It appears Sidney Crosby wanted to make sure Jonathan Toews was good with him taking the captaincy for Team Canada in Sochi. According to CSNChicago.com, Detroit Red Wings and Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock said the Pittsburgh Penguins captain wanted the go-ahead from the Chicago Blackhawks captain before accepting Canadas captaincy for the upcoming Olympics. "When we were taking about it, Sidney wanted to make sure it was OK with [Toews], just for the fact he won a couple of Cups,” Babcock said after the Wings morning skate ahead of Wednesday nights game with the Blackhawks. "Hes held in high regard, to say the least, and hes a huge part of the reason why they win as much as they do." Toews, for his part, thought Crosbys gesture was a flattering one. "For Sidney to ask guys for approval, I dont think he needed to do that, but it shows the kind of guy he is," Toews said. Toews went as so far as to suggest that Babcock revealed this discussion just to be polite. "Everybody knows Sidney is the guy," said Toews. "Im just honored to be in the conversation for the captaincy. One way or the other, Im excited to accept a role like that. If its more of a leadership role, Im excited for the challenge." Babcock believes that Toews would have made for a deserving captain, as well. "Hes earned the right to be a captain with Canada: two Cups, Olympic gold," said Babcock. "I dont know what else hes won. It seems more than that. Hes a pro who does it right every day. Hes a 200-footer. To me, hes an impressive, impressive man." Toews and Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber will serve as alternate captains for Canada next month in Sochi. Jeff Teague Jersey . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. Keita Bates-Diop Jersey .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. http://www.cheaptimberwolvesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-anthony-tolliver-jersey . First-half goals by Will Bruin and Oscar Boniek Garcia sucked the life out of the Impact as the Houston Dynamo bounced them from Major League Soccers post-season with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. Cheap Swingman Timberwolves Jerseys . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario. Kevin Garnett Jersey .S. President Barack Obama saluted the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks at the White House on Monday -- a rare moment for a president hungry to see more victorious teams from his hometown.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The bottom of the Cincinnati batting order is putting the Reds on top. Eighth-place hitter Zack Cozart sent a three-run homer off the left-field foul pole and Kristopher Negron added a two-run shot, lifting the Reds over the Cleveland Indians 8-3 Wednesday night. Cozart, now batting .225, drove in four runs with two hits. On Tuesday night, light-hitting Ramon Santiago launched a three-run homer in a 9-2 victory over Cleveland. "We have to pick up some slack," Cozart said. "We cant depend on the big guys every night." Getting off to a lead is a difference maker," Reds manager Bryan Price said. Mat Latos pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and chipped in with a hit. Latos (4-3), making his 10th start since opening the season on the disabled list and being activated on June 14, allowed just one runner past second base before Yan Gomes led off Clevelands three-run eighth with his 16th homer. Ryan Raburn chased Latos with a pinch-hit, two-run double. Latos gave up six hits and three runs with two walks and five strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings. Cozart, who hadnt homered since June 1 at Arizona, connected off Danny Salazar (4-5) with two outs in the second. Cozarts third homer of the season was the first allowed by Salazar in five starts since May 15 at Toronto. "It felt good," Cozart said. "It is not only getting hits but extra-base hits. Our pitchers have been pitching so well. We dont want them to go home empty." Negron made it 5-0 with a two-out drive in the fourth. The homer was his third of the season, all since being called up from Triple-A Louisville on July 10. "These guys want badly to succeed. Its good to see their hard work paying off," Price said. Cozart was excited for Negron, too. "Every time he gets a chance to play, he takes advantage of his playing time," said Cozart of Negron, who was taken off the 40-man roster after he had four at-bats in 2012, his only big league experience until now. Salazar lasted four innings while seeing his personal winning streak snapped at a career-high three.dddddddddddd He allowed five hits and five runs with five strikeouts. "Overall, he was better than his line score," manager Terry Francona said. "He made two costly mistakes to the bottom of the order." "I didnt throw too many pitches today," Salazar said. "I left a couple of balls a little high. I was trying to throw a slider down-and-away (to Cozart). I just missed my spot." The Reds broke open the game with a three-run seventh that started with Negrons double for his first career three-hit game. Cozart hit an RBI single, Latos followed with a single and Todd Frazier added a two-run double. TRAINERS ROOM Indians: Center fielder Michael Bourn went 0 for 3 with one strikeout in five innings for Double-A Akron in the first game of his rehab assignment on Tuesday. He has been out since July 6 with a left hamstring strain. Reds: Right-handed reliever Logan Ondrusek threw his first long toss and bullpen session since he went on the disabled list on July 22 because of a strained right shoulder. He will throw another bullpen on Friday or Saturday and be reassessed, Price said. UP NEXT Indians: Left-hander T.J. House will become the second straight Cleveland pitcher to face Cincinnati for the first time in his career. The Indians have lost two straight after a four-game winning streak. Reds: Right-hander Homer Bailey will try to even his career record against the Indians at 3-3 in eight starts in Thursdays series finale. The Reds have won seven straight over Cleveland in Cincinnati since a 3-1 loss on July 2, 2011. STAR TURN The Reds introduced the 2015 All-Star Game logo to fans and media. A large version is displayed at the top or the right-field bleachers near the Ohio River. ... The team honoured its four All-Star players -- Alfredo Simon, Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman and Frazier. They were presented with commemorative plaques in a pregame ceremony. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? Negron hit his third home run in 15 games since his recall on July 10. He hit three home runs in 75 games at Triple-A Louisville. ' ' '