yers with 11-15 years will remain eligible: Don Ma

OTTAWA -- Erik Karlsson says hed be glad to take on the added responsibility that comes with being the new captain of the Ottawa Senators. Hed also be perfectly happy if the team decides to go in another direction. "Obviously its something I wouldnt say no to (but) its not something Im going to ask for," the star defenceman said Monday. "I think whoever takes that decision is going to make the right one and whether its me or someone else I think its going to be good for the team and good for the organization." The Senators are once again in search of a new captain as Jason Spezza -- who replaced longtime captain Daniel Alfredsson -- was traded to the Dallas Stars this past summer. Spezza wore the "C" for just one season before requesting a trade from Senators management. "As a friend point of view its sad to see him go and I wish him all the best," Karlsson said. "Its part of the business unfortunately. Hes been here for a long time and felt that he needed to move on. Its just one of those things you learn to deal with as a professional athlete." Despite the loss of Spezzas leadership and offensive abilities, Karlsson thinks the team can improve from last seasons 11th place finish in the Eastern Conference. "Its going to be a change, but at the same time I think the group we have is developing," Karlsson said. "Even though we kind of had a bad year last year I think were going to be a better team this year with or without (Spezza). I think everyone is motivated coming back and someone is going to have to step up, but thats part of the business as well. You have to give the new guys the opportunity to shine and hopefully someone will take it." Karlsson finished last season with 20 goals and 74 points through 82 games, but was far from satisfied with his performance. He worked hard during the off-season, made longer by the fact the Senators missed the playoffs, and says he feels great and is looking forward to getting back on the ice. "This summers been really good for me," he said. "Sad to say the long summers probably done me good for my own interest and Ive made a lot of progress from last year. I feel way better now than I did at this point last year and I really feel that everything is starting to connect more." The 24-year-old admitted he didnt feel good about his game last season and wants to try and return to the form that saw him win the Norris Trophy in 2013. "Im extremely excited about my own game and the teams game and where its going to take us," Karlsson said. "Right now I feel fresh and I feel like Im in a place in my life, on and off the ice, where Im happy about myself and Im excited moving forward and theres a lot of small things that I know I need to take care of on the ice to be a better player and I think Im up to date on what I need to do." Karlsson seemed more at peace and confident with himself, and it appears a tumultuous season last year helped the young defenceman mature. Last season saw Karlsson dealing with a divorce, the loss of Alfredsson, as well as close friends Peter Regin and Jakob Silfverberg, and recovering from the Achilles injury. "Everything bad comes with some good right, thats normally what they say," Karlsson said. "Ive learned a lot from last year and theres a lot of things you dont want to go through again and some things that take some time to pick up what you need to do better. I think last year in the long run is going to do us good." While Karlsson was already considered a star, he will likely come under even closer scrutiny this season with Spezzas departure. In the end it was that scrutiny that proved to be too much for Spezza, but Karlsson says hes ready and willing to accept it. "Thats how it is playing on a Canadian team and thats what you have to take," Karlsson said. "It comes with its ups and downs and its a great feeling playing for a city where everybody cares so much. Its going to be hard at times and people are going to analyze you for whatever you do." Karlsson admitted there are times he doesnt enjoy the scrutiny, but understands it comes with the territory and says hes learned not to take it too personally. Notes: The Ottawa Senators signed defenceman Mark Borowiecki to a three-year contract extension Monday. The deal has an average annual value of $1.1 million ($1.0 million in 2015-16, $1.1 million in 2016-17 and $1.2 million in 2017-18). Borowiecki played 13 games for the Senators last season and is expected to bring a physical dimension to the Ottawa blue-line. Air Jordan 12 Outlet . They have homered once every 27.3 at bats, which just happens to be the third best mark in the American League, albeit just 10 games into the season. Air Jordan 12 For Sale Cheap .com) - Minnesota Vikings fans would surely concede Teddy Bridgewater is not Peyton Manning. http://www.airjordan12outlet.com/ . A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court said his girlfriend told police they got into the argument early Thursday at his suburban Minneapolis home. Cheap Air Jordan 12 China .com) - Mike Conley scored 20 points with five assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies remain unbeaten with a 91-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Cheap Authentic Jordan 12 . Still, Inter moved one point ahead of Parma in the race for fifth place and the final Europa League spot. Udinese remained 14th, 11 points above the relegation zone. Inter was beaten 2-1 by Atalanta at home on Sunday and has won only seven of 16 matches at the San Siro this season, as the squad seems to still be searching for its identity under new owner Erick Thohir and first-year manager Walter Mazzarri.COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will have less time to remain eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot under changes made Saturday. The Hall of Fames board cut a players eligibility from 15 years to 10, which gives McGwire a maximum of two more appearances on the writers ballot. Bonds, Clemens and Sosa, shunned so far along with other Steroids Era stars, can be considered up to eight more times each by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, dropped from 37.6 per cent to 35.4 last year in his second ballot appearance, well short of the 75 per cent needed for election. Bonds, a seven-time MVP and baseballs career home runs leader, fell from 36.2 per cent to 34.7. McGwire dropped from 16.9 per cent to 11, down from a peak of 25.6 in 2008. Sosa, who hit 609 homers, dropped from 12.5 per cent to 7.2 -- close to falling below the 5 per cent threshold for remaining on the ballot. Three players with 11-15 years will remain eligible: Don Mattingly (15th year in 2015), Alan Trammell (14th) and Lee Smith (13th).dddddddddddd This is just the second change in voting rules since 1985, when the 5 per cent threshold for remaining on the ballot was instituted. In 1991, players on baseballs permanent ineligible list were barred from the ballot, a move that prevented career hits leader Pete Rose from being considered. Rose agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation by Major League Baseball concluded he bet on the Cincinnati Reds to win while managing the team. Members of the BBWAA for 10 consecutive years at any point are eligible to vote. Under another change announced Saturday, eligible voters will be required to complete a registration form and sign a code of conduct, and their names will be made public, but not their individual votes. Dan Le Batard, an ESPN host and Miami Herald columnist, was kicked out of the BBWAA for one year and barred from future Hall votes in January after he turned over his 2014 ballot to a website that allowed readers to choose the selections. ' ' '