Theyve got the date at Wembley next week but cant go into that on the back of a defeat

VANCOUVER -- Jannik Hansen does not have to worry about his NHL job security for quite some time. Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys . The utility winger signed a US$10-million, four-year contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. "Its something I wanted," Hansen told reporters after practice. "Were a good fit. I like it here. To come to a new agreement now, it makes it a lot easier on the sour days. It was something that I was hopeful that theyd be willing to do." The new deal will kick in at the start of the 2014-15 season, so the Canucks have effectively locked him up for five seasons. It comes as he is expected to play a key role early in the upcoming campaign, which the Canucks begin Thursday in San Jose. Hansen could start on the first line, depending on how new coach John Tortorella wants to deploy Alex Burrows. If Burrows takes his usual spot on the first line, as he did late in the pre-season, Hansen could play on the second line. That depends on if David Booths recovery from a groin injury suffered in the pre-season and an ankle problem that sidelined him since March before he played an exhibition game heal quickly. At the very least, Hansen will play on a third line that is in a state of transition with new players -- and also vying to beef up its offensive production. Hansen said the new contract allows him to concentrate on having a good season instead of worrying about his future with the club. "It was fairly easy," he said. "It took a couple days to get it done. ... Its familiar. Its comforting and, again, you know where youre going to be." But the 27-year-old from Herlev, Denmark, who had 10 goals and 17 assists in 47 games for Vancouver last season, did not have the same luxury at the outset of his career. He was selected by Vancouver in the seventh round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and spent most of his first two pro seasons in the minors. He also had to battle for playing time with the Canucks during his third and fourth seasons as he was dispatched to their former Manitoba farm club in the AHL in the third and fourth campaigns as well. Since then he has established himself as a tenacious, grinding NHL winger who also has speed and can score on occasion. He also has the ability to play all four lines. "Obviously, its nice to have (more security), not only for financial (reasons), but also in terms of not being tossed around (between the NHL and minors) like you usually do in your earlier years where its kind of hard to set up a base," said Hansen. One of few players from Denmark in the NHL, Hansen has represented his homeland at the IIHF world hockey championships four times (2012, 2008, 2006 and 2005). He has 50 goals and 81 assists in 318 career NHL games, all of them with the Canucks. The six-foot-one, 197-pound Hansen has also appeared in 58 career NHL playoff games, with five goals and nine assists. But he is coveted by coaches for much more than the limited offence for which he is known. His versatility, he feels, has helped him earn the sizable salary and contract with decent term. "I think thats the reason ... being able to do a little bit of everything," he said. "When I wasnt scoring, I was chipping in in other areas. That kind of made me stick around when, maybe, other players got sent back down. And, again, its probably why Im here today." Canucks general manager Mike Gillis also likes his versatility, suggesting to reporters that Hansens ability to play on different lines factored prominently into the teams decision to re-sign him. New coach John Tortorella, who bills himself as a situational coach and is known for being highly demanding, also likes the different dimensions that Hansen can bring to a game. "From what I know of him, hes a utility guy in my eyes," said Tortorella. "I can put him in a lot of different spots. (He can) play up and down the lineup in a lot of different roles. I think he needs to understand a little bit how we play defence. But hes had a good (training) camp. "He impresses me. So I think (his new contract) is a good thing." Offering praise that was rarely heard on other players performances in the pre-season, Tortorella said Hansen played "very well." The coach also likes his ability to handle special-teams duties. Goaltender Roberto Luongo was glad to see the Canucks re-sign Hansen, an extremely popular figure in the dressing room who is known for being highly diligent to his duties in practice. "Im happy for him, hes a really hard-working guy and he deserves it," said Luongo. Knowing such a possibility was unlikely, Luongo also added with a wry grin and chuckle: "I just hope he doesnt start slacking." Meanwhile, the Canucks acquired winger Zac Dalpe and centre Jeremy Welsh from the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in a trade for winger Kellan Tochkin and Vancouvers fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft. Dalpe, a 23-year-old Paris, Ont., native, split the 2012-13 season between the Hurricanes and Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The six-foot-one and 195-pound Ohio State product recorded three points (1-2-3) in 10 games with Carolina last season and 42 points (21-21-42) and 12 penalty minutes in 54 games with Charlotte. He has played in 41 NHL games, registering 10 career points (5-5-10). Welsh, a 25-year-old Bayfield, Ont., native recorded one assist in five games with Carolina last season and has six NHL career games. The six-foot-three and 210 Union College alumnus generated 26 points (14-12-26) with Charlotte in 2012-13. Both Dalpe and Welsh were due to report to the Canucks on Sunday night. Nicklas Jensen, Vancouvers 29th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, was put on waivers. If he clears waivers hell join the AHLs Utica Comets. Darren Fells Browns Jersey .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman John-Michael Liles on injured reserve Tuesday. Carlos Hyde Browns Jersey . An unconventional night for Texas-El Paso nearly led to the Miners getting a huge upset. Down by 14 with 2:21 left, the Miners went on a frantic closing spurt that fell just short, and UTEP was beaten by No. http://www.brownsauthoritystore.com/Authentic-Chad-Thomas-Browns-Jersey/ . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another crucial round of Premier League fixtures. The top four are all in action live on Sky Sports this weekend as the race for the title and the top four hots up.Leicester will be looking to move a step closer to their first Premier League title when they take on West Ham at the King Power Stadium but defeat could hand Tottenham, who face Stoke at the Britannia on Monday Night Football, the opportunity to close the gap. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be looking to stay in touch when they take on Crystal Palace on Super Sunday, while Manchester City face Chelsea in a mouthwatering Saturday Night Football clash.Merse correctly predicted six Premier League outcomes last time out, and also called one perfect score as Southampton beat Newcastle 3-1. Mersons last predictions Result Merses prediction West Ham 3-3 Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich 2-1 Southampton 3-1 Newcastle 3-1 Swansea 1-0 Chelsea 1-3 Watford 1-1 Eveton 1-2 Man City 2-1 West Brom 2-0 Sunderland 0-2 Leicester 1-1 Liverpool 4-1 Stoke 2-1 Tottenham 3-0 Manchester United 3-1 Read on to see who he is backing this week...Chelsea v Man City - Saturday Night Football, 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HDThe gap between Manchester City in fourth and Manchester United in fifth is just five points and I fully expect Louis van Gaals side to close the gap by the time kick-off comes around at Stamford Bridge. Its a massive game for City. Merson thinks Chelsea can beat Man City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge They had a brilliant result in midweek and you have to hand it to them after they reached the Champions League semi-finals, but they cannot take their eye off the ball against Chelsea. Its still a huge ask to win the Champions League so the league is crucial. However, I think Chelsea will win this and blow the top four wide open.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)Leicester v West Ham - Super Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HDI was really disappointed in West Ham the other night. I had only really seen highlights of Slaven Bilics side this season and thought they looked excellent, but having watched the whole game against Man United, they were really poor. Merson thinks Leicester will have too much for West Ham on Sunday United put in a very good display at Upton Park but for me, West Ham didnt do enough. They didnt get enough crosses into the box and there is no point playing Andy Carroll if you are not going to get the ball into the penalty area. If youd have asked me for a prediction on Monday Id have said Im not sure, but now I cant see anything but a Leicester win.However, I still see a twist to come in the title race.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HDArsenal are the best team in the world when the pressure is off. They will win this game because Crystal Palace are now in a position where they can afford to rest players ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign They can lose this game heavily, it wont matter. The manager, the players and the fans will move on to Wembley. Arsenal will win this game.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)Stoke v Tottenham - Monday Night Football, 8pm, Sky Sports 1 HDI never go against Stoke at home. They are a very good team in front of their own fans but for me, Tottenham win. I really fancy an away win. I have been impressed with Spurs; they are a good, good team. Merson is backing Tottenham to win at Stoke on Monday Looking ahead to next season, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool all need players. Zane Gonzalez Jersey. Tottenham only need a few fringe players, they dont need players to go straight into the team. I really think they are well up there again next season, one of the favourites.Im backing them to win on Monday night.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)Norwich v Sunderland - Saturday, 12.45pmNorwich have to make sure they dont lose this game. As long as they dont get beat Alex Neil will be happy, but if they win I think Newcastle are pretty much down. Its as simple as that! Norwich host Sunderland in a crucial clash at the bottom of the table For Sunderland its a cup final and they have to win it. What score do I go with here? My mate Jeff is a big Sunderland fan so I cant go against him. Im going for a draw here because Sunderland have been playing well recently. Theyve not had much luck in my opinion and thats why the results havent quite gone their way.Theyll get a point here but Jeff wont be happy.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Everton v Southampton - Saturday, 3pmIts a tough game to call. Its a weird situation for Everton because theyve got an FA Cup semi-final coming up but Roberto Martinez is under some serious pressure. Theyve got the date at Wembley next week but cant go into that on the back of a defeat - the fans are on his back as it is. Martinez would love to rest some players but I just dont think he can afford to. Everton beat Southampton 3-0 earlier in the season A heavy defeat to Southampton and he will be under severe pressure. It will all come down to how much bottle he has. If he has the courage to rest all the players he needs for next week, then they lose this game 3-1, but if he plays a full-strength side then I see a 2-1 home win. It all comes down to Martinez and I hope he has the bottle to rest all his big guns ahead of the FA Cup semi-final.I dont envy his situation. Anyway, well go for a draw here. All the best!PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)Manchester United v Aston Villa - Saturday, 3pmManchester United were outstanding in midweek. They thoroughly deserved their victory at Upton Park. In the first 20 minutes against Tottenham last Sunday I thought they played very well and looked very comfortable. But in the end they lost 3-0 and if youd just watched the opening you would have been left scratching your head and wondering how that happened! Merse thinks Manchester United can build on their midweek victory by beating Aston Villa They now have a FA Cup semi-final on the horizon but there will be no resting players from United, who still have a chance of reaching the top four. With Aston Villa the visitors they have a real opportunity to close the gap to Manchester City in fourth and I think they will do it in style.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Newcastle v Swansea - Saturday, 3pmNo matter what the result is in the early kick-off between Norwich and Sunderland, Newcastle have to win. A Norwich win and a Newcastle defeat will near enough see Rafael Benitezs side down. Newcastle Uniteds clash against Swansea is a must-win, says Merson If you have watched Newcastle recently defensively they have been atrocious. However, Im backing Newcastle to win. They have to put everything on the line on Saturday and for me, that will be enough.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)West Brom v Watford - Saturday, 3pmThere have been plenty giving West Brom a bit of stick in recent weeks but I thought they did well against Manchester City. When you look at the sides in the bottom three and you look at West Brom, I think theyve done great. Watfords Spanish manager Quique Sanchez Flores could rest some of his starts ahead of next weeks FA Cup semi-final On the other hand this is a perfect game for Watford ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. Its a totally different situation to that of Everton. Quique Sanchez Flores can rest every single one of his starting 11 this week and get beat 5-0 and the fans wouldnt care less. They would still clap them off.Watford have secured their top-flight status and reached the FA Cup semi-final, thats some achievement. For Everton, they have 11 international footballers and a very good team but they are not in the top half. Thats the difference.West Brom win here against a depleted Watford side.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)Bournemouth v Liverpool - Sunday, 1.30pmAfter Liverpools incredible win over Borussia Dortmund on Thursday night they have to concentrate on the Europa League. Liverpools top-four ambitions are pretty slim when you look at the table. They can still do it but victory over Dortmund put them two games away from a final and potentially three away from a place in next seasons Champions League. Liverpools 1-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season was Jurgen Klopps first in charge at Anfield They could win their next seven league games and still not make the top four. Bournemouth just did enough against Villa and were nothing special, so I still have to back Liverpool for a win.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)PLAY SUPER 6!Theres another £250,000 jackpot up for grabs in the latest round of the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game. All you have to do is predict the scores of the six selected matches. Its free to play so get your entries in before 3pm GMT on Saturday for the chance to win.PLAY NOW... 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