Pirate Galaxy » Celtics, are also ailing. Whiteside told the Sun-S

Even after NHL teams committed over $600 million in contracts on the opening day of free agency, there was still plenty of money left to spend for those willing to jump in.On Saturday, the Florida Panthers signed defenseman Jason Demers to a $22.5 million, five-year deal as they continued to overhaul their blue line. Florida isnt afraid to spend this offseason, as it showed in locking up top defenseman Aaron Ekblad on a $60 million, eight-year extension and trading for and signing Keith Yandle to a $44.45 million, seven-year contract.While others have hesitated to shell out long-term, big-money free agent deals, new Panthers general manager Tom Rowe has taken an aggressive approach with his group in win-soon mode. The Panthers made the playoffs and have what Rowe called the best group of young forwards in the league, led by Aleksander Barkov, Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Huberdeau.Demers said it was a no-brainer for him to sign with the Panthers.I want to go somewhere where I have a chance to win, Demers said on a conference call Saturday. They got a lot of young talent, and we can be very competitive for a lot of years. Theyve been building toward this the past two or three years. Its an exciting time to be in Florida right now.Being right at the start of a Stanley Cup window made the Panthers spenders. Top Cup contenders such as the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals have made low-budget tweaks early in free agency while the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers went for it.On Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Roman Polak to a one-year deal, and the Islanders signed winger Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau to a one-year deal.Every teams in a different spot and theres different reasons for everybody to make decisions out here, said Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill, who signed defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a $7.5 million, two-year deal Friday.Some teams are geared to go for the Stanley Cup, some are rebuilding, so it all depends where youre at. It depends on the free agents, the ages of them. Theres so many different factors that go into play. In the end you hope youre making the right decisions.The need for big contracts scared some GMs away from the top free agents and led them to consider other options. The St. Louis Blues werent willing to go to five years to bring back captain David Backes, so the 32-year-old center signed for $30 million with the Bruins.After also letting right wing Troy Brouwer leave for $18 million over four years from the Calgary Flames, Blues GM Doug Armstrong looked at free agent signings around the league and preferred to stay out of most of the top action because of a fear of what it would do long term.Theres a constant dribble of buyouts every year and its always players signed on this date, Armstrong said, referring to July 1.Philosophically you dont want to be signing players thinking theres a greater percentage chance that theyre going to be bought out. And Im not saying that about our two (departing) players. Im just saying in general term scares me.Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said the same thing after signing only one-year deals with Russian winger Alexander Radulov ($5.75 million) and backup goalie Al Montoya ($950,000). But thats not to say Bergevin played it safe considering he acquired Shea Weber for P.K. Subban in a swap of All-Star defensemen earlier in the week.After saying free agency can be a dangerous time, New York Islanders GM Garth Snow signed left wing Andrew Ladd to a $38.5 million, seven-year deal. The Sabres didnt throw as much caution to the wind with their $42 million, seven-year deal with Kyle Okposo, whos two years younger.We all worry about term in free agency, but he is a young free agent at 28, Buffalo GM Tim Murray said. We dont feel hes one of the guys that youre going to see a massive drop-off in his game.---AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York, contributed to this report. Derek Fisher Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Michael Cooper Lakers Jersey . 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As the Denver Nuggets have tried to find footing through injuries and inconsistency, one thing has emerged for this team: Wilson Chandler has become their best player.Chandler may be the best-kept secret early in the NBA season. Even though he has primarily come off the bench, he is averaging a team-high 18.3 points, with 7.7 rebounds, after missing all of 2015-16 due to a hip injury.In short, he has become the most invaluable player for Denver.Its too early to start talking about sixth man of the year and all of that stuff, Nuggets coach Michael Malone told The Denver Post. But hes been our MVP.Chandler has been lights out of late. In the last eight games, he is averaging 21.8 points and 8.6 rebounds while the rotation has been in constant flux. In that time Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton, Gary Harris and Juancho Hernangomez have been out with injuries at various points.Chandler has been the rock for Denver (7-10), and he will try to continue that play against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.Hes probably playing at one of the highest levels in the league right now, point guard Emmanuel Mudiay told The Denver Post. Hes a mismatch problem. Him playing (power forward) is helping us a lot. Hes making tough shots.The Nuggets may get reinforcements for their game Wednesday night. Gallinari (thigh), Hernangomez (ankle) and Barton (personal reasons) practiced Monday. Gallinari has missed the last three games and Hernangomez two straight.The Heat are coming off two straight home losses as they embark on a three-game Western Conference road swing. They were bolstered by the return of Wayne Ellington in a loss to Boston on Monday.His shooting from the 3-point line could help inject some life into Miamis perimeter shooting.ddddddddddddI know I can help in that area, Ellington, who had been out since the preseason finale due to a thigh bruise, told the Sun-Sentinel. And thats really what I do. Ill continue to catch my rhythm and get better while Im out there.The Heat (5-12) are still trying to figure things out after star Dwyane Wade signed with Chicago in the summer. Things will be tough with the absence of Dion Waiters (groin) and Justise Winslow (left wrist), who both didnt make the trip.Center Hassan Whiteside, who had an MRI on his sore left knee Monday, and point guard Goran Dragic, who had 27 points and 17 assists in the loss to the Celtics, are also ailing. Whiteside told the Sun-Sentinel the MRI came back negative.It eased my mind a lot, he said. Because it was very painful. It was bothering me, so its just swelling and Im going to stay on it and just keep icing it and taking care of my knees.The Heat will need his rebounding against Denvers active frontcourt. Kenneth Faried has played well since being put back in the starting lineup for Nikola Jokic, and 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic is a load in the middle.The biggest concern for Miami should be Chandler, who is feeling healthy and enjoying a career year after injuries cost him 153 games since his first full season in Denver in 2011-2012.I was derailed a lot. It happens, he told The Denver Post. Its part of the game. So this is the first time I was able to come back fully healthy, start the season off 100 percent. And I was able to work on my game. ' ' '