The New York Islanders signed a goaltender to a long-term deal, signifying their expectation that they will be better next season. [url=http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Isaiah-Oliver-Jersey/]Isa iah Oliver Falcons Jersey[/url] . Numbers Game looks at the Islanders securing the services of Jar

The New York Islanders signed a goaltender to a long-term deal, signifying their expectation that they will be better next season. Isaiah Oliver Falcons Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the Islanders securing the services of Jaroslav Halak. The Islanders Get: G Jaroslav Halak. Halak, 29, was going to be one of the best free agent goaltenders available this summer when the Islanders made a pre-emptive move to acquire him from Washington. While there are ups-and-down in Halaks game from year to year, over the past five years, he has the third-best save percentage among goaltenders with at least 200 games played. Over the same time period, Halak has a .927 save percentage during 5-on-5 play, which puts him in pretty good company. As noted, there have been ups and downs in Halaks performance, with the worst of the downs his 2012-2013 season -- an injury-plagued season in which he finished with an .899 save percentage in 16 games. In every other season, since 2008-2009, Halaks save percentage has ranged from .910 to .926, so there is a good chance that he can provide above-average goaltending for the Islanders and that would represent a significant upgrade. Using Hockey References Goals Saved Above Average, for example, Halak has saved approximately 42 goals above average over the past five years and will effectively be replacing Evgeni Nabokov, who is 11.51 goals above average over those same five years (one of which was spent in Russia), so just on average over those seasons, Halak would provide a five-to-six goal difference and factoring in that Nabokov is 38 and Halak is 29, its clear that Halak is likely to have superior numbers over the next four seasons. Halak signed for four years and $18-million, which is entirely reasonable for a starting goaltender. His cap hit of $4.5-million ranks 15th among goaltenders already signed for next season. The decision to sign Halak and, on the same day, announce that they would be keeping this years first-round pick (meaning that the Islanders 2015 first-round pick goes to Buffalo) is a clear indication that the Islanders expect to rebound from this down season and, believe it or not, thats a perfectly reasonable decision. They finished 19th in Fenwick Close (unblocked 5-on-5 shot attempts, within one goal in first two periods, tied in third), which is a good measure for puck possession and did so with several notable injuries and players departing via trade, so its fair to think that the Islanders can be a middle of the pack club, with goaltending offering the chance to be a bit above average or, if it goes wrong again, below average. Those expectations will put Halak in the spotlight, but his track record is strong enough to justify the Islanders investment. The Capitals Get: A fourth-round pick. While Halak played well for Washington, after coming over in trade from St. Louis, posting a .930 save percentage in a dozen games, its also not a surprise that Washington might not be inclined to keep him long-term. After all, the Capitals already have Braden Holtby, who has a .919 save percentage in 105 career games, as well as prospect Philip Grubauer (.924 SV% in 19 GP with Capitals) waiting in the wings, so there wasnt a lot of upside to spending on Halak. Of course, this decision cant entirely ignore the fact that the Capitals dont have a general manager since firing George McPhee. Brian MacLellan made out quite well in the interim, however, securing a fourth-round pick in exchange for negotiatiing rights to an asset that the Capitals apparently didnt intend to keep. There isnt a lot of value to a fourth-round pick, maybe a 15% chance that it turns into an NHL player, but for a player that could provide zero value to Washington next season, thats well-played. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . Grilli hasnt pitched since straining his left oblique in late April. Manager Clint Hurdle says the right-hander will make a couple of appearances in middle relief before the team determines whether to return Grilli to the back end of the bullpen. Brandon Fusco Jersey . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Isaiah-Oliver-Jersey/ .J. Fair didnt have many chances to be the main option for Syracuse last season.SEATTLE - Coming off its best season, the Seattle Sounders signed Sigi Schmid to a multi-year contract on Thursday, keeping around the only coach in franchise history.General manager Adrian Hanauer announced Schmids new deal during an end-of-season news conference. The Sounders were eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs last Sunday by Los Angeles.Sigi will be around for the foreseeable future. Were very happy to have him as a coach, Hanauer said.Terms of the deal were not released.Schmid joined Seattle before its inaugural 2009 season and has led the team to three U.S. Open Cup titles and this years Supporters Shield as the best team in the regular season. Schmid won MLS Cup titles with Los Angeles in 2002 and Columbus in 2008. The Supporters Shield title with Seattle was the third time leading a team to that honour.Last off-season there was debate about whether Schmid would return in 2014 after a late-season collapse by the Sounders. Schmid stayed and Seattle responded by being the best regular season team in the MLS.I was happy to come here when I came here in 2009 and I havent regretted a moment that Ive been here, Schmid said. Im sure sometime the fans have but I havent regretted a moment.Schmid, 61, coached previously at UCLA and has been a U.S. national team coach for the younger divisions in his coaching career. Schmid has not decided how much longer he wants to coach.Theres nothing I want to do more than bring an MLS Cup to this city and these fans, Schmid said. Deadrin Senat Jersey. Knowing I have the opportunity to continue to do that is something Im excited about and Im looking forward to.Hanauer also announced that its highly, highly likely defender DeAndre Yedlin will obtain a work permit in England and expects him to join Tottenham later in December. Yedlin signed a four-year deal with Tottenham in August, with the agreement that Yedlin would remain with the Sounders through the completion of the 2014 season.Yedlin burst onto the international scene with his performance for the United States during the World Cup. At 21 years old, his speed as a defender on the outside or a midfielder immediately drew attention from clubs around the world. Yedlin was linked to numerous teams before finally settling on Tottenham.Hes going to continue to grow, continue to improve and we wish him nothing but the best as he moves forward to Tottenham, Schmid said. Hes a player who is attentive and committed and thats the reason hes been successful.NOTES: Seattle D Zach Scott will undergo off-season foot surgery and is contemplating retirement. Scott is 34 and has been with various incarnations of the Sounders since 2002. ... GK Marcus Hahnemann has indicated his plans to retire. Hahnemann, 42, played in England for more than a decade before returning to the Sounders in 2012. 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