The Qontinent » concussion-like symptoms (the team went 1-4

With less than one week to go until the March 5 NHL trade deadline, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger has the latest on Vancouvers Ryan Kesler, Buffalos Tyler Myers, and Ottawas Chris Phillips and offers some insight on their situations and potential trade status. We heard Ryan Kesler say on Thursday that theres nothing to the latest rumours that he has asked for a trade. So are we done with it, or is this a case where its "where theres smoke, theres fire?" Darren Dreger: There has to have been some level of dialogue between Ryan Kesler and the Vancouver Canucks, or the Canucks telling Kesler that they need to improve, they need to get younger, they need to add a bit more offensive punch. Theyre going to start sifting some names out there to rival teams and his name is going to be among them. Because heres what I know. I know that teams were contacted as far back as a month ago to say have a look at our roster. If there is a member of this organization that you want to take a run at then were listening, were open for business. And that includes Ryan Kesler. How realistic is it that he could be dealt by next Wednesdays deadline? Dreger: Its a complicated deal because Kesler is a valuable asset of the Vancouver Canucks. Hes got a contract that makes a lot of sense. Financially, he is sound. He is a bargain, frankly, as long as he plays up to his level of potential. But is it realistic? Yes, because of the interest that will be out there. There will be interest from so many different teams, and we know as I said earlier that the Canucks have reached out. But the Canucks need premium return to make this deal a reality and six days away from the trade deadline is not a lot of time to close on such a big deal. What are you hearing about two defencemen at opposite ends of their careers, 35-year-old Chris Phillips and 24-year-old Tyler Myers? Dreger: In terms of Phillips, theres a negotiation thats ongoing between the Ottawa Senators and Phillips to keep him a lifer in Ottawa. If that doesnt go well, if Phillips doesnt like the offer that has been presented, then Bryan Murray may have to make a very difficult decision. There would be interest in Chris Phillips, a veteran player, very sound defensively, maybe hes a good fit with the Boston Bruins. In terms of Myers, there is considerable interest according to sources close to the Buffalo Sabres. But GM Tim Murray isnt trying to push this guy out the door. Is he available? Is he interested in moving him? Yes he is. Were looking at Toronto as potentially a fit, as would be the Anaheim Ducks. And the Colorado Avalanche are definitely looking for a defenceman. So there will be options, but come ready to pay a premium. Steve Yzerman Red Wings Jersey .Patterson marked his anniversary by proving his worth — once again.Lou Williams poured in 26 points, and Patterson drained two huge three-pointers late in the fourth quarter, as the Raptors topped the Denver Nuggets 112-107 in overtime Monday. Darren Helm Red Wings Jersey . Napoli hit two home runs, Jonny Gomes and prized rookie Xander Bogaerts also connected, and the Red Sox kept up their dizzying scoring spree at Yankee Stadium by bashing New York 13-9 Saturday for a fifth straight win. http://www.redwingshockeyauthentic.com/ .J. -- Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils took a lot of grief considering his scored the first of his career-best three goals just 12 seconds into a crucial game against the Florida Panthers. Chris Chelios Red Wings Jersey .com) - Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 51 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the struggling Bucks 114-101 on Tuesday. Sergei Fedorov Red Wings Jersey . Maximilian Arnold put Wolfsburg ahead in the eighth minute, when the stationary Fallou Diagne allowed him to guide Patrick Ochs cross beyond the helpless Freiburg goalkeeper, and Ivica Olic doubled the lead three minutes later after Luiz Gustavo did well to set him up.VANCOUVER - With a 1-6 record, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were a long way from the Grey Cup in August.But the team never panicked. Head coach Kent Austin saw success ahead.When we were 1-6, our head coach, our defensive co-ordinator (Orlondo Steinauer) said, This is a Grey Cup team. It just wasnt our time yet, said sumo-sized defensive lineman Ted Laurent.Linebacker Simoni Lawrence remembers the words Austin used. Its going to be an amazing story when its all said and done. The last chapter will be written Sunday at B.C. Place Stadium when the Tiger-Cats play the powerful Calgary Stampeders.The Ticats, 45-23 losers to the hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders in last years championship game, go into the game brimming with belief.Its been a signpost of their season, no matter where they were in the standings. We knew we werent a 1-6 team, said offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski.Ive played on basket-case teams and we werent that, he added. You could look at every position group and know that we had it, that we were close. And if we just stuck with it, we were going to get it turned around.And that belief was through the organization, top to bottom, throughout the team ... no one shut it down, no one thought that this is going to be the story of our season. Everyone knew we had a team that could make a run.This team was extremely resilient inside, where its most important, said Jeff Reinebold, Hamiltons special teams co-ordinator and linebackers coach.Reinebold has seen more than a few teams in a coaching career that has stretched from Amsterdam to Las Vegas with CFL stops in B.C., Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal and Winnipeg.Every team is unique but this team is extra-special to me, he said.They never wavered, he added. They never flinched. They never backed off their beliefs, they never pointed fingers at one another. All of the things that can happen when you dont have success in professional sports — all the Me guys take over, all the finger-pointing begins, all the blame gets spread around.This team never took part in that. And a lot of that comes from Coach Austin and his unshakable belief in his principles and then that got disseminated among the assistant coaches. And the message was always consistent.Hamilton (9-9) went on to win eight of its next 11 games and finish first in the East. Hamilton then thumped Montreal 440-24 in the East final.ddddddddddddThe thing that was most regarding after the win (over the Als) last week was not the win, was not the money, was not the fact even that they were going to go play for a championship, said Reinebold. It was the fact that they all got to stay together one more week.Because the reality of it is in this business when a season ends, whether it ends at the end of the regular season or after a championship game, that team will never be the same again. Never will all those coaches, all those players, all those personalities be together one more time. There are always transitions, particularly in pro sports today.This team has blessed itself because it competed so hard last week against Montreal, with the opportunity to experience this and to be together as brothers one more week. Thats fantastic. On Friday, the Ticats showed that by ending practice in a huddle that turned into a gyrating, dancing and chanting mass of bodies.We love each other, said Dyakowski. Weve got a fantastic team, a great locker-room. This is a squad where every guy on it plays for each other. We dont have anyone whos in it for themselves. Were all in it together and it shows.Hamilton is still standing — and grooving — after a season that saw quarterback Zach Collaros miss five games with concussion-like symptoms (the team went 1-4 without him). The players also had to wait for Tim Hortons Field to finally open before reeling off seven straight wins at home to get here.You cant get those games back, Austin said of the early-season losses. But what you can do is learn from those games in such a way that the next time you take the field, youre better. Youre better for that experience. And then just stay the course.We have a great staff of guys that are completely authentic in that approach. And the players trust that. While the Ticats are the feel-good story, the Stampeders (15-3) are 7 1/2-point favourites to spoil their happy ending.Austin, like his players, relishes the challenge.We tell the guys all the time if it was easy, it wouldnt mean as much.Notes: Austin says receiver Andy Fantuz has looked good this week after seeing limited action last weekend upon his return from a hamstring issue. Hes running better this week. I think theres a noticeable difference.———Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter. ' ' '