I put too much weight on that leg at that time

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WASHINGTON -- General manager George McPhee and coach Adam Oates lost their jobs with the Washington Capitals on Saturday, about two weeks after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. "We were left with the overall impression that the team wasnt trending toward being able to compete for a Stanley Cup," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a news conference at the clubs arena. "And that was just a clear signal and why it was time to make those changes." McPhees contract was up and the team announced it will not give him a new one after his 17 years as the GM, which included drafting Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in the first round. Oates was fired with one season left on his three-year deal. A former star player for the Capitals, he was in his first job as an NHL head coach. Washington finished this season with the ninth-most points in the Eastern Conference, one spot out of a playoff berth. "You have to do something to pivot the team to be an ongoing strong team," Leonsis said. "And I just felt that new leadership at this time was needed, and lets start it with a clean slate." Asked whether any player would be untouchable as part of upcoming changes -- a chance, perhaps, for Leonsis to mention captain and top scorer Ovechkin -- the owner replied: "Im not the general manager. So If the general manager comes with something, we would listen to the general manager." Ovechkin has won three league MVP awards and again led the NHL in scoring this season with 51 goals, but the Capitals havent made it past the second round of the playoffs during the Russian wings career. Dick Patrick, the president of the Capitals, said the team already has drawn up a list of potential GM candidates. "Typically, youd like to have a general manager in place and have him choose a coach," Patrick said. The Capitals reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1998, McPhees first year on the job, and were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Later, McPhee oversaw a "rebuild" ordered by Leonsis, including jettisoning top players with big contracts such as Jaromir Jagr. "Lets not forget that rebuilding process was dramatic. And I watched a great executive go through really, really hard times and really rebuild that team quickly. We just didnt get there," Leonsis said. "At some point, you just have to try something different." While McPhee eventually built a young roster filled with offensive stars, he never placed as much emphasis on constructing a rugged, defensive-minded blue line crop. He hired a succession of coaches with zero previous NHL experience running a team, including Glen Hanlon, Bruce Boudreau, Dale Hunter and Oates. Led by Ovechkin, the Capitals produced terrific regular-season results for a half-dozen seasons, without similar success in the post-season. Four years ago, Washington won the Presidents Trophy for having the most points during the season, then lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens. Leonsis called McPhee, who built seven division-winning teams, "a talented man, a great friend," but that it was time for "a fresh set of eyes." The Capitals went 65-48-17 under Oates in his two seasons. In a brief statement released via the team, Oates called it "a tremendous honour to coach the Capitals these past two seasons" and said he was "grateful for the opportunity." In his first season in charge, which was shortened because of a labour dispute, Washington reached the playoffs with a late surge before losing in the first round to the New York Rangers in seven games. "We were a continuously improving playoff team until we werent. And the last two seasons showed us that we need to improve. And thats what it came down to," Leonsis said. "Dick and I said, We have to make that gut check. Do we have to change? And where do you start? And you start with the coach and the general manager." Moncler Mens Jackets UK . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively. Moncler Womens Coats Outlet . -- Stanley Johnson scored all 18 of his points in the second half, T. http://www.monclercoatsaleuk.org/moncle ... -coat.html. While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. Moncler Womens Jackets Sale . Now he has a complete game. Scherzer tossed a three-hitter in his 179th career start for his first complete game and Victor Martinez hit his 16th homer to lead the Detroit Tigers a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Cheap Moncler Coats UK . - The Green Bay Packers got back to work on Friday without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose isnt wavering. He still sees himself as a star, a cornerstone player, despite another major knee injury that brought his long-awaited return to a screeching halt. So he wasnt quite sure what to make of the idea. Is it time for the Chicago Bulls to move on, to abandon the idea of building around him, given his injuries? "What can I say to that?" Rose said. Then, after a long pause, he added, "You could be a fool if you want to. Dead serious. I know Im going to be all right." In fact, hes not quite ruling out a return this season. The superstar point guard left the door slightly open for a comeback in the playoffs if his surgically repaired right knee is healed -- even though the team has said he will miss the rest of the year. Rose tore the medial meniscus in his right knee in a game at Portland on Nov. 22. He had surgery in Chicago three days later, cutting short his comeback after he sat out last season recuperating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. "If Im healthy and the situation is right, I will be back playing," Rose said Thursday when asked if he might return for the playoffs. "If Im healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course Ill be out there playing. But if its something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, theres no need." That comment aside, the odds of a comeback this season appear to be just about nil given that the team has ruled him out. "Right now, its been determined that hes out for the season," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "So thats the way were going to approach. If something changes later on, well adjust then." The bigger issue remains how effective Rose will be whenever he makes his next return. The MVP in 2011, he tore the ACL in his left knee in the playoff opener against Philadelphia the following year, sending top-seeded Chicago to a first-round exit. The Bulls relived their nightmare last month in Portland when Rose lost his footing while turning to get back on defence. Rose limped across the court, unable to put any weight on his knee, a huge blow for a team that thought it would challenge Miami in the Eastern Conference. Rose is in an all-too-familiar spot, trying to recuperate. He has played in just 50 NBA games -- 49 in the regular season and that lone playoff game -- since the Bulls run to the conference finals during his MVP season, but he felt as if he was returning to form just as he went dowwn again.dddddddddddd Rose was averaging 15.9 points and was shooting just over 35 per cent. But he looked a little better in his final two games with 19 points in a loss at Denver and 20 against Portland. "I was catching a rhythm of how I used to play," he said. "I think I was getting in condition more than anything for this season. For this one to happen, just from me turning and running back down the court, theres nothing I can say about it, nothing I can do about it, but just take it, be strong." Rose wondered how it could happen to him again after everything he went through. But he was also relieved he didnt suffer an ACL tear. Even so, he knew the injury was serious when he was being examined in Portland. He said his leg was "catching on the meniscus side, on the inside." "I started thinking about, Why me? and all that stuff the day after the surgery," Rose said. He said meniscus tear was a "freak accident." "(The doctors) look at the tape, look at the film," Rose said. "The first one (the ACL tear) could have been I put too much pressure or I put too much weight on that leg at that time. This one ... I didnt buckle me knee or anything. I paused for a second. I was able to still run a few steps before I couldnt walk. It just happened." Now, hes going for therapy every day. Hes incorporating yoga and swimming into his rehab routine and is able to put pressure on his leg. He said he might try to land a spot on the U.S. world championship team next summer if hes ready, but he still wont be playing in any pickup games. He also said hes not about to start recruiting players to Chicago -- something he hasnt done in the past -- even though the Bulls core could have a different look. Luol Deng has an expiring contract and Carlos Boozer is a candidate to be amnestied. But Rose said he hasnt thought about possible changes. "Theres a chance I could come back so Im just cheering them on," he said. For now, the Bulls are in a difficult spot. They were third in the Central division at 7-9 entering Thursdays game against Miami, one that looked like a marquee matchup when the schedule came out. Since then, it has lost that shine. Rose insisted hes not finished. "I believe that Im a special player. I think people love the way that I just play. I dont try to impress anyone while Im playing or anything. Ive just got a feel for the game. I know my story is far from done." Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '