Numerous media outlets are reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers are shopping the expiring contract of guard Sasha Vujacic around the NBA in a possible attempt to clear up cap space with the intentions of re-signing Shannon Brown.

Brown is rumored to have received a contract offer from the New York Knicks, and Lakers' general manager Mitch Kupchak has previously stated one of his main directives for the offseason was re-signing Brown.

Rumors say Kupchak has been in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about the possibility of acquiring Delonte West, who just came over from Cleveland, in exchange for Vujacic.

Most Laker fans seem to prefer Brown's athleticism and energy over Vujacic's inconsistency, but that may be because of coach Phil Jackson's decision to limit Vujacic's playing time.

Vujacic was once seen as an important piece to the Lakers' team, but as his shot began to fall less, and his scrappy defense became less consistent, he fell out of favor with Jackson.

Vujacic doesn't have Brown's athleticism, but he does have qualities which make him just as valuable to the Lakers, although Kupchak seems to favor Brown's potential over Vujacic.

Brown has the tools to be a superior defensive player, but he trails Vujacic in defensive fundamentals and discipline, and if Sasha could ever regain his confidence, he is a far better perimeter scorer.

At times Brown appeared to be lost on the defensive end, and this was illustrated in the Lakers' playoff series against the Phoenix Suns where Brown was constantly caught out of position.

Brown's confusion on how to defend the Suns' pick and roll often led to him double teaming in the post, while leaving the perimeter wide open for the Suns' capable perimeter scorers.

Vujacic saw more minutes in the Suns' series than he did at any time during the postseason mostly because of Brown and Farmar's inability to read screens correctly.

Vujacic, for the most part performed admirably, but his decent defense was lost in a crucial defensive mistake that could have cost the Lakers Game Six.

A flagrant foul by Vujacic at the start of the fourth quarter in Game Six fueled a Suns' run that didn't end until Kobe Bryant hit a ridiculous three-pointer over Grant Hill while falling out of bounds.

Vujacic was given a chance to redeem himself in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals when he stepped to the free throw line late in the fourth quarter, and calmly sank two crucial shots.

That showed Vujacic's confidence in his own abilities, and under the circumstances, who would you have rather had at the free throw line at that moment, Brown or Vujacic?

But in all fairness, Vujacic has never lived up to the merits of the contract he signed a few years back, while Brown has dazzled Laker fans with an array of aerial acrobatics.

Brown doesn't shoot as well as Vujacic, but he can hit a spot-up three every now and again, and if he can ever fully adapt to the triangle offense, Brown could be a terror with his quick first step.

Vujacic's energy and the enthusiasm he brings to the defensive end of the floor would surely be missed, but Brown's bigger potential upside makes Vujacic expendable.

Brown did play a much larger role for the Lakers last season than Vujacic, and it's easy to understand the financial merits in Kupchak's decision to possibly part ways with the former fan favorite.

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It has been a busy week in the NHL so far and it looks like there will be more. Here are some rumors that may turn to facts in the near future.

Several teams are interested in Tomas Kaberle, with the Sharks, Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Kings among them. A source told me yesterday to "watch out for the pacific division". That is all I can say right now.

Kevin Bieksa's name is also being tossed around, he has the same potential suitors.

Now that the Ducks have traded James Wisniewski they are in big time need of a defenseman. I am told they will explore all options via free agency and trade. Some names I have heard come up are Marc-Andre Bergeron, Andy Sutton, Kevin Bieksa and Tomas Kaberle.

Ducks GM Bob Murray had this to say when he spoke to Eric Stephens of the OCRegister "We're not done at all. ... There's other things coming in the next little while."....stay tuned.

I am hearing that Bill Guerin is generating interest from the Bruins, Penguins and Islanders.

I texted and emailed several sources yesterday asking about the rumor that if the Blackhawks let Niemi walk the Oilers would be interested and they all confirmed. One source even told me that the  "capitals would be interested as well".

This concludes today's edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy.

If you ever have any questions or comments on anything in the NHL feel free to email me at ToddCordellNHL@Gmail.com, thanks.

This article can also be found at Sportshaze.com and MTRMedia.com

For the latest news and rumors follow me on twitter @ToddNHL

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Popular theory in the NBA says defense wins playoff games and rebounding wins championships, and the Los Angeles Lakers' title in 2010 serves as proof for that theory.

The Lakers may be known for their triangle offense, but the team is defined by their defense, which just happened to be the constant in an otherwise inconsistent regular season.

The Lakers were second only to the Chicago Bulls in rebounding at 44.3 per game during the regular season, and they were third in that category during the playoffs at 42.9 rebounds per game.

It's important to note that the teams ahead of the Lakers were the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, who were both first-round casualties in the postseason.

Rebounding might be the best statistic to measure a team's defense, because a high number shows the opposition is missing shots, and even when the rebounds are offensive, they limit an opponent's possessions.

Those numbers often directly relate to defensive field goal percentage, and the Lakers' 43 percent ranked third behind the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, who were conference finalists and Finals runner-up, respectively.

Although the Lakers ranked fourth in the postseason at 101 points per game, it's clear their championship was won on the strength of a superior defense, and they have a chance to be even better this season.

It may seem like the Lakers had a pedestrian offseason, but the acquisitions of Theo Ratliff, Matt Barnes, and to a lesser extent Steve Blake, were made for defensive purposes alone.

At 6'7", Barnes gives the Lakers another tall, versatile player who is equally comfortable defending on the perimeter or post, and he has the quickness to defend point guards on occasion.

The Lakers basically have three elite perimeter defenders in Barnes, Kobe Bryant, and Ron Artest, and Barnes' presence will also allow Bryant to roam the court more and play off of his defensive instincts.

Blake will fill in for the departed Jordan Farmar, and he is no defensive genius by any means, but he's not likely to be as mistake-prone as Farmar was either.

Farmar had the athleticism and quickness to be an elite defender at the point guard position, but he lacked the discipline and made a number of mistakes due to bad positioning on the court.

Blake is not the same athlete as Farmar, but he is a heady player with a decent long-range shot, and he is more likely to make the smart play instead of the flashy one.

Ratliff joins a front line that includes Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom, and all three excel on the defensive end of the floor.

Ratliff and Bynum give the Lakers a tough, physical presence, while Odom and Gasol provide fundamental defense based on precision and timing.

Gasol may have the best defensive footwork in the NBA, and Bynum's intimidating presence as a shot-blocker and deterrent could have been the main difference for the Lakers in the Finals.

Odom has the potential to be the best defender on the Lakers roster due to his size, range of motion, and pure basketball instincts, but his Achilles' heel has always been consistency.

However, Los Angeles is accustomed to Odom's inconsistent ways and the Lakers have been able to play through those times in light of Odom's occasional brilliance.

The Lakers have the ability to score points in bunches from any point on the floor, but more importantly they have the defensive ability to limit the opposition's scores from anywhere on the court also.

People will rave about the precision and rhythm of the triangle offense, but if the Lakers are to achieve their goal of a three-peat, it will be once again be done on the defensive end of the court.

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Whenever a new force emerges in the NBA, the doubters seem to raise their voices louder than ever before.

With that in mind, it is no surprise that Miami Heat fans find themselves flooded daily by the "expert" opinions of fellow basketball supporters. 

The naysayers and critics have come out in full force, whether it be amateur sports journalists like myself, professional sports analysts, or even former NBA legends.

A news report I found particularly amusing came from LeBron James' former Cleveland teammate Wally Szczerbiak, who claimed that a pairing of LeBron and Dwyane Wade would never translate to on-court success. 

Even here on Bleacher Report the anti-Heat sentiment is overwhelming, and I've recently found myself immersed in negativity.

Hadarri Jones, a friend and fellow Featured Columnist, has been busy pumping out articles reinforcing the fact that the Lakers are the team to beat in 2010-11. If you're a Lakers fan, by the way, make sure you find your way to his page. 

This article is a response to all the doubters, who seem to have forgotten their allegiance to any one team and all joined the "Anti-Heat" squad.

While some may think this is biased, I'll be the first to admit that this is true. Would you expect anything else from a Featured Columnist, and life-long fan of the Heat? Regardless, it is still more objective than a lot of the comments I have been reading from Heat-bashing fans.

In addition, it is quite a lengthy article, and I haven't been able to provide responses to all the questions that doubters have raised. This piece will focus solely on the challengers that the Heat will face in the Eastern Conference. 

It is my belief that the Heat will have no problem reaching the Finals next season, and will dispose of any challenge that is present in the East come playoff time. 

The biggest question mark regarding the Heat's lineup has been the weak link at the center position. How will the Heat contain the likes of Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum? As this article will focus on the East, let's leave Bynum and the Lakers out of the discussion for today. 

In response to Dwight and the Orlando Magic, does it really matter? Too many questions have been asked about how the Heat will defend one or two impact players from other teams, instead of how other teams will stop LeBron and Wade. 

Seriously though, does anyone have the answer to that question? Which of the Magic's players are going to stop LeBron and Wade? Is it going to be Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis or Quentin Richardson? Don't forget notorious defensive liability J.J. Redick! 

In fact let's be realistic and use the term "contain" instead of "stop", because clearly nobody has a chance at stopping the Heat's dynamic duo of perimeter superstars.

Secondly, any fan who thinks Dwight will be able to carry the Magic over the Heat is nuts. Recent history has shown that Dwight lacks the offensive finesse, post-game and mid-range jumper to be a truly dominant offensive player. 

The guy has never averaged more than 20.7 PPG in the playoffs and 20.7 PPG in the regular season, ridiculous when you consider that the league is seriously depleted at his position. He's a ridiculous rebounder and defensive anchor, but unless he's seriously improved offensively this off-season, he's not averaging more than 25 PPG in any given series. 

The Heat know this, which is they have gone out of their way to acquire a list of big bodies who will each take their turn hassling Howard. Zyrundas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Jamaal Magloire and Juwan Howard will be more than capable of completing that simple task.  

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying the Heat will dominate the Magic. I'm just throwing some fact into the fray of ridiculous arguments I've heard recently. In my opinion, Jameer Nelson's ability to get into the heart of the defense will be the x-factor if the Magic are to be victorious. 

Moving on, let's talk about the Boston Celtics. 

Outmatched would be the one word that encapsulates the way I feel about a Celtic-Heat showdown. The "weak-point" now moves from center to point guard, as Kendrick Perkins and Jermaine O'Neal aren't dominating any team inside. 

How will the Heat contain Rajon Rondo? I acknowledge this is slightly harder. Do we see how Mario Chalmers goes throughout the year, and decide closer to the time? What about sticking LeBron or Wade on Rondo? Surely that would work. 

Again I'll counter with this question, how do the Celtics contain LeBron and Wade? Ray Allen is too old to chase Wade around, and Paul Pierce lacks the quickness to contain Wade or LeBron. What about Tony Allen? Oh wait, he's left for Memphis. 

Without Allen slowing Wade in the second half, the Heat would have taken the first game of last season's first round playoff series. Hell that could have changed the outcome of the entire series, and the Celtics may not have even made it out to the Finals in the end. 

That said, the Celts do play great team defense. If that and Rondo is enough to beat the Heat remains to be seen, although all logic points to a negative answer. 

Now that we've exposed the Heat's two biggest threats in the East, who is left? 

The Atlanta Hawks have no chance, so let's not even go there. Charlotte Bobcats? We'll see if they even make the playoffs. An intriguing team is the Milwaukee Bucks, who have a legitimate post-presence in Andrew Bogut and some talented wings. They likely lack the perimeter defense to make significant noise though. 

For the moment I'll call the Chicago Bulls the dark-horse to legitimately contest with the Heat. I'm a big advocate of Derrick Rose as the future point guard of the league, but I think the Bulls are too lacking on the wings on both offense and defense. 

If you've managed to get through this entire article I commend and thank-you for your attention and time. If you've just skimmed the page and are picking up reading here, let me clear things up and leave you with a bold prediction.

My intention is not to preach mindless garbage about how the Heat are the best thing since sliced bread. It is merely to provide some counter-arguments to the questions raised by Heat doubters. You may as well know both sides of the story if you're going to indulge in Heat-bashing. 

Haters can raise whatever doubts what they want, but this is history in the making. Whether the Heat will win the championship in 2010-11, or more specifically beat the Lakers, is a debate for another day. The Heat will however, have no problem disposing of any and every opponent in the East that stands between them and the NBA Finals. 

You can take that to the bank. 

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So Louis Leblanc has finally made a decision about his future, and he has chosen to put aside the red of the Harvard Crimson and sign with the Montreal Canadiens.

Click here to read the full press release.

Leblanc will now join the Junior de Montreal, who own his junior rights, and will likely get a real chance of playing for the Canadian Junior National team come winter.

While Leblanc could really not make a bad choice between Harvard and the junior ranks, the latter move is perhaps slightly better for him since he will be playing against better competition.

Moreover, playing for the Junior de Montreal means that Leblanc will be residing in the city of Montreal. This move will end up being a boon for the Canadiens, as the proximity to the Habs will mean that they will be able to better ensure he continues to develop as expected.

I think this is a great hockey decision for Leblanc, as playing in Harvard for another year would have been more of an academic decision, and one that will only help him get better quicker.

I expect Leblanc to start adding mass to his 6'1", 184-pound frame to play a key role on the 2011 Canadian World Junior team and to be ready for a possible jump to Hamilton next season.

So what do you think of this move? Should Leblanc have stayed a little longer at Harvard? Is the Junior de Montreal the best fit for him?

Follow Kamal on Facebook , Twitter , and HabsAddict.com.

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Today I will be ranking the best fantasy goalies 16-20.

16. Pekka Rinne (NASH)

Last year's stats: Wins: 32 / GAA: 2.53 / SV%: .911

Rinne spent most of last season battling with Dan Ellis for the No. 1 job. Though Rinne never officially lost it, on occasion Ellis would start a few games in a row.

The Predators did lose Hamhuis and Arnott, but they replaced them with Matthew Lombardi and Matt Halischuk. Those two should bolster the offense, which should lead to more wins for Rinne.

Rinne had 32 wins in 54 starts last season, now that he should get around 70 starts, he should hit 40 wins.

17. Antti Niemi (CHI)

Last years stats: Wins: 26 / GAA: 2.25 / SV%: .912

The reason I ranked Niemi so low is the fact that there is about an 80% chance he is not a Blackhawk next season.

Also, aside from the Flyers (who have no cap space), no strong team is looking for a starting goalie. Expect about 35 wins from Niemi next season but if he does stay in Chicago expect 40+.

18. Tomas Vokoun (FLA)

Last years stats: Wins: 23 / GAA: 2.55 / SV%: .925

Vokoun is a top 10 talent in my opinion, but he is stuck on a bad team. The Panthers will improve this season but still will rely heavy on Vokoun. Expect around 33 wins but a very low GAA and high SV%.

19. Semyon Varlamov (WASH)

Last year's stats: Wins: 15 / GAA: 2.55 / SV%: .909

The reason Varlamov is so low is the fact that if Niemi becomes available he could become a Capital. Also, the fact that Varlamov is rather inconsistent should lead to more starts for Michal Neuvirth.

20. Niklas Backstrom (MIN)

Last years stats: Wins: 26 / GAA: 2.72 / SV%: .903

In my opinion Backstrom is on a better team than Vokoun but has to give more starts away to his backup (Josh Harding).

With the addition of Matt Cullen and hopefully a healthy Brent Burns, Backstrom should be able to pick up 32-35 wins.

This concludes the final edition of my fantasy goalie rankings, enjoy.

This article and more can also be found at MTRMedia.com and Sportshaze.com

For the latest news and rumors follow me on twitter @ToddNHL

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