With the ugliness of the NHL lockout and a shortened season long washed away by the excitement of a new and complete year ahead, were re-launching The Dreger Report, a weekly dispatch on NHL news and views. This week, TSNs Ryan Rishaug reported that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins agent Rick Valette and Oilers management have begun negotiations on a contract extension. The brass in Edmonton loves RNH - hes their guy. Hes considered a big part of the Oilers future. An eight-year extension to complement Jordan Eberles six-year, $36 million and Taylor Halls seven-year, $42 million deal (agreed to last August) aligns with an Oilers source who says, "longer is better" - specific to Nugent-Hopkins. Its not the model other teams around the NHL are using when addressing their players and their second (bridge) contracts, but Edmonton is clearly banking on its youth when it comes to a brighter future. ----- NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr will meet with the IIHF in Portugal on Thursday. Whether discussed at this meeting or not, theres a growing sense of urgency in determining the NHLs plans to continue to expand its European profile. While its not CBA related, the NHL and NHLPA did agree to work together to send four NHL teams back to Europe next fall for regular season games. Sources say there has been little progress in planning the NHLs return and time may be running out. NHL clubs are already making plans for their 2014 training camps and preseason games and the marketing impact required may suffer because of the loose ends. The World Cup of Hockey is also on the list of items that IIHF executives would like to discuss this week. Without question, both the NHLPA and the NHL are keenly interested in bringing this spectacle back, however, aside from some informal discussions, there appears to be little urgency to kick this joint initiative into high gear. ----- And a couple of things that will likely be re-visited by the players and the league in the months ahead: 1) The additional two-minute penalty for removing a helmet to fight - There may not be a more "toothless" penalty in hockey than this one. The idea of a game misconduct was discussed, however, before it crossed the desk of the competition committee and sources say it had already been dismissed by NHL GMs. Its unlikely the PA would have supported it, as players still value the enforcers role. But in its current form, it appears to be a wash as those who opt for "buckets off" will only do so if their opponent agrees. The rule is designed for the safety of the players and to avoid the potential for catostrophic injury. We get it, but two minutes seems hardly an effective deterrent. 2) Delaying the inevitable expansion of video review - NHL Hockey Operations postponed implementation of video review for high-sticking penalties after agreeing to introduce it in the summer. The league doesnt see the issue as clear-cut and believes more time is needed to explore the downside of adding an extra set of eyes. Boston and Montreal provided a good example on Monday of why the concept was initially accepted when Boston scored while Montreal as serving a double-minor for high-sticking. Unfortunately, it was Bostons Carl Soderberg who clipped teammate Craig Cunningham and not Canadiens forward Gabriel Dumont - who was assessed the four-minute penalty. Wrong is never right. See you later this week. Fake Jerseys Outlet . 11 Ana Ivanovic and American Sloane Stephens, and former world No. Fake Jerseys For Sale . "All he says is, its crazy," DeMar DeRozan told reporters following Torontos win over the Pistons Wednesday. The Raptors longest-serving members, Johnson and DeRozan have had two coaches and 56 different teammates in five seasons with the club, all without appearing in a single playoff game. https://www.fakejersey.com/. His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. Fake Jerseys .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town. Wholesale Fake Jerseys . Notes on P.K. Subban, Dale Weise, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Bryzgalov and more.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Josh Smith saved his only 3-pointers for when the Detroit Pistons needed them most. His first started a 12-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Pistons the lead for good and the next gave Detroit breathing room in its 116-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Greg Monroe matched his season-best with 28 points and had 14 rebounds to help Detroit end a three-game skid in a matchup of the NBA Central Divisions worst two teams. Smith scored eight of his 26 during the decisive run. "It kind of was a relief," Smith said of his first 3-pointer, which got the Pistons within 98-95 with 5:2 left in the game. "I knew if I just stepped into it and shot it with confidence we could make a push." He had a 3-point play later in the run and added his second 3-pointer and a subsequent dunk with a minute to play to put the game away. Smith finished the fourth with 15 points and was 11 for 19 from the floor overall. "It seemed like every shot he made in the fourth quarter was a big shot," Monroe said. "We obviously needed him to kind of pull away." Brandon Knight had 25 points and Ramon Sessions added 20 and 11 assists for Milwaukee, which lost its 10th consecutive road game and dropped the season series with the Pistons 3-1. The Bucks outscored the Pistons 13-6 in the final four minutes of the first half and took a 61-52 lead to intermission. Detroit trailed by as many as 11 points early in the third but took the lead with a 12-0 run before heading into the final period trailing 82-81.dddddddddddd Andre Drummond had 10 points and 16 boards and Brandon Jennings added 20 points and 13 assists for Detroit, which won despite going to the line 21 times to Milwaukees 36. "We just stopped doing the things that we did for three-and-a-half quarters," Milwaukee coach Larry Drew said. "We took some tough shots. We rushed a lot of quick shots around the basket and missed a lot of easy ones." Drew was content with his teams job on Smith, who entered the game making 42 per cent of his field-goal tries. "I thought we did a good job from a game strategy standpoint," Drew said. "We did what we were supposed to do. He just started making shots." The Bucks got 12 points, 13 rebounds and a career-best three blocks from centre Zaza Pachulia. They went almost five minutes without a field goal late in the fourth quarter while Detroit made the decisive run. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo each added 14 points. Pistons coach John Loyer was whistled for a technical foul midway through the third quarter. Two nights earlier he was ejected from the Pistons 123-98 loss at Philadelphia. NOTES: Drummond and Pachulia each were assessed technical fouls in the first half for arguing calls. . The Bucks finished March 0-9 on the road. Their last win away from home was Feb. 24 at Philadelphia. . Drummond had his Eastern Conference-best 49th double-double. . Bucks G O.J. Mayo (right ankle) was in uniform Monday but did not play for the third straight game. ' ' '