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Vincent Lecavalier had a tough few days after his 14-year stint in Tampa Bay ended. His deal with Philadelphia helped soften the blow. Lecavalier and the Flyers officially announced their $22.5 million, five-year contract on Saturday. Lecavalier, a former Lightning captain, had some options as to where he wanted to chase a second Stanley Cup. Only 33, Lecavalier has plenty left to offer a contender — or even a team like the Flyers in the midst of an off-season overhaul after missing the playoffs. "Lets just say, Philly, with the meeting I had with them, thats the place I really wanted to go," he said Saturday. "I started off with, I dont want to say a pretty big list, but a list of about 10 teams, and right after I talked with Philly, even before any offers or anything, they went right to the top of the list. I just liked what they were saying." The Flyers offered one nice incentive — they dangled an opportunity to share a line with team captain Claude Giroux. Giroux signed his own eight-year extension worth over $64 million this week. Lecavalier will likely settle in on the second line, but could team with Giroux to provide a potent offensive push when the Flyers really need one. Had they teamed in their prime, they would have been one of the top 1-2 punches in the league. Lecavalier is willing to move to right wing to team up on the top line with Giroux at centre. "Its not something that I really worry about, especially when youre being told you might play with Claude Giroux," he said. "Im really open to that and Id be really excited about that." Tampa Bay cut ties with Lecavalier to clear space under a smaller salary cap. Lecavalier didnt mesh with Tampa Bays plans, or at least his contract didnt with seven years and $45 million remaining on it. The four-time All-Star, drafted No. 1 overall by the Lightning in 1998, helped the franchise win the Stanley Cup in 2004 and scored a franchise-high 383 goals. By buying him out, it saved Tampa Bay more than $7.7 million cap space for the upcoming season. The move cost them $32 million over 14 years because he is due two-thirds the value of his deal spread over twice the term of the contract. He scored a league-high 52 times during the 2006-07 season and had 32 points in 39 games during the shortened season. Lecavalier, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound centre, had signed an 11-year deal with Tampa Bay in 2008. He had 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games last season for the Lightning. "He is going to be used in a position as one of our top forwards," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "I think he brings a lot of benefits to our offensive group as well as our power play and leadership. We will sort all of this out in training camp. But to bring an elite forward like this in to the mix is a welcome addition." Sure, Lecavalier liked the idea of becoming part of that mix. But he didnt have final say. "Vinny actually came into town with his wife prior to us agreeing on a contract," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I think his wife gave him the thumbs-up on the area, liked the areas we have to live where the players are at. It just kind of went from there. The Flyers went 23-22-3 and were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 49 points. After jettisoning several goal-scoring veterans, the Flyers struggled with their offence and hope Lecavalier can bring some punch to the lineup. In that Stanley Cup run of nine years ago, Lecavalier and the Lightning outlasted the Flyers in a memorable Eastern Conference final series. Tampa Bay then went on to win their first championship by defeating Calgary in seven games. The Flyers also signed goalie Ray Emery to a one-year deal and 35-year-old defenceman Mark Streit to a $21-million, four-year deal that has pressed them up against the salary cap. The Flyers firmly believe Giroux will bounce back from a bit of a down year and Scott Hartnell will return from injuries. Throw in the expected improvement from Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier, and the Flyers could make a quick return to the Eastern Conference playoffs. "We kept what we think is a real good nucleus together," Holmgren said. "We didnt do anything to dismantle anything." Manny Trillo Cubs Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Kendall Graveman Cubs Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2500t-derek-holland-jersey-cubs.html . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Danny Hultzen Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Craig Kimbrel Jersey . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. MILWAUKEE -- The Cincinnati Reds used an eight-run sixth inning to turn a close game into a blowout.Eugenio Suarez hit a three-run home run during the outburst and the Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-5 on Saturday night.The Reds had seven hits in the key inning, including two by Joey Votto, and Milwaukee added two errors and a wild pitch by starter Zach Davies (9-5) that led to a run.Votto had four hits and two RBI and Billy Hamilton, Zack Cozart, Adam Duvall, Brandon Phillips, Tucker Barnhart and Suarez each had two hits for the Reds. Cincinnati had 16 hits in the game.Certainly theres a bunch of guys that had big games. Just a lot of good quality at-bats, Reds manager Bryan Price said. These games dont happen often in this sport, going from a 1-0 game to a 9-0 game.Dan Straily (8-6) allowed two runs and 10 hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings.You cant let those kind of ballgames slip away from you. They hit some pretty good pitches, Straily said. The offense tonight really carried the team and we did just a good enough job pitching to win the game.Votto raised his average above .300 for the first time this season.The first couple of months were really frustrating. I felt like I dug myself a pretty big hole, Votto said. I still feel like I am coming out of it.Ryan Braun hit a solo homer off Straily in the sixth.Davies, who has emerged as Milwaukees ace, gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings. He entered 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA over his previous six starts and hadnt allowed more than three runs since giving up six on June 30.It went pretty smoothly for the first five, being able to keep them off balance, Daviies said.dddddddddddd. Then it kind of fell apart.Scooter Gennett had four hits for Milwaukee, tying a career high, and Martin Maldonado hit his sixth homer.HISPANIC HERITAGEMilwaukee and Cincinnati wore jerseys with Cerveceros and Los Rojas, respectively, across the front in honor of Hispanic heritage in baseball.KEEPING WATCHAfter Hamilton led off the game with an infield single, Davies tried to pick off the majors leading basestealer six straight times with Votto at the plate. In all, Davies tried to pick Hamilton off 10 times.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: RHP Junior Guerra played catch for the first time as he works his way back from right elbow inflammation. Guerra has been out since Aug. 8 and is eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday. ... OF Domingo Santana needs at least 20 to 30 minor league at-bats before hes ready to return to the Brewers, manager Craig Counsell said. Santana has been out since June 10 with right elbow soreness. He began a second rehab assignment earlier this week with Class A Wisconsin. An earlier assignment was cut short when Santana again began to experience soreness in the elbow.UP NEXTReds: Cody Reed (0-6, 6.36) will make his first-ever career start against the Brewers. Hes coming off his best start of the season, tossing six shutout innings against St. Louis on Monday.Brewers: Wily Peralta (4-8, 6.38) will make his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier this month. Peralta is 4-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Reds. ' ' '