est for our team and whats best for him, said Coop

MONTREAL - Quebec Premier Pauline Marois says she hopes to reach an agreement that will keep Formula One racing in Montreal beyond 2014. Marois had a brief face-to-face chat Sunday with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone at Montreals Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during the Canadian Grand Prix. She said negotiations between different levels of government and Ecclestone have gone smoothly. "Until now, things are going well and I hope we will conclude an agreement," Marois said after the five-minute huddle in the paddocks with Ecclestone, Quebec Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau and Canadian Grand Prix promoter Francois Dumontier. "And when I met Mr. Ecclestone I said to him: We have to conclude a win-win agreement. I think he agrees with me." The citys contract with F1 expires after the 2014 race. But talks have reportedly been slowed because the federal government is hesitant to increase its portion of the $15-million annual contribution to Ecclestone. Marois said she wouldnt publicly discuss details on the negotiations for an agreement-in-principle with F1. She did say Canadas only F1 event is an important part of Montreals economy and is a good way to promote the city on the international stage. A recent media report indicated an agreement-in-principle to keep the race in Montreal until 2024 was imminent. On Sunday, Dumontier said such a prediction was premature and added that a deal could be reached in the coming weeks. "I remain optimistic, negotiations are moving forward between all parties and the tone is favourable," Dumontier said. During negotiations, Ecclestone has also asked for millions of dollars worth of renovations to the paddocks and control tower at the aging Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. On Saturday, Ecclestone told Radio-Canada, the CBCs French-language network, that he wasnt in a hurry to renew the contract with Montreal. "I dont need the money, so its not that desperate," Ecclestone told the network when asked how badly he wanted the race to return to Montreal. "I like Montreal but as far as the race is concerned its not desperate, its not the only race in the world." On the track, Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel lauded the atmosphere at the Montreal events shortly after he cruised to his first victory there on Sunday. "To me, this race belongs 100-per-cent on the calendar because us drivers really appreciate seeing grandstands sold out, all of the people enthusiastic, the whole town living the Grand Prix," said Vettel, a three-time world champion and this seasons Formula One leader. "Yesterday, (the weather) was not as good and there were a lot of fans. Today, it was fantastic." Vans Outlet Uk . 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After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. TORONTO -- As the local Toronto media assembled around Steven Stamkos?Monday to bookend, once and for all, his offseason decision to stay in Tampa Bay and not to come and play for his hometown Maple Leafs, the real question mark for Stamkos team this season sat a few stalls down.The subject of this uncertainty wont generate nearly as many fireworks, nor fuel nearly as much season-long drama as last year, when the face of the franchise took until the 11th hour to decide that he was staying put in Tampa Bay. But it is nevertheless a major unresolved decision for the?Tampa Bay Lightning?organization. The difference this time around is that its not about a player making up his mind as much as it is?Ben Bishop waiting to find out from the Lightning what his future entails.The 29-year-old netminder got a clue at the NHL draft last June when a potential trade with the?Calgary Flames?fell through because he couldnt come to terms on a contract extension with the Flames (a stipulation his camp made, given that he had a no-move clause). Instead, the Flames traded for Brian Elliott, and Bishop, who is in the final year of his deal (at $5.95 million), remained with the Lightning. Its a bit awkward, perhaps, but its part of the business.Its one of those things that could have happened, but it fell through, Bishop said Monday, shrugging, when asked about the potential trade to Calgary. Being around long enough, you realize that sometimes there are going to be business decisions made. And if they dont work, they dont work, and theres nothing you can really do about it. You cant sit there and sulk or worry about it. You have to just go out there and keep playing. Im pretty fortunate to have a job with Tampa. Its a great team and a great place to play. So Im pretty happy about everything going on.Theres no question that the team showed its hand ahead of next Junes expansion draft before the new Las Vegas team enters the league, when clubs will only be able to protect one goalie -- not only in the attempted trade with Calgary, but also when it signed 22-year-old Andrei Vasilevskiy to a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension this past offseason.So what now?Lightning general manager?Steve Yzerman?has?the following options regarding Bishop, who will be a pending unrestricted free agent next summer:1) If a team makes a good enough offer ahead of the March 1 trade deadline, take the asset(s) it nets.2) Keep Bishop for the rest of the season for another, all-hands-on-deck run at the Stanley Cup. If he walks away for nothing in free agency, so be it. The cap space the Lightning would earn next July would still be valuable considering that?Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Jonathan Drouin all will need new deals.3) If Bishop plays out of his mind en route to a Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup championship, maybe the Lightning will try sign him after all.Yzerman met with Bishop in September. While Bishop on Monday said the content of that conversation will remain private, I suspect the message from Yzerman was that the Lightning still value very much what Bishop brings to the table and that while the GM cant give him any definite answers on how this is all going to play out, the only thing the veteran goalie can do is play his guts out and let the chips fall where they may.dddddddddddd Which is exactly what Bishop intends to do.As far as Im concerned, every door is still open, Bishop said. You have a great year, and you never know what can happen. Im not really thinking its going to happen just that way (getting traded). It could happen a couple of different ways.In the meantime, the Lightning will benefit from having both goalies for one more year -- particularly this season, which features a compressed schedule because of Septembers World Cup of Hockey and the new five-day bye week each team will get in the second half. Just like the Pittsburgh Penguins see value in keeping both Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray for one more season before they have to make a decision about them ahead of the expansion draft, having two No. 1 goalies during stretches when teams must play three games in four nights and/or five games in eight days will be a luxury. While other NHL teams will be forced to play true backup netminders more because of the compressed schedule, the Penguins and Lightning can roll out a No. 1 goalie every night.You look what happened in L.A., [with]?Jonathan Quick getting hurt, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Monday. Freak things like that happen. You need to have depth at all positions. I dont know if theres a more important position in sports, aside from the quarterback in football, than the goaltending position. So to have depth in that area like we do, you cherish it as long as you can.Now its up to the coach to figure out how to dole out those starts to two guys who want the net. Cooper was quoted recently suggesting something of a 50-30 games split between Bishop and the younger Vasilevsky.The one thing is, you got to get Vasilevsky more games [than last season]. Its whats best for our team and whats best for him, said Cooper. But you have to keep Bish engaged too, because hes a two-time Vezina finalist the last three years and hes a big reason we are where we are today. So theres a balance. But if you really think about it, you start getting into the crux of the season, youre playing 3-4 games a week, guys are getting in. I just want to find a way to have both guys play every week. Its my job to find a way to get them in, and thats whats going to happen.The best part of it all is that the two goalies have a terrific relationship by all accounts, the veteran serving as a mentor to the youngster.Hes a young kid, hes still kind of learning the ways, said Bishop. Im happy to help him. I think hes going to be a star in this league.His pupil clearly appreciates Bishops guidance. Im just watching him almost every day, practice days, game days, said Vasilevskiy. I just watch how he prepares before games, and how he recovers after the game. Hes just so professional.The future for both of them? Thats for another day.I dont think about it, said Vasilevskiy. Were just doing our jobs. Were just helping our team get points and win a Stanley Cup. Were good friends. We dont think about what might happen. ' ' '