Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk would like to see Bryan Murray raise the Stanley Cup as the clubs general manager. Authentic Alessandro Matri Juventus FC Jersey . After extending Murrays contract through the 2015-16 season, Melnyk also extended that window and put something of a timer on that ultimate goal. "We think that we have all the core group in place," Melnyk said on a conference call Monday. "I think if we were on the same trajectory as we have been over the last few years, that its ultimately going to lead to a championship-type team." Murray, who was given the additional title of president of hockey operations, agreed to serve as an adviser for two seasons after his tenure as general manager is up. After building this group over the past six-plus seasons, he hopes not to have to wait too long for a title. "I think obviously the objective is to do it when Im here as a general manager," Murray said. "The core we have is a very good core, its young." And Murray knows that inexperience can lead to growing pains. The Senators struggled for much of the first half of this season, going 14-17-7 before a recent run put them within two points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Success made working out an extension for Murray easier because Melnyk wanted to negotiate during an "upswing" and "ensure that nobody ever would think that this was some kind of knee-jerk reaction to what was not an optimal beginning to the season." The timing seemingly had more to do with the departure of assistant GM Tim Murray, Bryans nephew, who was hired as the Buffalo Sabres head man last week. In addition to extending Murray, the Senators promoted Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee to assistant general managers. Dorion, who was already in charge of scouting and drafting, takes on contract-negotiation duties, while Lee, who was in charge of player development, also becomes GM of Ottawas AHL affiliate in Binghamton. "Its a great day for all of us going forward," Murray said. More moves could be coming down the line to bolster the hockey operations department, though not on the management side. Murray said the Senators could perhaps use "another set of eyes" in the scouting department. "We lost a pretty good evaluator in Tim, so do we have enough?" Murray said. "I believe we do for now. If we have to do something in the future because of other coverage, then well address it at that time." For now, Murray can go about his job with some extra security. Hes considering moves before the trade deadline to bolster Ottawas playoff hopes, and he and his assistants will have some work to do on current contracts. "We understand that weve got about five players that are important parts of the present team that we have to make a decision on and do a contract for," he said. "Were kind of setting ourselves up to do that." Winger Milan Michalek and defenceman Chris Phillips are set to be unrestricted free agents this summer, while goaltender Robin Lehner will be a restricted free agent. Captain Jason Spezza, winger Bobby Ryan and defenceman Marc Methot are up in the summer of 2015. "As we go forward over the next few months well make contact with the agents and see in a couple cases if we can extend them," Murray said without naming names. "A couple of them we have to wait until July 1. But internally were making those decisions and well be in the best possible position, I believe to do (it), and then it will be up to the players agent to deal with us." Spezza and Ryans deals end a year before Murrays. Melnyk and Murray have discussed potential succession plans, but Monday wasnt the time they wanted to discuss that inevitability. "We just have to now kind of over the next little while evaluate people and decide what may happen," Murray said. "But thats a little ways down the road, and I hope we have a lot of success between now and that decision being made." Andrea Barzagli Juventus FC Jersey . Appearing on TSN 1050 on Monday, Steve Simmons and Darren Dreger weighed in on whether Brendan Shanahan is considering keeping his bench boss, despite earlier statements from Tim Leiweke that the team needed a change in culture. Marco Motta Juventus FC Jersey . They did take one chance on a free agent-to-be however, and it didnt pay off. Rory Kohlert, selected by the Redblacks in the expansion draft from Winnipeg, has signed as a free agent with the Blue Bombers.SAN DIEGO -- Philip Rivers, with a nice bit of defence thrown in, ensured the San Diego Chargers didnt blow another fourth-quarter lead. Rivers threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns, including a 56-yarder to Antonio Gates that helped the Chargers beat the Dallas Cowboys 30-21 Sunday. The Chargers (2-2) blew late leads in their two losses. On Sunday, they scored the final 20 points to beat Dallas (2-2). Running a no-huddle, no-hurry offence under new coach Mike McCoy, Rivers gets to the line of scrimmage with roughly 20 seconds left on the play clock, enough time to read the defence and check into a different play, if necessary. Its a luxury he didnt have in Norv Turners offence. "I feel in sync. I have a rhythm and Im comfortable in the pocket when we get that no-huddle going," Rivers said. "Its big being 2-2 instead of 1-3. I know weve been there before but its tough to dig yourself out of 1-3, especially when youre playing with young guys and guys you didnt expect to be in there. They can gain confidence off games like this." Rivers completed 35 of 42 passes, his final TD pass, to Gates, being the 200th of his career. He threw two TD passes to running back Danny Woodhead. After having three 400-yard games in his previous nine seasons, Rivers has two in this years four games. Rivers 83.3 per cent completion rate was the highest in NFL history for a 400-yard passing game. The previous mark was 81.8 per cent (36 of 44) by San Franciscos Jeff Garcia against Chicago on Dec. 17, 2000. After 35 interceptions the past two seasons, Rivers has been picked off only twice so far while throwing 11 touchdown passes. "It was really what he did throughout the ballgame," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "He did a fantastic job. He really controlled the football and controlled the game. He did an outstanding job getting them into the right play over and over again. "He threw the ball as well as hes thrown in a long, long time." Rivers biggest pass wasnt necessarily his prettiest. He short-armed one over the middle to Gates, who slid behind linebacker Sean Lee to haul it in and score with 6:54 to go. Lee had intercepted Rivers on a deflected pass and returned it 52 yards for a 21-10 lead late in the second quarter. Dallas didnt score again. "We were able to get some looks we thought we could take advantage of," said Gates,, who had 10 catches for 136 yards. Paul Pogba Juventus FC Jersey. "The way he threw that ball, he put it in the right place and I was able to make the play." San Diegos defence came up with a big stop in the final moments. Tony Romo moved the Cowboys to the San Diego 7, where he hit Terrance Williams at the 1. Williams was stretching for the end zone when he was hit by Crezdon Butler and fumbled. San Diegos Richard Marshall recovered for a touchback. A week earlier, Butler was burned on ar 34-yard touchdown pass from Jake Locke to Justin Hunter with 15 seconds to play to give Tennessee a 20-17 victory. Butler was in against the Cowboys because Derek Cox left with a knee injury. "I saw that the ball was a little loose. We learn as a kid you can put a hit on the ball and it comes out," Butler said. "I had no idea he lost it. Then I rolled over and I saw Marshall had it. "Last week was tough and I had to move on from that," Butler added. "Being a defensive back you have a short-term memory. Im glad I made that play today." It was only the second takeaway of the season for San Diego. San Diego trailed 21-10 when Nick Novak started the comeback with a 42-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired. The Chargers took the opening kickoff of the second half and Rivers moved them 80 yards, capping the drive with a 13-yard pass to Woodhead to pull to 21-20. The way Rivers ran the offence, the Cowboys didnt have a chance to come back. They ran only seven offensive plays in the third quarter. "Thats what we see every day," Woodhead said of Rivers. "He was great, but hes always great." After forcing Dallas to punt, San Diego took a 23-21 lead on Novaks 23-yard field goal that capped a drive starting from the Chargers 11. Romo threw touchdown passes of 5 and 34 yards to Dez Bryant in the second quarter, when Dallas scored 21 points. Lee got his interception return for a TD when Rivers was hit by tackle Jason Hatcher as he released the ball. NOTES: Chargers LB Manti Teo made his NFL debut. Hed been out since spraining his right foot in the exhibition opener Aug. 8. ... Chargers OLB Dwight Freeney hurt a quad in the second quarter and didnt come back. ... Woodhead had two TDs receiving in a game for the first time in his six-year career. He also had a 26-yarder in the first quarter. wholesale nfl jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
