was expected to play one more minor league rehab gam

MONTREAL -- Holding the third overall draft pick made things relatively simple for Marc Bergevin a year ago at his first NHL draft as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. This time may be trickier, as Bergevin and his staff go into Sundays draft holding the 25th overall pick. However, having six picks in the first three rounds could make it interesting. "Last year we only had two picks before ours and we had a good idea of what we were going to do," said Bergevin, who selected forward Alex Galchenyuk. "This year, its completely different." And this time there is unexpected extra pressure on Bergevin in the form of centre Vincent Lecavalier. Montreal fans are pushing hard for the Canadiens to sign Lecavalier, who entered the unrestricted free agent market on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they were buying out 33-year-olds hefty contract. The Canadiens have not had a French-Canadian star in many years, and Lecavalier would fit that bill. They also want to get bigger up front, and Lecavalier is six-foot-four. And, with 20 players signed and $9 million in salary cap space open, they should be able to afford him. Even Mathieu Darche, a former Canadien and Lightning, urged Bergevin on his blog for RDS to sign the slick centre who scored 52 goals in 2006-07. The temptation to make a play for his former teammate in Tampa would have to be enormous, even if it seems to go against Bergevins philosophy. Only a week ago, Bergevin said he was leery of using free agency for anything but acquiring role players to fill gaps in the roster, as he did last summer with Brandon Prust and Colby Armstrong. "To me, free agency is a tool, but its not a way to make your team a top team," he said. "Its overplayed. You have to be really careful with free agency." He does not rule out making a deal to move up in the draft, however. The Canadiens have three second round picks, including the 34th and 36th overall from previous deals, as well as their own 55th pick. They also draft 71st and 86th overall in the third round. "I can say were always looking to improve our position, but theres a price to pay," he said. "You dont build a team through free agency or trades, you build it through the draft. And you need to be patient with these guys. Look at the teams that have success, like Chicago. The core of their players, most of them came through the draft. And it took years for them to become the elite team they are now. Its not a secret recipe, how to build a hockey team." He gave no indication on what sort of players he and scouting director Trevor Timmins are looking for. After his smaller-than-average team was eliminated in the first round of playoffs by Ottawa, he said he would like more "balance" between big and small players. So they may look for some bigger bodies. The organization is also thin on goalies, having not drafted one since they took Petteri Simla 211th overall in 2009. They have selected only two since they got Carey Price fifth overall in 2005. So they may be tempted by Halifax Mooseheads goalie Zach Fucale. There are a handful of other prospects from Quebec who may be available if that is a consideration, including defenceman Samuel Morin and forwards Laurent Dauphin, Anthony Mantha and perhaps Frederik Gauthier. The flashy Jonathan Drouin, expected to go in the top five, is likely out of their reach. Bergevin said it would take more than offering a first and second round pick to move up that high. "Its not just to draft the players available, but to draft the players you like," he said. "If you can move up and get that player, and it comes at a price you feel is not too steep, then I will do that." What he has to offer is other draft picks. "Especially in the early second (round)," he said. "The 34th and 36th. Those are really good picks. Theyre appealing picks." Montreal has its best collection of picks since it had five in the top 73 in 2007. That year, they got Ryan McDonagh (now a New York Ranger) 12th, Max Pacioretty 22nd, Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban 43rd and defenceman Yannick Weber 73rd. Their off-season moves so far include buying out rearguard Tomas Kaberle and signing depth defenceman Davis Drewiske to a new deal. Andrija Novakovich Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Chris Pontius Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. http://www.soccerusateamonline.com/Jozy-Altidore-Copa-America-Jersey/ . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Antonee Robinson USA Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Jozy Altidore USA Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddons decision to lift a dominant Jason Hammel for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning looked dubious when Miguel Montero struck out and Pedro Strop got into trouble in the seventh.All it took was a big play in the outfield and some 104 mph heat from Aroldis Chapman to give Maddon and the Cubs another win.Hammel threw six scoreless innings, Dexter Fowler had three hits and Chicago beat Miami ace Jose Fernandez and the Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night for its third straight victory.Today I was a one-pitch pitcher, said Hammel, who allowed four hits and set a career high for wins in a season. I didnt really have a feel for any of the breaking pitches, curveball and the slider, and I didnt throw any changeups. The fastball played well today.Hammel (11-5) extended Chicagos scoreless streak to 24 innings before Strops shaky seventh. Aroldis Chapman hit 104.4 mph on the radar gun in a perfect ninth as the Cubs won for the sixth time in seven games and opened a nine-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central.Were playing really good baseball, Maddon said.Hammel threw 80 pitches before being lifted for a pinch-hitter with the Cubs up 3-0, a move Maddon calls a National League moment. But Montero struck out with two on.We took a shot, it didnt play, Maddon said.Fernandez (12-6) allowed three runs and eight hits over six innings, losing consecutive starts for the first time since his 2013 rookie season.This may sound funny, but I felt strong today, Fernandez said. I was making good pitches. This is a good team.Fowler was his nemesis. He led off the first with a triple and scored on catcher Willson Contreras single. Batting Contreras second worked for Maddon, as Fowler and Contreras had consecutive hits again in the third to produce another run.He was involved in almost everything tonight, Maddon said of Fowler.The center fielder added an RBI single in the fifth off Fernandez, who fanned eight and took over the major league lead with 192 strikeouts.Adeiny Hechavarria and J.T. Realmuto each hit an RBI single in the seventh off Strop, who also committed a throwing error. Travis Wood rreplaced him and Chris Coghlans diving catch of Christian Yelichs looping liner to left field with two on ended the threat.ddddddddddddormer Cubs closer Hector Rondon picked off pinch-runner Dee Gordon from first in a scoreless eighth.Then Chapman entered and used his blazing fastball to strike out one and earn his second save in three tries since being acquired from the Yankees.Its coming out hot, but its easy when you have that kind of guy throwing a fastball straight, Contreras said. Its harder when you have 97 (mph) with sink. But I mean, its unbelievable.ICHIRO UPDATEIchiro Suzuki struck out pinch-hitting for Fernandez in the seventh, leaving him at 2,998 hits. Suzuki is expected to start Wednesdays series finale against RHP John Lackey. Suzukis 37 hits against Lackey are his most off any pitcher.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) went 0 for 3 for Triple-A New Orleans was expected to play one more minor league rehab game Wednesday before returning Friday at Colorado.Cubs: Second-year slugger Kris Bryant wasnt in the lineup. It didnt matter who was pitching today as long as he was right-handed, Maddon said. I wanted to give him the day off.IDEAL TRADENot only did new Cubs reliever Joe Smith go from the struggling Los Angeles Angels to a contender, hes now just a short flight or 4 1/2-hour drive from his ailing mother in Cincinnati. Lee Smith, 56, is battling Huntingtons disease, an inherited, fatal disorder that causes cognitive and physical impairment.Its nice, Joe Smith said. Traveling is hard and those flights take a lot out of her.RHP Spencer Patton was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Smith, acquired Monday.PHELPS ON FRIDAYMarlins manager Don Mattingly said RHP David Phelps will move into the rotation and start Friday against the Rockies. Hell replace RHP Colin Rea, who was traded back to San Diego on Monday.UP NEXTMarlins RHP Tom Koehler (8-8, 4.18 ERA) returns from a pectoral injury and faces Lackey (8-7, 3.69) to close the season series. ' ' '