batting practice cuts.Needless

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ANAHEIM – Teemu Selanne wanted to do something nice for Sami Vatanen. His fellow Finn, 21 years his junior, had just arrived in Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the Ducks. The way Selanne saw it, if Vatanen was going to make it in southern California, he needed to have his own wheels. So the future Hall of Famer, an avid car collector, decided to lend Vatanen, a smooth-skating defenceman, one of his. A Mercedes CLK to be precise. "I havent seen it in a year-and-a-half," Selanne said with a chuckle. "I dont know if I like that car actually," Vatanen said with a big smile, "but its free." Selanne and Saku Koivu, another Finnish veteran, have mentored Vatanen, Anaheims fourth round pick in 2009, over the last couple of years. Koivu and his wife Hanna, for example, helped Vatanen get his apartment set up. "You can tell that both of them have taken Sami under their wing," said Ducks defenceman Ben Lovejoy. "Hes not even their little brother, hes sort of their son." Told of that statement, the 43-year-old Selanne doesnt miss a beat noting, "He could be." The groundwork laid by Selanne and Koivu paid dividends in the regular season as Vatanen was the third leading scorer among Ducks defencemen picking up 21 points in just 48 games. "Its a big thing," said Vatanen. "Ive been watching those guys for a while. It was fun to get a chance to play with them and its more fun even in the playoffs." Vatanen played in just nine of Anaheims final 32 regular-season games and started the playoffs in the minors with Norfolk in the American Hockey League. He was recalled in time for Game 3 of the series with the Los Angeles Kings making an immediate impact. Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau even went so far as to label the youngster the best player on the ice on either team on Thursday night. Vatanen didnt slow down in his second career NHL playoff game on Saturday night, picking up his first post-season point, an assist on Ryan Getzlafs power play goal. He was also on the ice for Devante Smith-Pellys goal earlier in the period. "Just some confidence on the back end," said Lovejoy when asked what Vatanen brings to the table. "Getting offence against the Kings is difficult and having another smart puck mover back there is only going to put our forwards in better position to create offence." It is the 5-foot-10, 183-pound Vatanens gutsy play, which impresses Selanne the most. "Hes a warrior out there," said Selanne. "Hes not the biggest guy out there, but he doesnt avoid the traffic. Hes putting himself in a situation where hes going to get hit and give hits. Its fun to watch when young guys and small guys can do that. And obviously the way he can see the game and pass. He can make a huge difference." Selanne is nearing the end of his decorated career and takes great pride in being able to help an up-and-coming Finnish player find his way. After all, it was Teppo Numminen who helped a young Selanne navigate some early-career growing pains in Winnipeg. "I remember how much he helped me and thats why I want to do my job as well. And its fun and you see how much they appreciate it and how life is easier when you have help here and there," Selanne said. "Thats what we have done for years. Its so much easier for a young guy when theres a countryman who wants to help and makes things easier and gets you settled down. Thats a very important part of our job." In a way, Selannes career has come full circle as he passes the torch to the next rising Finnish star on the Ducks. So, did Numminen lend Selanne a car back in the day? "Actually, I let him drive my car," Selanne said with a grin. Some things never change. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The Sochi organizing committee said in Fridays statement that the torch relay reached the North Pole on Oct. 19. Russian Polar explorer Artur Chilingarov, who led the mission, lit a special bowl at the North Pole sign. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. The Calgary Stampeders announced both moves on Wednesday. Parker played 17 regular season games with the Stampeders in 2013, setting career-highs in catches (21) and yards (217). Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .C. - Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Danny Granger, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are still not ready to play and will miss Wednesday nights game against the Charlotte Hornets. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Gordon reportedly failed another drug test and is facing a one-year ban. Gordon led the NFL in yards receiving last season despite being suspended two games for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy.ST. LOUIS - Jon Jay will undergo left wrist surgery later this week, the lone major medical issue facing the St. Louis Cardinals coming off a fourth straight NL Championship Series.MRI exams on Adam Wainwrights sore elbow and Michael Wachas shoulder both came back clean, and the team anticipates theyll be 100 per cent for spring training. Those two and six-time All-Star catcher Yadier Molina, who missed seven weeks with a torn thumb ligament and had his post-season cut short by an oblique injury, are expected to benefit most from rest.General manager John Mozeliak said Monday that Wainwright felt great in his last start. Of Wacha, the GM said even the doctors were a little surprised how well he looked.The front office believes the Cardinals can contend for a fifth straight deep October run next year without making significant upgrades. The rotation is deep with or without lefty Jaime Garcia, an unknown quantity after undergoing tricky thoracic outlet surgery, and the lineup with emerging Kolten Wong and Matt Adams figures to be more consistent.Jays procedure appears routine with a recovery period of 6-8 weeks. The elbow began bothering Jay in late July but he finished strong by cutting down on batting practice cuts.Needless to say, the results were fabulous, Mozeliak said.Jay also had his strongest season defensively and heads to spring training as the starter. Last season, he had to wrest the job from newcomer Peter Bourjos.Right field is up for grabs between rookies Randal Grichuk, who emerged down the stretch, and Oscar Taveras, their perennial top prospect. The team wasnt pleased with Taveras conditioning and lackadaisical defence and are sending himm to the teams spring complex in Jupiter, Florida, to train for a month and then to winter ball in the Dominican Republic.ddddddddddddI think he can be a star, manager Mike Matheny said. Hes never been pushed and never naturally had that passion.Mozeliak pointed out Taveras got a lot of starting time when he was first called up, but didnt do enough to keep the job.Oscar got every opportunity, the GM said. And guess what, he didnt perform.Setup man Pat Neshek and former closer Jason Motte are among five players due for free agency, along with pitcher Justin Masterson, backup catcher A.J. Pierzynski and second baseman Mark Ellis.Matheny was unwavering in his support of closer Trevor Rosenthal, who had control issues in his first full season in that role. Mozeliak, too, although he noted: He certainly gave me an ulcer.Matheny said his confidence in his players has been interpreted as blind faith, and added, Im not going to deny that. They lived up to that faith, overcoming injuries to Molina, Garcia, Allen Craig and Kevin Siegrist to repeat as NL Central champions, then beat the Dodgers in the division series.The manager was criticized for game management decisions that backfired in the post-season, with the insertion of Wacha in the ninth inning of Game 5 at the top of the list. He didnt seem to mind too much after the fact. He said would call for Wacha out of the bullpen again even though hed been idle throughout the post-season.I really liked Michael in that situation, Matheny said. I was quick to point out I put him in a tough spot.Matheny anticipated no coaching changes. Bench coach Mike Aldrete has been mentioned for various openings. ' ' '