the first 10 Braves before Upton snapped a 0-for-

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators are once again turning to a young Swede to lead the organization.The Senators named star defenceman Erik Karlsson as the ninth captain in franchise history on Thursday. The announcement came 15 years after Daniel Alfreddson started his long and successful run wearing the C in Ottawa.Karlsson takes over the leadership role from Jason Spezza, who was captain for just one year before being traded to the Dallas Stars this summer.The Senators added to the days excitement announcing a new US$50.75 million, seven-year contract extension for forward Bobby Ryan.Karlsson was the odds-on favourite to become the new captain, as theres little debate that he is now the face of the franchise.At 24, Karlsson appears poised to embrace the new responsibility.Its an incredible opportunity, Karlsson said. Its a task thats very rare and its not something that you can prepare for really. Its a little bit surprising to me as well and its a bit overwhelming, but Im ready for what is to come.Im really looking forward to what it has to bring and Im excited about the team and about the upcoming season and even beyond that. Im just very, very thrilled right now.Chris Phillips and Chris Neil will remain as alternate captains.Speculation as to who would be the new captain began as soon as Spezzas trade was announced. The Senators said they were in no rush to name a replacement and wanted to take the time to make the right choice.In the end general manager Bryan Murray said the decision was clear.We knew in the very near future he was going to be (captain) and we finally just decided that if hes going to be it why not be it now, Murray said. I think his growth off the ice, his attitude, the conversations weve had since last year and the fact hes back to full health and really wanting to be a focal point of this hockey team a€” all those reasons. The most important one obviously was we just felt he was the right guy because he had that personality to step up and take charge and be forceful, but considerate of his teammates.Murray said consideration for Karlsson to take on a greater leadership role began as far back as last years exit meetings.There was a tough decision to make here, Murray said. We had a couple other guys that are very responsible, good veteran players, but we just felt we had to turn the team over to a guy that could carry this team for a number of years and not be changing every year or two the captains role or whatever.Erik really indicated to me, and over the summer the few times that we talked, that he sure sounded like a guy who wanted responsibility, wanted to be a different team than last year and he came into camp and I think hes shown that.I think hes back to where he can be as a player and hell show that he can take charge of helping us be a real good team over the course of time.Karlsson was far from his best last season as he dealt with personal issues and the recovery from a lacerated Achilles tendon the previous campaign. Despite that he still managed to score 20 goals and add 54 assists.Karlsson was approached Wednesday about taking over the captaincy. He said he was honoured to be asked and didnt hesitate to accept the offer.The 2012 Norris trophy winner knows he will be under greater scrutiny, but says he was fortunate to have spent time playing under both Alfredsson, one of his best friends, and Spezza.Ill never be Alfie, Ill never be Spezz, Ill be myself and Ill lead probably in a different way than other players will and thats how it is for everyone, Karlsson said. No one can or should shape themselves exactly after someone else. We are who we are and I was fortunate to be around Alfie and learn from him and take the best things from him and also from Spezz and Philly (Phillips) and Neiler (Neil) as well. Just being around a lot of experienced, good guys it helps you shape yourself into who you want to be.Karlsson shared the news with Alfredsson prior to the official announcement and said the former captain was pleased for him.The signing of Ryan solidifies the Senators lineup as they now have Karlsson, Kyle Turris and Clarke MacArthur signed to long-term deals.Ryan, who was acquired after Alfredsson chose to sign with Detroit as a free agent in the summer of 2013, has been a fan favourite from the start and says choosing to commit long-term was a no brainer for he and his fianc??e.I love the city. I love the fans. Everybody has been so embracing and genuinely good-hearted hockey fans and I like being surrounded by that and on top of that I think the team is on the uptake obviously, he said. Say what you want on the outside of things, but I think a lot of people in the room are very, very happy with where were at and where were going to be over the course of my next seven years, but ultimately overall.Murray said it was always the organizations intent to sign Ryan to a long-term extension and was pleased to get it done sooner rather than later to avoid it becoming a distraction.We had been talking to Bobby for quite some time, Murray said. He just wanted to take a little bit of time and make sure for him that he was comfortable where he fit here and obviously he is.Only Phil Kessel has more goals than Ryan among American players since 2008-09. Kessel has 192 goals through 434 games, while Ryan has 165 goals in 425 games.We know hes a good player; we know hes an important player for us; we know goals are hard to come by in the NHL and if you dont have that kind of player in your lineup over the course of time it makes it difficult to win games, Murray said. I think Bobbys shown he can be the goal scorer in the moment of an important part of a game that can help us win.Defenceman Marc Methot remains the lone player who has yet to be re-signed as he enters the final year of his contract, but Murray said a new offer has been sent to Methots agent, Larry Kelly.We are trying to indicate to Marc that wed really like to keep him and sign him here, Murray said. Theres no other intent on our part, but I havent heard back from his agent. Vapormax Noir Pas Cher Site Fiable . On Thursday theyll learn even more. Despite the cloud of uncertainty that has followed them around from the moment general manager Masai Ujiri was brought in to put his stamp on the franchise, the Raptors have surpassed all pre-season expectations. Air Max 97 Noir Femme Pas Cher . The 29-year-old German, the 2011 overall World Cup champion, says she has decided "to end my career now. http://www.outletairmaxpascher.fr/fausse-air-max-97-plus.html . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. Air Max 270 Femme Moins Cher Basket Air Max 90 Homme Pas Cher . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. ATLANTA -- Gavin Floyd was impressive in his first start in a year, giving the Braves a chance to end their longest losing streak in two years. Justin Upton homered and scored the tiebreaking run on Chris Johnsons eighth-inning single, and the Atlanta Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Tuesday night to end their seven-game skid. "That felt good," Johnson said. "Its big. We werent panicking too much. We were relaxed, even though we lost seven in a row." Floyd allowed one run on six hits in seven innings. He made his first major league start since April 27, 2013, for the White Sox against Tampa Bay. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery 10 days later, and his comeback included six minor league rehab starts this year. "It felt good," Floyd said. "There were a lot of emotions, a lot of excitement through this process leading up to it and getting back out there ... not only starting for the first time but trying to get us back on the winning side." Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had modest expectations for Floyds return. "I didnt expect that really," Gonzalez said. "I expected a guy who was going to scuffle through five, six innings for the first time out. He hadnt been in competition in a year but he sure came out with flying colours. You couldnt ask for anything more. "He was really, really good for the first time in a year." David Carpenter (2-0) had two strikeouts in the eighth. Craig Kimbrel added two more strikeouts in a perfect ninth for his ninth save. With one out in the eighth, Upton singled to centre. Freddie Freeman followed with a liner that bounced off the leg of Randy Choate (0-1) and bounced to third baseman Matt Carpenter for an infield hit. Right-hander Pat Neshek gave up Johnsons single to right field that drove in Upton and allowed Freeman to advance to third. Johnson called the at-bat against Nesheks side-arm delivery "a grind." "It wasnt easy," Johnson said. "That guy is funky. Hes nasty. ... That was jjust a battle between me and him and me trying to get something in play.dddddddddddd I was able to finally stay on the ball and kind of go the other way a little bit." Choate was left to bemoan Freemans shot that hit his leg, setting up Johnsons run-scoring hit. "If it misses me its a groundball to (shortstop) Jhonny (Peralta), probably a double play," Choate said. "I didnt feel it. I didnt even see it. It just somehow found me and ricochets off me. Thats the way it bounces sometimes and it stinks but what are you going to do?" St. Louis left-hander Tyler Lyons allowed only one run on four hits, including Uptons homer, in six innings. "Great start," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "Its a shame we havent been able to score that guy any runs. ... He had everything working today." Lyons retired the first 10 Braves before Upton snapped a 0-for-12 streak with his team-leading ninth homer in the fourth. The Cardinals tied it in the sixth. Matt Hollidays single to right-centre drove in Carpenter, who led off with a walk. Floyd made the start originally planned for Ervin Santana, whose spot was skipped due to his swollen right thumb. Santana is listed as the probable starter against the Cubs on Saturday. Gonzalez stayed with the structure of the revamped lineup he unveiled on Monday in an attempt to snap the losing streak and hitting slump. For the second straight game, shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit ninth, one spot behind the pitcher. NOTES: Atlantas last win was a 1-0 decision in 10 innings over the Reds on April 27. ... The losing streak was the Braves longest since eight straight losses from May 21-28, 2012. ... Matheny said 2B Mark Ellis was held out for a normal day of rest. Daniel Descalso filled in. ... The series ends on Wednesday night when Braves LHP Mike Minor looks for his first win of 2014 against Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright. ... A scoring change gave Floyd an infield single on his grounder in the fifth originally ruled as an error on Carpenter. ' ' '