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The Buffalo Sabres have signed one of the top players on the free-agent market, picking up?Kyle Okposo on a seven-year contract worth $42 million Friday.Okposo, 28, had spent his nine-year career with the New York Islanders. He is a three-time 20-goal scorer.He was drafted high. He was a high-profile guy. And hes lived up to that, Sabres general manager Tim Murray said of Okposo, who was selected seventh overall in the 2006 draft. Its exciting to get a player of his caliber that had a choice of, I wont say 30 teams, but certainly a lot of teams, and decided to come here.Okposo?fills a top-line need on a Sabres team that has spent the past two years rebuilding through youth. He scored 64 points during the regular season in 2015-16 and put up two goals and six assists in the playoffs as the Islanders won a postseason series for the first time since 1993.Murray already envisions Okposo playing right wing on a line centered by either Ryan OReilly or Jack Eichel.After playing alongside Islanders captain John Tavares, Okposo is already looking forward to the possibilities of what the Sabres lineup has to offer.What sold me first and foremost, and Ive been saying it all day, is the chance to win the Stanley Cup, and I think we have a lot of pieces in place that can help us achieve that goal, Okposo said. And when I looked at their forwards, and especially their top two centers in OReilly and Eichel, those guys are only going to continue to get better, especially Jack. Hes got superstar status.Okposo is an eight-year NHL veteran and was regarded as one of the top players available on the market after Steven Stamkos elected to re-sign with Tampa Bay on Wednesday.The Sabres are attempting to quicken their push to become contenders after showing signs of improvement last season. Buffalo finished 23rd in the standings this past season after two consecutive last-place finishes. After being part of a lengthy rebuilding plan on Long Island, Okposo says he likes the Sabres approach.I think theyre been going at an accelerated rate, Okposo said. I think we can get there quicker than I did with the Islanders.Okposo becomes the Sabres second-highest-paid player, behind OReilly, who signed a seven-year, $52 million deal shortly after being acquired in a trade from Colorado last summer. And Okposo is close with Sabres forward Matt Moulson. The two played together in New York, and are godfathers of each others children.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Abby Dahlkemper USA Jersey . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Julie Ertz USA Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.officialsocceruswntshop.com/Abby-Dahlkemper-Usa-Jersey/ . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Lynn Williams Jersey . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Kelley OHara Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf.ROISSY, France -- After campaigning for a 40-team World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is now leaning toward an even bigger expansion to 48.I like 48 because it gives a particular flavor, but Im still really torn, Infantino said Wednesday after meetings outside Paris.Infantino said he is also warming to the introduction of video replays to prevent refereeing errors.Initial live tests during two friendly matches this year overcame his skepticism about the technology, he said. He hopes replays will be available for the 2018 World Cup, arguing that it is paradoxical that television audiences and spectators with mobile phones can now immediately see replays but referees cant.It will not resolve all the questions and all the doubts that a referee can have, but that will help the referee to not commit big mistakes, Infantino said. Its about decisions that change the game: goals, penalties, red cards.I really hope that in 2018 well really be able to help World Cup referees to not make serious mistakes.His proposed expansion of the 2026 World Cup from the current 32-team format was among topics that Infantino discussed during his two days of meetings with officials ffrom about 20 largely French-speaking soccer associations.dddddddddddd The gathering was the first of 11 such summits Infantino has scheduled through March 2017.Everyone wants an expansion, he said. Some favor 40 teams, others 48.The 40-team format that Infantino initially promised when campaigning for the FIFA presidency, which he won in February, would be mathematically clunky. The 48-team proposal would see 16 teams go home after playing just one game in a new opening playoff round. The 16 playoff winners would then join 16 seeded teams to begin a 32-team group stage that follows the current World Cup format, which will still be used in 2018 and 2022.With 48 teams, there would be 80 matches instead of the current 64 and, Infantino argued, more sustained fervor in more parts of the world.Everyone sees that the increase of the participation for the World Cup is really a tool to promote football in more countries, Infantino said.A decision will be made on whether to expand the tournament on Jan. 9-10 when the FIFA Council meets in Zurich. ' ' '