Dein erstes Forum » erek Jones. "Im always optimistic when

Despite a recent trip to Seattle, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says expansion is not currently on the horizon for the league. In a one-hour interview with TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on Friday, Bettman discussed a variety of topics, including expansion, outdoor games and changes to the NHL draft. When asked about his recently reported trip to Seattle with deputy commissioner Bill Daly, Bettman said the visit simply coincided with being on the west coast for a playoff game in Anaheim. "We had a few hours to kill, we were in the neighborhood, so I figured Id go to Seattle to find out what the building story was," Bettman told LeBrun. "We werent there campaigning, we werent asking for anything, and thats been misreported. Based on the level of interest were getting from lots of people in Seattle and a fair amount of uncertainty and confusion about the building, we decided Lets go find out for ourselves what the story is with the building. And theres no prospect of a building right now." Investor Chris Hansen currently holds the rights with the city of Seattle to build a new arena, however Hansen will not move ahead with the building process until he has secured an NBA franchise. Hansen is not pursuing an NHL team for the arena, but would like to have an NHL team as a tenant of the arena under another owner. "The sense I get is he doesnt want to build a building just to have a tenant," Bettman said. "And since he seems to have things tied up with the city for the next three years, give or take, theres no certainty about a building." Bettmans takeaway from the Seattle tour; that "the possibility of a new arena is at best uncertain." Bettman said he is also aware of the arena being built in Quebec City, as well as the plans for an MGM Arena in Las Vegas, however expansion for his league currently remains off the table. "Things are popping up, but were not in an expansion process. Could we get to one at some point? Maybe. But right now were not focused on going through an expansion process." While the league may not be expanding franchises, expanding fan bases through outdoor games will continue. The commissioner acknowledged that though the number of outdoor games will drop from the record six played last season, the league will play more than one outdoor game in 2014-15. Bettman explained that the elevated number of games this past season stemmed from various circumstances. "This year we used those games in a variety of ways. Part of it was promoting us going into the Olympics, part of it was promoting it coming out. And doing it in New York [around the Super Bowl] with two games...we had to do lots of stuff. Our people did an extraordinary job, but we really taxed things to the limit. But also, interestingly enough, the Olympic break let us set up for more games. So, itll be more than one and less than six next season." As the league continues its tradition of adding excitement with outdoor games, the discussion of adding more excitement to the draft has also come up. "The GMs have asked us whether or not more teams should be eligible for the lottery result moving up more teams and whether or not the odds should be adjusted a little bit. Thats something were looking at," Bettman said. Bettman told LeBrun it would be premature to say if the adjustments would be made in time for the 2015 Draft, but said changes are being contemplated. "We havent finished a proposal thats been circulated... I think if were going to make an adjustment, itll be that more picks are selected by the lottery and we might smooth out the odds a little. But again, thats not something were at yet." The current NHL draft process gives every non-playoff team a chance at the first overall selection, with percentages declining from 25 percent. The 2014 NHL Draft will take place on June 27-28 in Philadelphia. 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At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014.Kyle Walters and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers appear pleased with their 2014 CFL Draft class, but they now look to the 2013 crop to round out their rookie camp roster. TSN 1290 has learned the Blue Bombers have agreed to a contract with 2013 11th-overall draft pick Kris Robertson. Robertson, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound defensive back out of Concordia, has been working to recover from an ACL injury suffered while training soon after his selection by Winnipeg in the 2013 CFL Draft. "This past year Ive been training like a crazy man — working hard. I want to get back. I want to get on the field," said the 23-year-old while taking in this years CFL Combine as a spectator. "This is the longest Ive been off playing football since I started in Grade 10… This little break is more so a mental barrier than a physical barrier. Im just excited to get back on the field." "Im just gearing up, getting myself a lot stronger. I want to make sure Im above and beyond what I was last year." At the time, Robertson was thought of as a bit of a stretch selection when former Bombers general manager Joe Mack chose him with the second pick of the second round, but his athleticism is hard to ignore. His numbers in the 2013 Montreal regional earned him an invite to the main combine in Toronto, where he tested atop both the vertical and broad jumps, as well as recording a blazing combine-best 4.42 40-time. "Dynamite leaping ability," said Winnipeg general manager Kyle Walters this past March when describing the two-time All-Canadian kick returner. "Kris is not a very big guy, but for a little guy, his athleticism and hes a competitor. Hes like a lot of undersized football players that have had success, they become a real tenacious-type character.ddddddddddddAnd he has that. Obviously his speed is his number one skill set, but hes got an aggression to him for an undersized guy. And hes got a fantastic vertical jump… Hes a really phenomenal athlete and a real tough competitor." Despite being a draft pick of the former Joe Mack regime, Robertson appears to fit in well with what Walters is doing in his new-look defensive backfield. "Kris is a unique body-type and a unique skill set," added Walters. "In hindsight it ended up being a nice fit for him with us potentially moving to a Canadian field corner. Hell be able to compete at a spot where hes got a comfort level." Robertson will compete alongside fellow non-imports Donovan Alexander and Graig Newman, who were signed as free agents in February, as well as Matt Bucknor who was acquired via trade with Hamilton in January, and 2014 fourth-round pick Derek Jones. "Im always optimistic when it comes to these things. I feel Im just ready. After watching them last year — I watched every game — it was upsetting because I feel even though I wasnt a part of the team, I feel Im part of the team. You know, you dont like to lose. I know no one likes to lose. Its upsetting, but I feel with the new coaches coming in and everything, I feel this is a good turnaround. Good things are going to happen, especially with the new acquisitions they got in free agency." "I grab my lunch pail and go to work. Thats the kind of person I am. Ill do anything I can to contribute and bring success to the field, the position, the city of Winnipeg." ' ' '