BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen can finally focus on starting the season now that contract talks are out of the way.Its great to get this done. Now I have a couple of days to turn my mind 100 percent for the season, Ristolainen told The Associated Press by phone on Tuesday. Im 100 percent ready now.Ristolainen spoke a few hours after signing a six-year, $32.4 million contract in a deal reached two days before Buffalo opens the season by hosting the Montreal Canadiens.Ristolainen was a restricted free agent, whose rights were retained by the Sabres in June.Rasmus has already proven to be a pivotal player on our blue line, and we are eager to have him back with the team, general manager Tim Murray said in a statement released by the Sabres.This deal is a reflection of the hard work and improvement Rasmus has shown since being drafted. And we hope to see him continue on this trajectory moving forward.The 21-year-old Ristolainen has become Buffalos top defenseman in just three seasons since being selected in the first round of the 2013 draft. Last season, Ristolainen led the team in averaging more than 25 minutes of ice time per game, and led Buffalo defensemen with 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists).Overall, he has 19 goals and 46 assists for 65 points in 194 games.Ristolainen dismissed any added pressure that might come with a contract that makes him the teams top-paid defenseman.I dont even think about the contract or think about what people say or what people think, he said. I want to be better than I was last year. I want to win. Thats the only thing I really think.Ristolainen was confident a deal would get done before the season began, especially after negotiations sped up over the weekend. And he shouldnt have a difficult transition in preparing for on-ice action because he was able to stay in game-shape over the past month.He represented Finland in the World Cup of Hockey last month and then reported to Sabres training camp in what was regarded as a sign of good faith in a bid to spur contract talks. He practiced with the team, but was not allowed to play in preseason games.Ristolainens signing means the Sabres should have their full complement of top-six defenseman available to open the season.Veterans Dmitry Kulikov (bruised back) and Zach Bogosian (groin) returned to practice Tuesday, and coach Dan Bylsma expects them to be ready to play against the Canadiens. The Sabres acquired Kulikov in a trade with Florida in June.The status of top-line forwards Ryan OReilly (back and abdomen spasms) and Kyle Okposo (bruised knee) remains uncertain. Both skated during individual drills before leaving the ice once the team session began.Though both are improving, but Bylsma expressed concern about rushing them back into the lineup with limited practice time.Buffalo established its 23-player regular-season roster by loaning four players -- including forward Alexander Nylander, the teams 2016 first-round draft pick -- to its American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester. Also sent down were forwards Nicholas Baptiste and Daniel Catenacci. Defenseman Justin Falk will report to Rochester after clearing waivers.Buffalo also returned defenseman Brendan Guhle to his Canadian Junior Hockey team in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Jacob Bruun Larsen Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Thomas Delaney Dortmund Jersey .ca! 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The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. The Lodha Committee has refused the BCCIs request for directions on the release of funds to state associations despite the boards warning that domestic cricket could come to a standstill. The Committee said the only remedy available to the state associations was to comply with the Supreme Courts order of October 21.The court had asked BCCI to cease and desist from disbursement of funds for any purpose to the state units unless they submitted an affidavit stating they would adopt the Lodha Committee recommendations. Only three state associations - Vidarbha, Tripura and Rajasthan [the last not recognised by the board] - have adopted all the recommendations. The other units have been reluctant and have sought the BCCIs guidance on the matter.You have sought the Committees directions for release of payments to Associations in connection with players allowances, hotels, transport, hosting fees, etc., the Committee noted in an e-mail sent to BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke on Thursday. Paragraph 20(i) of the order dated 21st October 2016 the of Honble Supreme Court mandates compliance by the State Associations concerned before disbursement of any funds by the BCCI. Therefore the question of the Committee issuing any directions in that behalf does not arise.Shirke had written to the Committee on October 28 stating the BCCI was facing issues with the release of payments to state units, and pointed out that allowances to players, match officials, umpires, hosting fees to states for using their crricket infrastructure, payment to hotels, airlines, ground transport agencies could not be carried out as a result.ddddddddddddThe Committee may issue suitable direction in this regard failing which the domestic cricket season shall come to a standstill, he said.According to Shirke, the state associations of Odisha, Hyderabad, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir and Assam had written requesting funds for their daily operations, failing which they would not be able to operate and cricket in the region shall suffer and come to a standstill.The Committee told Shirke that no exceptions could be made for these five states and they had no choice but to follow the court order. The Committee also asked Shirke to submit, within the next five days, the Deloitte report on Project Transformation, instituted by former BCCI president Shashank Manohar when he took over the role in October last year. Deloitte, the accounting firm, was appointed to strengthen organisational and governing structure related to accounting and operating practice.With regard to the Associations of Orissa, Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir and Assam mentioned by you, you are directed to furnish the Report obtained by the BCCI from M/s. Deloitte on State Associations, as well as any undertakings submitted by the State Associations pursuant thereto. This shall be submitted within 5 days from today, the Committee said. ' ' '