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It is finally time to exhale after the long journey that is the NHL season. Wholesale Jerseys China .It started what seems like a million years ago with preparation for training camp back in September. And now, thanks to new wrinkles in the collective bargaining agreement that allow free agents to discuss potential new homes with teams before the opening of the free-agency bazaar, the 2015-16 season, for all intents and purposes, ended on July 1.Did we mention exhaling?There still isnt much of an offseason in the traditional sense of the word. And, to be sure, plenty of teams need to get their collective houses in order before training camp rolls around in two months. Several teams, however, already find themselves in a pretty darned comfortable position heading into next season, having -- at least on paper -- assembled the deck chairs in a pleasing manner. Heres a look at some of the clubs that fall into each category as summer, true and proper, is upon us.Teams that can take a breatherNew Jersey DevilsThis isnt to suggest that the Devils, who have missed the playoffs every season since surprisingly advancing to the 2012 Stanley Cup finals, are a lock to finish in the top eight in the Eastern Conference next season. But you have to admire the work done by general manager Ray Shero in wheeling and dealing and finessing his lineup into a position where a postseason berth is very much a possibility.First, Shero did what is so difficult to do in the NHL: add guaranteed offense via trade. By acquiring one of the NHLs top left wingers in Taylor Hall, the 2010 first-overall draft pick who should be pretty motivated to prove the Edmonton Oilers wrong, Shero has provided a critical scoring catalyst. The Devils were dead last in goals per game last season, yet they hung around the playoff fringes until March. So if you figure in 30 goals from Hall, all of a sudden New Jersey is a different team.The deal cost the Devils top young defenseman Adam Larsson?-- and they also lost the useful David Schlemko (see below) to San Jose -- but they brought in Ben Lovejoy, whom Shero knows from their days in Pittsburgh. Lovejoy was an important cog in the Penguins defensive machine, which helped spur them to a Stanley Cup championship in June. Add in a nice complementary player like Vernon Fiddler, and you have to like how the Devils are trending.San Jose SharksIts been quite the renaissance for San Jose GM Doug Wilson, who seemed to have lost control of the ship a couple of years ago after the Sharks choked up a 3-0 first-round series lead against the Los Angeles Kings and then missed the playoffs the following year.This season, however, the Sharks reached their first Stanley Cup finals, and Wilson isnt resting on his laurels. He signed the aforementioned Schlemko to bolster a defense that wasnt quite good enough against Pittsburgh -- and did so at an affordable $8.4 million over four years. The Sharks also added a healthy dose of speed up front by signing free-agent winger Mikkel Boedker to a four-year deal that will pay the 2008 eighth-overall draft pick $4 million annually. This is a calculated risk for Wilson, as Boedker has never hit the 20-goal mark. But the native of Denmark will play with a talented forward group in San Jose, which bodes well for his goal production.Boedker, 26, is also familiar with Sharks coach Pete DeBoer, having thrived while playing for DeBoer in the OHL. San Jose also locked up?Tomas Hertl, who was injured for most of the finals. The Sharks signed the 22-year-old to a two-year bridge deal worth $2.8 million in the first year and $3.2 million in the second year, for a team-friendly $3 million cap hit. Hertl had a strong postseason before his knee injury. If, as some believed, the Sharks were vulnerable to taking a step back after their memorable run to the finals, Wilson seems to have assured that wont be the case.Tampa Bay LightningThe Lightning werent among the team that waded into free-agent waters on Friday, but by the end of the day they might have accomplished as much, maybe more, than any other team in the league.After ending months of suspense -- and more than a little angst for Lightning fans -- by signing captain Steven Stamkos to an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million annually on Wednesday, Steve Yzerman solidified his status as a GM deity by locking up defenseman Victor Hedman to an eight-year deal with a cap hit of $7.875 million per year on Friday. Both Stamkos and Hedman left millions of dollars on the table in terms of what they could have earned by becoming unrestricted free agents -- Stamkos could have hit the market on Friday, while Hedman would have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. But both committed long term to a team they believe is championship-caliber.Then, as if he hadnt already done enough, Yzerman locked up goalie of the future (or the now?),?Andrei Vasilevskiy, to a three-year extension at a very manageable $3.5 million annually. The contract does seem to suggest that the Lightning will be looking to move Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop, who is entering the final year of his contract. But, regardless, the Lightning have secured the kind of building-block players that suggest more deep playoff runs are in the offing.No vacation for youNew York IslandersOn Friday, I took issue with the relative lack of activity by the New York Rangers as they enter a period of uncertainty regarding their lineup. Speaking of New York-area teams that dont seem to have a plan in place yet: The Islanders very early on indicated they werent interested in keeping winger?Kyle Okposo. So Okposo signed a seven-year deal worth $42 million with the Buffalo Sabres.Center?Frans Nielsen also departed, signing a six-year deal worth $5.25 million annually with the Detroit Red Wings, and forward?Matt Martin signed a four-year deal to serve as mentor and protector of some sort for the young Toronto Maple Leafs.Letting them escape was one thing, although you do hate to see your former guys stay in the same conference. Still, Im not sure how replacing those players with 30-year-old Andrew Ladd, at $5.5 million per year for seven years, and 37-year-old Jason Chimera, who signed?a two-year deal worth a total of $4.5 million, represents forward progress. I love Ladds dressing-room presence, but hes two years older than Okposo. So at the very best its a wash. I likewise love Chimeras ageless enthusiasm and durability, but given his advanced age, its hard not see this as a team thats tracking sideways at a most inopportune time, considering that the Islanders are coming off their first playoff-series win since 1993.Furthermore, are they content heading into next season with Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak as their goaltending tandem -- especially given that Greiss, who was stellar in the playoffs, has never been a full-time starter and Halak is perpetually one step away from the disabled list?Anaheim DucksJuly 1 was a very quiet day for the Ducks, who saw Jamie McGinn, David Perron and Chris Stewart depart the nest, as it were, for the?Arizona Coyotes and St. Louis Blues, respectively, but did little else.That doesnt mean that GM Bob Murray, who earlier this spring rehired Randy Carlyle for a second turn as Ducks head coach, wont be busier later this summer. In fact, theres lots left on Murrays plate as he tries to figure out what to do with his glut of NHL-caliber young defensemen and looks to fill a hole or two up front.I know that defenseman?Cam Fowler has been in play for some time now as he heads into the final season of his contract. Its possible the asking price for Fowler will come down as the summer progresses. But Murray is going to have to move assets to make this all work. Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell need new contracts as restricted free agents, and the team is without a backup goalie after trading Frederik Andersen to Toronto earlier this spring. That leaves youngster John Gibson as Anaheims lone, NHL-ready netminder.The Ducks remain a team that should be considered a Western Conference power but, unfortunately for Murray, he still has work to do before he can put his feet up and take a summer break. Cheap Jerseys China Authentic . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. NFL Jerseys Factory . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. http://www.stitchedcheapnfljerseyschina.com/ . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. SEATTLE -- Chris Petersen is at the front of the pack thats wondering whether Washington is really the No. 8 team in the country.Talk to me (after) Game 6, and then maybe well have another conversation, Petersen said this week. I didnt even know that until you told me. Thats how important it is to me. Our fans are really important so however we can play good football to inspire them is awesome. But its way too early to be talking about that (rankings) stuff.While Petersen would rather the rankings -- and the expectations that come with them -- would disappear, Washington is again a Top 10 program headed into Saturdays matchup with Idaho.The No. 8 ranking for the Huskies (1-0) is their highest since 2001 when they also reached No. 8 in the polls before losing at Oregon State. And this week marks the first of what is expected to be two glorified scrimmages for the Huskies prior to the start of Pac-12 play. After hosting Idaho, the Huskies play Portland State before opening the conference season at Arizona.That means the ranking isnt likely to change over the next couple of weeks and the hype surrounding the Huskies is only going to grow.Idaho (1-0) is beginning a two-week stretch of playing schools from its neighboring state. The Vandals will make the eight-mile trip to Pullman next week to face Washington State.They have all the ingredients you need to have a good football team, Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. Theyve got fast receivers, good quarterback, good running back, they do a good job up front on the offensive line ... and then defensively theyre good at all three levels.Here are other things to watch as the Vandals and Huskies meet for the first time since 2009:GASKIN GOING: If there was anything disappointing about the Huskies opener, it was the problems Washington had getting the run going. It became a moot point because of how well the rest of the offense played, but the Huskies managed just 91 yards rushing. Myles Gaskin, coming off a 1,302-yard season last year, was limited to 57 yards on 15 carriies. Cheapest Jerseys. Most frustrating for Washington was the inability to get the run going in the third quarter when the Huskies had a 34-3 lead.The 91 yards rushing were the fewest in the previous 10 games and just the fourth time under Petersen that Washington was held under 100 yards.If people are going to load up and bring those safeties downhill and try and stop the run, then hopefully we can throw the ball a little bit over their heads, Petersen said. Its a cat-and-mouse game. But I think we can run the ball better.PICK UP THE PASSING: Idahos Matt Linehan was the most accurate passer in the Sun Belt Conference last season, completing 63 percent of his attempts.You wouldnt know that from the Vandals opener. Linehan was just 8 of 22 passing for 128 yards and an interception against Montana State, well off his average of more than 270 yards per game last season.EXCITING PUNTING: Fans will be watching one of the best punters in the country when Idahos Austin Rehkow is on the field. And given how good Washingtons defense is, Rehkow should have more than a few opportunities to show off his leg. Rehkow is on preseason watch lists for the Ray Guy and Lou Groza awards. He made 23 of 27 field goal attempts last season and averaged 45.7 yards per punt. Rehkow made both of his field goal attempts in the opener against Montana State.He needs to have a great day. Ideally we would like them to have no returns, Petrino said.Last week, Washingtons John Ross returned a kickoff for a touchdown and Dante Pettis returned a punt for a score.VANDAL REUNION: Petersen knows the Idaho program quite well. He was unbeaten in six games against Idaho while coaching at Boise State. But the series ended on a sour note after Boise State moved to the Mountain West. The two schools have not played since 2010.You always enjoy your rivalry games, Petersen said. And certainly when it was at Boise that was a big one. ' ' '
