuesday. G Craig Anderson and LW
Milan Michalek were both given a maintenance day and not expected to miss any
extended amount of time.
Maillot Christophe Jallet France .Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives.
Maillot Steve Mandanda .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season
in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins.NEW ORLEANS - The
New Orleans Saints released veteran receiver Lance Moore on Friday. Before the
move was announced, Moore all but confirmed it with a note on Twitter, writing,
"Thank you New Orleans for an amazing nine years. Who Dat Nation, the best on
earth!!!" Cutting Moore, who was due $3.1 million in base salary next season,
marked the latest of several cost-cutting moves by the Saints as they seek to
create space under the NFLs salary cap to work out a long-term extension with
star tight end Jimmy Graham. In the past month, the Saints have cut defensive
end Will Smith, safety Roman Harper and cornerback Jabari Greer, who were all
starters on New Orleans 2009 Super Bowl team. In addition, the Saints have said
they would not bring back free agent linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a former
defensive captain who has been hampered by knee injuries in recent seasons.
"Just like some of the decisions we made on the defensive side of the ball a few
weeks ago, this move today is just as difficult," general manager Mickey Loomis
said. "Lance was very important to our productivity on offence and our success
as a team overall. ... You couldnt ask for more from Lance both on and off the
field and we wish him the best of luck." Meanwhile, there were signs of more
moves to come. Running back and return specialist Darren Sproles, due $3.4
million in base salary in 2014, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you New Orleans for
your support over the past 3 years! I will always be forever grateful. #WhoDat"
The NFL did not release any formal transactions involving Sproles and the Saints
did not immediately comment on the significance of Sproles Twitter post. Sproles
joined the Saints as a free agent in 2011, setting an NFL record for total yards
in a season with 2,696. Last season, Sproles, who routinely catches passes out
of the backfield, accounted for 604 yards and two touchdowns receiving to go
with 220 yards and two TDs rushing.
Maillot Andre-Pierre Gignac France. He returned 29 punts, with his longest return going for 28 yards, and ran back 12
kickoffs, none for more than 32 yards. Moore entered the NFL with Cleveland as
an undrafted free agent out of Toledo in 2005 and joined the Saints practice
squad later that season. "Lance Moore made a significant contribution to our
teams success," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "While his production on paper is
obvious, it only tells half the story. Lance came to us an undrafted rookie who
went to NFL Europe and spent time on our practice squad. He went on to produce
outstanding results on the field for us as a result of his work ethic,
reliability and commitment to get better every day. Hes been one of the pillars
of what we have built here as an organization." In 2008, he was New Orleans
leading receiver with 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. While he was
hurt for much of the 2009 season, he returned in time to help the Saints win
their only championship. He made a difficult catch and dived for the pylon on a
2-point conversion that gave New Orleans a 24-17 lead over Indianapolis in the
fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. The Saints went on to win by two touchdowns
after Tracy Porters late interception return for a score. Moore had his last
1,000-yard season in 2012, when he made 65 catches for 1,021 yards and six TDs.
Last season, however, Moore began to lose playing time to rookie receiver
Kenny Stills and finished with 37 catches for 457 yards and two TDs, his lowest
output in four seasons. Moore was due $3.1 million in base salary in 2014, so
releasing him provides New Orleans more flexibility under the salary cap as it
seeks to re-sign star free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham to a long-term
extension.
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