Reiseplan » hes a smart kid, he said of the former Notre Dame

PITTSBURGH -- Faced with the choice of his hockey life, Jarome Iginla figured he couldnt go wrong. As the hours before the March 28 trade deadline ticked away and the suitors for the Calgary Flames longtime captain dwindled down to Boston and Pittsburgh, the six-time All-Star understood both franchises provided him the chance to win his first Stanley Cup. Only one, however, included the added bonus of playing with good friend Sidney Crosby. And when the Penguins quite literally lured Iginla east in the middle of the night, the ripple effect forced the Bruins to a backup plan that turned out better than they imagined. Spurned by Iginla, the Bruins acquired Jaromir Jagr from Dallas hours later. Now the two clubs -- and their two high-profile late additions -- find themselves in each others way as the Eastern Conference finals get set to begin Saturday. "I knew that there was a possibility this would be the case," Iginla said. One that just as easily could have arisen if Iginla opted for Boston instead. While it appeared for a few hours the Bruins had the inside track, the Olympic gold medal winner insists he didnt back out of a deal with Boston when the Penguins swooped in at the last minute. "I never said yes and then no," Iginla said. Though the Bruins initially disagreed -- claiming an agreement was in place -- they have since moved on, adding a necessary part in Jagr to lead to a showdown that has felt inevitable for the last three months. "I always thought you had to go through them to get to where we want to go at some point," Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli said. "Its been well chronicled, the Iginla stuff and the Jagr stuff, so were happy with who we got." So are the Penguins. The 35-year-old Iginla has fit in almost seamlessly in Pittsburgh, picking up 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 regular-season games despite being shuttled between the first and second lines while occasionally being moved away from his natural position at right wing. Things have been more settled in the post-season. Coach Dan Bylsma placed Iginla on the second line with reigning NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin and All-Star forward James Neal. The results have been sublime. Iginla quietly rolled up four goals and eight assists in the opening two rounds of the playoffs, his powerful shot and ability to create a little havoc in front of the opposing goaltender perfectly complimenting Malkins deft passing and Neals sniper-like instincts. "You want to play together and play hard and not disrupt (their chemistry)," Iginla said. "So you find different places to go and contribute. Is that going to the net? Getting out of the way in certain positions? Knowing where we all like pucks? I think its just kind of tying everything together and Ive been enjoying it and I think its been getting better and better." The result is just the second trip to hockeys final four in Iginlas 16-year career. He led the Flames to the Cup finals in 2004 only to fall to Tampa Bay in seven games. Four straight first-round exits followed before the bottom fell out. Calgary was heading to its fifth straight season on the outside of the playoffs looking in when general manager Jay Feaster approached Iginla and asked him if he would consider waiving his no-trade clause. Iginla wanted to help the Flames rebuild almost as badly as he wanted a shot at the Cup. A brief conversation with Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero convinced him the best chance to do both sat with the Penguins. Pittsburgh sent the Flames college prospects Kenneth Agostino and Ben Hanowski and a first-round pick in the 2013 draft for one of the best players of his generation, one still trying to get his hands on his sports most coveted chalice. The move proved refreshing in more ways than one. Iginla and fellow newcomers Jussi Jokinen, Doug Murray and Brenden Morrow, became de facto roommates at a downtown Pittsburgh hotel. Iginla found wearing a jersey without a "C" on it liberating. He has kept a decidedly low profile since his arrival, speaking to the media only occasionally while letting Crosby handle the duties that come with being the voice of the franchise. Dont misunderstand. Iginla isnt hiding but simply enjoying a rare taste of relative anonymity. "Its been a nice change," Iginla said. One that will likely come to an end if the Penguins make it to the next round. Iginla is the latest in a long line of veterans who have uprooted their lives -- think Ray Bourque going from Boston to Colorado -- in pursuit of glory. He will become one of the faces of the finals if the Penguins advance. Iginla is more than ready to handle it. If anything, hes proven hes adaptable. Iginla played at least 19 minutes 17 times with Calgary this season, a number hes topped just three times in 24 games with the Penguins. Yet Bylsma has yet to hear Iginla mention it, and he doesnt expect to. Neither do his teammates. "I think youll have a hard time finding somebody in this world to fit in better anywhere," Murray said. "Hes a great guy and hes obviously a good player. He demands respect right away." Even if respect from the Bruins will come in the form of bodies being thrown into Iginlas path at every turn. He welcomes the challenge, even if the guys slamming him are the ones that could have been his teammates. All thats over now. Any leftover hard feelings with the Bruins is just so much collateral damage. "I knew Boston was a great team," Iginla said. "It was one of those situations when I (chose Pittsburgh) that I knew there was a big possibility wed be in this situation, and here we are. Im looking forward to the challenge." Fake Yeezys Boost . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Fake Yeezy Boost 700 . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.fakeyeezysforsale.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Fake Yeezys From China . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Fake Yeezy 950 . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have released third-round pick KeiVarae Russell and brought back linebacker Dezman Moses on Wednesday in a surprise move just one week into the regular season.Russell, a cornerback, had been passed over by sixth-round pick D.J. White and recent acquisition Kenneth Acker on the depth chart. Russell was the Chiefs second player chosen in the draft.Listen, we felt that was best for the Chiefs right now, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. Hes a good young man and I think he has a good future, but for right now, thats what we needed.The move helps to shore up special teams while providing depth at linebacker, a position group that struggled often in a 33-27 overtime victory over San Diego.The Chiefs are already without pass rusher Justin Houston because of ACL surgery and have to limit Tamba Halis time to keep him healthy.Moses was cut last week when the Chiefs needed to reach the NFLs 53-man roster limit.Still, it was a surprise the Chiefs gave up on Russell given how highly he was drafted. Kansas City did not have a first-round pick, so he was one of the prime selections in this years draft.The Chiefs have also had success in that particular round: running backs Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis, wide receiver Chris Conley, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive lineman Allen Bailey and corrnerback Philip Gaines were all third-round draft picks.ddddddddddddReid characterized the move as strictly a personnel decision.I think hes a smart kid, he said of the former Notre Dame standout. Again, this was just a matter of we felt for right now, this was the best move to help us out where were sitting.In other news, running back Spencer Ware sprained his toe and missed practice Wednesday, though Reid said he expects the breakout star of last weeks win to play Sunday in Houston.Ware had 70 yards rushing and 129 yards receiving in place of Charles.Speaking of Charles, Reid said the four-time Pro Bowl running back continues to make progress from his ACL surgery last season, though he did not say whether Charles will get on the field this week.Every day he gets a little bit better, Reid said. Hell work in a bit with the starting group but again, we have to make sure hes set there. We dont want another surgery.Also banged up were linebacker Sam Barrington, who strained his hamstring in the opener, and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff, who is dealing with a high ankle sprain.Well just have to see how bad that is, Reid said.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '