ekansekans's blog: "df"

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks chose centre Tomas Hertl of the Czech Republic with the 17th pick in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday night. Hertl is only the second first-round pick made by the Sharks in the past five drafts. They traded their only other first-rounder, 2010 pick Charlie Coyle, to Minnesota during last years draft with 2005 first-rounder Devin Setoguchi and a 2011 first-rounder for defenceman Brent Burns. Hertl, 18, was rated as the fifth-best European skater in the draft by the NHL Central Scouting service. Hertl had 12 goals and 13 assists last season for Slavia Praha in the Czech league, along with a plus-9 rating and 22 penalty minutes. His coach at Slavia Praha was former NHL player Vladimir Ruzicka. "He has the upside potential to be a centerman that you can use in all situations," Sharks scouting director Tim Burke said. "He will defend, he makes plays, he has long reach, he strips pucks, hes able to play low around the net. There are a lot of good qualities." Hertl, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, also had three goals and two assists in six games at the World Junior Hockey Championships this year. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said he looked into trading up at one point and would have traded out of the 17th spot if Hertl had not been available. "Hes a versatile guy," Wilson said. "Hes a big body guy who played very well in the World Juniors. He played against men. He can play all forward positions." The Sharks expect him to remain in the Czech Republic next season, and Burke said he could be ready for the NHL the following year depending on his development and the teams needs. This marked the first time since 2004 that the Sharks used their top pick on a European player. They drafted Lukas Kaspar of the Czech Republic in the first round that year. The draft comes after a disappointing season for the Sharks, who were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by St. Louis after making it to the Western Conference finals the previous two seasons. While Hertl wont be expected to contribute in the NHL for a few years, Wilson already made one move to bolster his team this off-season, acquiring the rights to defenceman Brad Stuart from Detroit for potential free agent Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014. San Jose is close to signing a three-year deal with Stuart that will prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, That would clear the way for Wilson to deal another defenceman to help improve the depth at wing. The Sharks still have five picks remaining on Saturday with one in each of the second, fifth and sixth rounds, and two in the seventh round. Despite the lack of high picks in recent years, San Jose has had success drafting under Wilsons leadership with his picks playing in the third most games (3,829) in the NHL since his first draft in 2003, trailing only Montreal and Chicago. That includes core players such as forwards Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski and defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, as well as up-and-comers like defenceman Justin Braun and forward Tommy Wingels. Redskins RG3 Jersey . Valladolid began the match looking sharp with fast-paced attacks, and Ebert wrong-footed defender Fernando Navarro and beat the goalkeeper by firing low inside the far post in the second minute. RG3 Jersey . - Two-time tournament champion Jim Furyk, 2012 Players Championship winner Matt Kuchar and 2012 US Open champion Webb Simpson will be among those trying to dethrone defending champion Sean OHair at the US$5. http://www.dancewithmeusa.com/new.html . -- The Memphis Grizzlies ramped up defensive pressure has led to some impressive wins.SAN FRANCISCO -- Huston Street made it tough on himself. In the end he made it all work out. Yonder Alonsos two-run single in the seventh inning snapped a tie and helped the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 on Sunday. Mark Kotsay hit a home run and Yasmani Grandal also drove in a run for the Padres, who had lost four of their previous five games. Everth Cabrera had four hits, walked and stole three bases in five plate appearances. Street pitched the ninth for his first save since Aug. 10, his 22nd of the season and 200th of his career. His scoreless streak ended at 21 2/3 innings. "Its a round number but I dont want to finish there," Street said. "It means something because I got the ball authenticated and I dont get that every save. Theres a certain sense of accomplishment but theres a lot more to get." This one wasnt easy. Pinch hitter Aubrey Huff singled to lead off the ninth. Street got pinch hitter Pablo Sandoval to fly out to right but then walked pinch hitter Hunter Pence and Hector Sanchez to load the bases. Posey grounded out, driving in his 98th run of the season before Ryan Theriot lined out to centre field to end it. "Its wasnt difficult if I dont walk people," Street said. "I walked Pence on four pitches. Thats just bad baseball. Its a test and its never easy." Xavier Nady, who had two hits, Eli Whiteside, Emmanuel Burriss and Buster Posey each drove in runs for the Giants, who rested their regulars a day after clinching the NL West Division title. Eric Stults (7-3) worked six-plus innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, to win his sixth in seven decisions. He struck out four and walked one. "That was fairly typical of what Eric has given us," Padres manager Bud Black said. "A wide range of veloccities and a mix of pitches.dddddddddddd I though Hustons stuff was good but he was just a touch rusty. There are a lot of ways to get it done and he got it done." Yusmeiro Petit made his Giants debut, allowing two runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out one. "I felt great," Petit said. "Its been three weeks without pitching. I felt a little lost in the first inning but then I was able to do the job." Clay Hensley (4-4) took the loss after giving up Alonsos hit. Petit made his first major league since Sept. 6, 2009 when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks as the Giants had their six-game win streak and seven-game home win streak stopped. The Padres scored their first run in the second when Theriot threw the ball into left field trying to catch Alexi Amarista off second base following a sacrifice fly. Nady doubled home a run and Whiteside hit a sacrifice fly to put the Giants up 2-1 in the fourth. Grandals single tied it in the fifth and Alonsos hit put San Diego ahead in the seventh. Burriss hit an infield grounder to score a run in the seventh. Kotsay hit his pinch hit home run in the eighth. Cabrera followed with a walk, stole second and third and jogged home when Hector Sanchezs throw went into left field. Notes: RHP Tim Lincecum (10-14, 4.91) will start for the Giants when the Arizona Diamondbacks come to town on Tuesday. He was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday. ... The Padres send RHP Edinson Volquez (10-11, 4.31) to the mound against the Los Angeles Dodgers in San Diego on Tuesday. ... Giants OF Francisco Peguero beat out an infield single in the fourth for his first major-league hit. ... Grandal has hit safely in 17 of his last 23 game. ... Kotsay hit his fifth career pinch hit home run. ... Huff has four hits in his last six PH appearances. ' ' '