The subject of the NHLs participation in future Olympic Games came up at a join media conference Tuesday in Sochi featuring NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players Association executive director Donald Fehr and IIHF president Rene Fasel. The NHL has not committed to sending players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman continued to throw his support behind the NHLs participation in the Olympics when asked about it in a press conference last week. But, as expected, Bettman said this will be something addressed down the road. "The primary building blocks are logistics of travel, to and from the Olympics," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said afterwards. "It was a big challenge coming to Sochi and it certainly would be a big challenge if we were to go to South Korea. Player insurance is always a factor with the magnitude and length of player contracts these days, an incredible number of assets at risk. "So those were two of the most fundamental things we talked about." Daly added that the NHLs participation this time was helped by the fact that NHL broadcasters CBC and NBC also were Olympic rights holders. But the rights holders have yet to be determined for 2018. "So we havent really given any serious consideration to South Korea at all," Daly said. The players will have a big say on this issue. Fehr promised a full and thorough investigation as to whether continued Olympic participation is what the players want. The NHL players volition to compete in the Olympics has been the main driving force behind their participation in the Winter Games. World Cup closer to return Fehr hinted that the two sides are closer to announcing details on a World Cup of Hockey. There hasnt been one played since 2004 and the speculation continues to be the next World Cup could happen as soon as 2016. There was the usual playfulness between Bettman and Fasel. At one point Fasel said there is nothing like seeing the smile of a hockey player when he wins a gold medal. To which Bettman was quick to reply, "Except winning the Stanley Cup." Finally, Daly was asked about expansion. There was a recent newspaper story in Seattle that said the NHL has targeted the city for an expansion team. "I think whenever Im asked that question, I make the same comments," he said. "The Pacific Northwest, we think is a good hockey area. I think the Vancouver Canucks have done extraordinarily well in developing that area as a good hockey market. Doesnt mean were going to expand there, doesnt mean weve made any decisions in that regard. "I said the same thing about Quebec City. I also believe its a very good hockey market with a very strong and passionate fan base. So theres nothing more I can say on expansion than we did [at the NHL Board of Governors meetings] in Pebble Beach, which is at some point in time it might be an appropriate consideration for us to bring to the board. But we havent reached that yet." Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey . Cincinnati has lost back-to-back games in overtime, wasting a chance to take a commanding lead in their division. Dale Hawerchuk Jersey . -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night. http://www.officialwinnipegjetspro.com/K...uk-jets-jersey/. Luke Wileman and I stood in the corridor outside of the Vancouver Whitecaps dressing room at BC Place in Vancouver. Bobby Hull Jersey .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. Teppo Numminen Jersey .J. Ellis hit an RBI single in the ninth inning, Hanley Ramirez hit a tape-measure, three-run homer in the first against Cliff Lee and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Saturday night.BALTIMORE – Manager John Gibbons likes to claim he doesnt read what gets written. But he will, on occasion, when something gets passed along. Recently, he was on the receiving end of an article detailing the key difference between his Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, Torontos opponent this week and the team closing in on its first American League East crown since 1997. "When you really compare our pitching, its almost neck-and-neck when you go by the stats and all the newfound formulas that they have. The same way with the offence, two home run-type hitting teams," said Gibbons. "The big thing this article pointed out has been the defence. Plays made, balls not gotten to because they definitely have one of the better defensive teams in baseball." Successful ball clubs prioritize up-the-middle defence. Teams look for a catcher who not only calls a good game but is a good pitch framer – that is, he receives the ball in a way that will ensure borderline pitches are called strikes and not balls – and who can keep the ball in front of him – that is, prevent wild pitches and passed balls which advance baserunners. While Dioner Navarro has had a nice offensive season for the Jays, hes not in the class of Baltimores Matt Wieters (Wieters is out for the season with an elbow injury and has been replaced by the tandem of Caleb Joseph and Nick Hundley). In the infield, the Orioles hold a decided advantage at shortstop. While there is debate about the effectiveness of Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), which aims to measure the number of runs prevented or allowed based on a players ability to get to balls hit his way, based on the statistic, Baltimores J.J. Hardy (6.1 runs saved entering Mondays action) has badly outperformed Jose Reyes (-9.1, meaning hes given up about nine runs). At second base, Ryan Goins is the Blue Jays best defensive option. The problem is he provides next to no offence. While Goins has made better contact more often since his last recall, his .190/.215/.268 (.483 OPS) slash line in 164 plate appearances doesnt reflect a player "holding his own" offensively, which Gibbons said in spring training Goins would have to do to stick on the big league roster. In centrefield, with the impending departure of Colby Rasmus, Anthony Gose will provide a defensive upgrade but, similar to the situation at second base, an offensive regression at the position. While Gose has improved his on-base percentage to a career-best .321 this season, thanks to a vastly improved walk rate (9.9-percent), it remaains to be seen whether he can carry the freight over an entire season.dddddddddddd The problems the Jays have experienced at second base this season, including having to resort to platooning Brett Lawrie and then overusing Munenori Kawasaki after Lawrie got hurt, arent solved without going outside the organization. Its a position that must be addressed in the offseason. The same, however, could have been said a year ago. Reyes, 31, is about to get really expensive. His heavily backloaded contract, signed with the Miami Marlins before the 2012 season, calls for salaries of $22 million for the next three seasons through 2017. Theres a $22 million option for 2018, which requires a $4 million buyout should the club decline it. Should the Blue Jays, at the very least, explore a positional change for Reyes, perhaps a move to second base, where the club could better cover his lack of range? Speaking to people in the organization, its difficult to get a read on whether anyone is willing even to broach the subject with Reyes. Given the uncertainty surrounding the health of Brett Lawrie, who by the end of this year will have appeared in slightly more than 62 per cent of the Blue Jays games since the start of the 2012 season, there are doubts about who will man third base every day. Can Gose play centrefield every day? If Melky Cabrera, a free agent, isnt retained, who takes his outfield spot? Is Reyes best suited to continue at shortstop? Who plays the middle infield with Reyes? What about Lawrie? There are plenty of questions for the organization to answer between now and spring training. Outfield Configuration A few eyebrows were raised when the Blue Jays posted Mondays starting lineup, which included Jose Bautista in centre field, John Mayberry, Jr. in right field and Kevin Pillar in left field. Pillar, it would seem, would be the right fit in centrefield. Hes played their extensively in his minor league career. Manager John Gibbons explained his rationale. "Against a lefty tonight, weve got our left-handed bats in there," said Gibbons. "The tough part in this park to play is left field and left centre so well put Bautista in centre field and he and Pillar should be able to cover that. Right centre and right field are smaller here. They dont require as much range." Gibbons had to use one of Anthony Gose or Ryan Goins, both lefthanded hitters, in the starting lineup. He opted for Goins, whose plus defence at second base was valued because starter Marcus Stroman works a 55 per cent groundball rate. 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