Canucks Keen to Keep Burrows

The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to tie Alex Burrows to a contract extension, after confirming that they have opened new deal talks with the winger’s agent.

Assistant general manager, Laurence Gilman, said: "We’ve had preliminary discussions about extending Alex's contract but, beyond that, it's not our policy to discuss ongoing negotiations."

Burrows, who is about to start the final year of a four-year contract that pays him $2million a season, has been one of the Canucks’ star performers in recent years, scoring at least 25 goals in each of the last four seasons.

The 31-year-old’s most prolific season was in 2009-10, when he scored 35 goals and 67 points, but he still managed to contribute to NHL scores last season, netting 28 goals and 52 points for the Canucks.

"Alex is an important player on our team, both on the ice and in our dressing room," added Gilman. "If we can get him signed to a long-term deal that keeps him with us for a number of years, it would be a very good thing."

It is believed that the Canucks could be willing to offer Burrows a $4million-a-season deal that would put him on the same level as the likes of Wayne Simmonds, who recently signed a new six-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit forward, Johan Franzen, and New York Rangers winger, Ryan Callahan.

Meanwhile, the Canucks are still hoping to buy Shane Doan from Phoenix although the player is waiting to see how the Coyotes’ ownership situation develops before making a decision on his future.

Doan is believed to prefer to stay with Phoenix but has named the Canucks as his next best option if he does not re-sign with the Coyotes. If Vancouver do snap up Doan, it could have an impact on Burrows, who would then be forced to play on the second line with Ryan Kesler.

It could also have a major impact on the NHL standings, should Doan prove as prolific at the Canucks as he did at Phoenix.

Federer Victory inspires Li Comeback

Watching Roger Federer lift the men’s singles title at the Western and Southern Open inspired the Chinese player, Li Na to go out and win the ladies event just a few hours later.

"I was thinking, `OK, I really want to do the same,''' she said, having seen Roger Federer posing for photographs and lifting the trophy after beating Novak Djokovic to win the Cincinnati masters title.

This has been a long season for Li Na who, despite reaching three finals had yet to win a trophy up until yesterday and her Tennis Odds before the tournament did not suggest imminent success.

“I was really hungry for the title,'' she added after defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber in three sets.

Maybe it was due to nerves, but Li started the match in the worst possible fashion, losing the first set 6-1, and she must have thought that her winless streak was bound to continue.

To her credit, though, the 30-year old fought back heroically and was a worthy winner;“She was playing unbelievable in the first set,'' Li said. "I was trying to play fast, but I was feeling she had no mistakes. Every ball just came back to my side” she added.

Prior to yesterday the last tournament that Li Na won was the French Open in 2011 and, having proved in the past that she is capable of winning Grand Slams, her victory in Cincinnati will certainly give her a huge confidence boost going into the US open next week; "I think it's a very good beginning,'' she said.

Li Na’s previous best performance at the US Open was a Quarter final appearance in 2009 and, having returned to winning ways her US Open Tennis Odds have moved in. She will be expecting to at least match that at Flushing Meadows this time around.

More Manning to hopefully come

Peyton Manning’s appearance in a Denver Broncos jersey on Thursday may have been more of an anti-climax than spectacular, but the quarter-back did just enough to prove he can live up to his name this season and help his side defy NFL betting odds.

The 36-year-old starred in Denver’s pre-season game with the Chicago Bears, and his arm looked good for the single series he played before being replaced by Caleb Hanie. With the new season fast approaching, Broncos fans can be optimistic the veteran quarterback still has what it takes at the top level.

Manning needs no introduction after becoming one of the most iconic football stars of his generation. The four-time MVP finally moved on from his Indianapolis Colts home this spring after 14 glorious years.

The one sad factor for the Louisiana-born star was his final season at the Colts, which ended prematurely after vertebrate problems forced Manning to miss the entirety of last season. Yet with a Superbowl ring and 11 Pro Bowl appearances, Manning’s departure was still heavily felt in Indianapolis.

It is time to move on, and Manning appears to have done so with success at Denver. Although his appearance on Chicago’s Soldier Field was only brief, he completed four of seven passes to progress 44 yards, and in 11 plays advanced the Broncos 50 yards.

He did have a bit of luck with Geno Hayes’ failed interception at the end of the first quarter, but that scare should not deter Manning from coming into the new season with confidence. The most high-profile free agent this off-season, Manning signed a five-year deal with the Broncos way back in March.

It seems to have taken an age for the superstar to finally make his debut. Now Broncos fans and the betting NFL community can look forward to another Playoff appearance this season and hopefully a Superbowl or two to come.