If Norris Trophy-nominated defenceman Kris Letang cant come to a long-term deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, his preferred landing spot would be with the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Speaking to Jim Tatti and Mike Hogan on TSN Radio 1050s Game Night on Wednesday, Rossi explained why such a scenario could take shape. "Kris is a little bit curious about where he stands long range in the Penguins plans," he told TSN Radio. "He has read reports of mine that there are people within the Pittsburgh organization that thought Paul Martin was the better defenceman last year, and there has been a sort of a hesitation on a willingness to commit to him (Letang) to a long-term deal at elite defenceman money. "Ive been told that if the Penguins couldnt reach some sort of understanding with Letang, and the belief was they wouldnt be able to sign him to some sort of deal, that Toronto has emerged as a preferred landing spot - perhaps by Letang. It would be a place that he would be willing, if dealt, to perhaps sign a long-term deal." Where possible trades are concerned, Letang himself has no final say on who his next team would be. "We havent discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs, period," Letangs agent Kent Hughes told TSN on Thursday morning. "Our focus has been on trying to conclude a deal with Pittsburgh." Rossi also made it clear that Pittsburgh remains keenly interested in signing Letang to an extension. "General manager Ray Shero has been very public since the lockout ended that he wants to retain Letang, but the Penguins have committed a lot of money to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and they have also committed no-movement clauses to both of those players," he explained. "Theyre very deep in their system on defence." Letang had five goals and 33 assists in 35 games for the Penguins this season. Rossi noted that Pittsburghs price to deal the 26-year-old Montreal native would be quite high. "If the Penguins are going to move Letang they would want to deal with a team that could provide at least one roster player in addition to a first-round pick and a top prospect...if not two roster players in addition to a first-round pick," explained Rossi. "But I dont think were quite there yet and I dont know that they Penguins and Leafs have had any discussions." The Penguins traded Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes at the NHL Draft a year ago when Staal declined to sign a long-term extension with Pittsburgh. Derek Lowe Jersey Red Sox .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Brandon Workman Jersey Red Sox . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. https://www.discountjerseysonline.com/darwinzon-hernandez-jersey-red-sox-754 . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Mark Grace Jersey Cubs . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Bobby Cox Jersey Braves . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. The Los Angeles bid committee for the 2024 Olympics released details of a nearly unheard-of budget plan Friday, insisting $5.3 billion will be enough to cover both operational and infrastructure costs for an Olympics that wont need any new, permanent stadiums.The cost would be less than half that of the recently completed Rio Games and about a quarter of Tokyos ballooning budget for the 2020 Olympics.It also defies convention in the Olympic bidding business, in which cities traditionally deal with two figures -- one for operational costs and one for non-Olympics costs that cover capital and infrastructure.Bid officials say they can do this because more than 30 venues already exist in the L.A. area and those that dont will be built as temporary structures. The bid folded in $1.2 billion for infrastructure, which would primarily be used for temporary venues and to bring existing ones up to Olympic standards.If L.A. is chosen to host the 2024 Games, the IOC does not have to worry about changing or evolving budgets, shifting competition venues or uncertainty about the delivery of the Games, bid chairman Casey Wasserman said.Los Angeles is going against Paris and Budapest, Hungary. Preliminary figures for Paris called for an infrastructure budget of $4.5 billion and operational costs of $4.8 billion, with 95 percent of the citys proposed venues either temporary or already in existence. The next deadline for cities to submit candidate files, which will include updated budget figures, is Feb. 3. The games will be awarded in September.Gone from Los Angeles budget was a one-time projected surplus of $161 million. In its place is a $491 million contingency fund that would cover cost overruns.Wasserman said all the figures are conservative and the numbers come in low because no major construction projects are needed.dddddddddddd Los Angeles has already committed to more than $200 billion in transit and airport projects, regardless of whether it wins the Olympic bid. Often, projects such as those get approved in conjunction with an Olympic bid.In providing a $5.3 billion budget, Los Angeles is playing to the International Olympic Committees attempt to keep costs -- and building -- in check; decades of runaway spending have greatly reduced interest in hosting.Rio de Janeiro is expected to come in with a bill of between $10 billion and $12 billion for its recently completed Olympics.Meanwhile, Los Angeles released its figures only hours after an IOC vice president called Tokyos $20 billion budget unacceptable. A government panel in Japan has said costs could reach $30 billion, more than four times the initial estimate.Wasserman said the IOC will not be surprised when it sees all items wrapped into a single L.A. budget.The process has been very open and transparent, he said.The budget was also being independently reviewed by the accounting firm KPMG, which concluded LAs budget was substantially reasonable. A few quibbles: Bid organizers might have been slightly optimistic about revenue theyll produce from ticket sales; and no inflation index has been developed to measure costs in 2024 dollars, though one is expected later this month..The bids top revenue sources are domestic sponsorship ($1.93 billion), ticketing ($1.47 billion) and IOC contributions from broadcasting ($855 million) and sponsorship ($453 million). ' ' '