NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom issued a memo to his on-ice officials on Wednesday, instructing that they start calling a delay of game penalty on any player who ignores a warning to conform to the now-enforced equipment standards. Youth Colts Jerseys . And Carolinas Alex Semin felt the brunt of this call, receiving a two-minute penalty for having his sweater tucked into his pants late in the first period of the Hurricanes preseason game against Columbus. According to the leagues mandate - which gained traction last March at the NHLs general managers meetings - players will be warned and then penalized if they intentionally ignore protocol. Penalties may also be called on players who dont have their hockey pants properly zippered, or for those who choose to play with their sleeves rolled to their elbow pads. Safety concerns are the primary reason for closely monitoring how a player adjusts his sleeves or pants, but the managers issues with those who choose tuck their sweater in speaks more to marketing and identification of the players and his number. And cue the Wayne Gretzky eye roll. By todays standard, every NHL player will have to have his sweater properly draped over his pants and covering all hard equipment...otherwise, he will face the wrath of the fashion poli...er, the referees. Now without question, NHL officials do not - and will not - like having to call these penalties, but league sources insist they will not back off and hope the more penalties called in the preseason will translate into fewer calls in the regular season as the players conform. As an aside, I watched a Pee Wee AAA team practice on Wednesday and counted 11 of 15 skaters with their sweaters tucked. Most of these boys have no idea why they do it, other than they think it looks cool and - of course - Alex Ovechkin wears his sweater that way. Or, did. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking toward a final decision on the use of hybrid icing in the upcoming regular season. The NHLPA has to sign off on the change before it can be officially implemented. The PA intends on gathering feedback from players starting next week, but no decision has been made by the players as to how the intel will be gathered. While its too soon to predict how the players will act on the matter in the days ahead, theres reason to believe they will opt to stay with status quo and reject hybrid icing. ----- New Yorks Derek Stepan and Torontos Cody Franson are continuing their hardball approach as both restricted free agents remain at an impasse in contract negotiations. Given the state of discussions, Stepan - New Yorks top centre last season - is unlikely to be on the Rangers roster when they open Oct. 3 in Phoenix. Sources say that Stepan remains locked on a bridge deal that would pay him $3.5 million per year, while New York would happily sign off on a two-year agreement at $3 million per. Doesnt sound like much, but cap teams like the Rangers are crunching every dollar to comply. While the Rangers see a great future in Stepan, they also like their depth up the middle with Brad Richards, Derick Brassard, Brian Boyle and Dominic Moore. Toronto seems just as happy to start the season without Cody Franson and unless their hand is forced by an offer sheet, the team could let Franson sit for an extended period - as in weeks or months. The Leafs have offered Franson a two-year deal at just under $2.4 million and sound unwilling to accept Fransons counter of a one-year contract unless the money comes in at $2 million or less. Unlikely. Franson deserves more, but if Toronto gives in on a one-year contract, Franson regains arbitration rights next summer - one year out from unrestricted free agency - which puts the Leafs in a very vulnerable bargaining position. Replacing Franson in the lineup is tough, but the addition of Paul Ranger - combined with the potential of Morgan Rielly and Andrew MacWilliam - is fueling the Leafs brass to hold its ground in this dispute. ----- The NHLs Board of Governors meet on Monday in New York. As per usual, this meeting will serve as a state of the NHL update. Franchise matters ranging from the expected sale of the Florida Panthers, the sale of the New Jersey Devils and the latest on the Ilitch familys ownership transfer in Detroit will be covered by the commissioners office. Some around the league expect future expansion to find its way into discussions at the board level on Monday as well. If Seattles plan to construct a new building is followed through, its believed Seattle will remain of interest to the NHL. However, sources say there isnt going to be a major expansion plan or push given the improved financial stability of all 30 NHL teams anytime soon. Until next time... Braden Smith Stitched Jersey . He was with the New York Jets in 2011 when the NFL locked out their players after they failed to agree on a new contract. Willy went undrafted but was given a look by four NFL teams before heading north. Black Colts Jerseys . Their 9-19 record remains identical to the crosstown rivals in Brooklyn and trails both Toronto and Boston in the Atlantic Division. Raymond Felton, their declining point guard, is back on the sideline nursing his third injury of the season. http://www.officialcoltsnflauthenticshop.com/zaire-franklin-stitched-jersey/ . The Miami Heat star tops the leagues global list of top-selling jerseys for the 2012-13 season, edging Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and James Heat teammate Dwyane Wade for the No.TORONTO - When a Vancouver Whitecaps training session ended this week newcomer Mauro Rosales remained on the field doing some extra work with Kekuta Manneh. Rosales, the veteran Argentine midfielder acquired last week in a trade with Chivas USA, was the teacher and Manneh, the speedy Gambian left-wing, was an eager pupil. The two worked on some patterns which would allow Manneh to create space for himself and hopefully help generate more goals, something the Whitecaps desperately need as they prepare to face the Portland Timbers on Saturday night at BC Place Stadium in a Major League Soccer match that has playoff implications for both teams. "We are working on some tactics, how to break them down," said Manneh, 19. "We need to score goals. "Our whole team is doing a good job defensive wise. Its just attacking wise we need to figure something out and score more goals for the team." The Whitecaps (7-5-12) hold the fifth and final playoff spot in the MLSs Western Conference with 33 points, two ahead of the Timbers (7-8-10). The Colorado Rapids are also in the mix, sitting in seventh spot with 30 points. Vancouver has 10 regular-season games remain while Portland has nine. Both teams are coming off losses. Vancouver dropped a 2-0 decision to the L.A. Galaxy last weekend while the Timbers were beaten 4-2 by Seattle. The Whitecaps also won 4-3 in Portland the last time the teams met in June, their first MLS win over their Cascadia rivals. "Its a massive game for us," said Vancouver coach Carl Robinson. "We beat them in their own backyard earlier in the season. "We have to make sure we come with the same intensity. We have to bounce back. I think it was an OK performance against L.A. but I dont think we deserved to win. We have to make sure we do deserve to win and we get the win." Portland coach Caleb Porter said his team cant afford to squander any chance to pick up points, especially against a squad above them in the standings. "We have to keep fighting and grinding," Porter told reporters in Portland. "This game was going to be important whether we won against Seattle or not. "We have to get ready for Vancouver. The next nine games are going to determine whether or not we get in (the playoffs). Its probably going to come down to whether or not we get more points in the next nine games than Vancouver gets in the next 10." The Whitecaps have just two wins in their last 10 games (2-3-5). During that span Vancouver has managed just eight goals and has been scoreless four times, including three times in the lasst four games. Daurice Fountain Stitched Jersey. Vancouver has speed up front with players like Manneh, Darren Mattocks and Erik Hurtado. One of the reasons the Whitecaps acquired Rosales was to insert a veteran into the lineup with a touch for delivering the ball and setting up scoring chances. Much of the playmaking has fallen to Pedro Morales — who leads the Whitecaps with nine assists — but Rosales will add some balance and poise. Prior to joining Chivas this year, Rosales spent three MLS seasons with Seattle, recording 12 goals and 34 assists in 86 matches. Since 2011, the 33-year-old has 42 assists, the second most in MLS. He started 16 of 21 games for Chivas, collecting eight assists. Manneh, who has struggled since suffering a pre-season back injury, has managed three goals this season but Rosales believes he has the ability to score more often. "Im just trying to be helpful," Rosales said. "He has the right energy and a lot of quality in his feet. "He just needs some advice. Not just him but everybody on the field needs to be organized, in good shape for these important games." Rosales has only been with the Whitecaps a week his influence is already being felt. "We definitely need this kind of player on the team," said Manneh. "All our attacking players have speed. Hes a different kind of player. Hes more of a playmaker and very tactical. Hes technically disciplined. If we can have a playmaker like him and Pedro deliver us the balls there wont be any excuses. I am really excited to play with him." So far Robinson has liked what hes seen from Rosales. "He has excellent delivery, excellent distribution," said the coach. "He brings a little bit of guile we have probably been lacking the last couple of games." At the start of the season the Whitecaps rained goals, scoring 16 in the first 10 games. Robinson said the recent goal drought can partly be attributed to teams playing better defence and his young team dealing with a long season. "If you look at teams through the league they go through periods of time when it doesnt go their way," he said. "Its a work in progress. We are in contention. We played some super stuff at the start of the year. We played some very good stuff recently without getting results. Were not scoring goals and its something we need to address." With both teams feeling the playoff pressure Saturdays game should have some edge. "It will be a high-octane game full of passion," said Robinson. "Tackles will be flying and some good football." Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '