Hurricanes. He was shipped to the New York Islanders at the trade d

ST. LOUIS - Now that Jason Heyward has joined the St. Louis Cardinals, hes open to sticking around for a while.Heyward was traded from Atlanta to St. Louis in mid-November. The 25-year-old outfielder is set to make $7.8 in the last season of his contract.For me, I hope I love it so much I wont have to leave, Heyward said at the Cardinals fan convention, where he signed autographs Saturday.Thats the way you want to love your job. I love the game of baseball. For me, Im always going to go out there and give 110 per cent. I feel like if I love it that much, its a good fit, he said.Atlanta decided he was not going to be a good fit. The Braves dealt the former first-round pick to be sure to get something in return in case he became a free agent.St. Louis needed a right fielder after top prospect Oscar Taveras was killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic shortly after the season ended. The Cardinals traded pitcher Shelby Miller and minor league pitcher Tyrell Jenkins to the Braves for Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden.Heyward hit .271 last season with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs. He led off for most of last season but also batted fifth.Heyward is regarded as one of the top defensive outfielders in baseball and got his second Gold Glove last season.The deal, he was, didnt shock him.I wasnt surprised. If I was traded, I knew I could end up anywhere, Heyward said. So for me, it was more common sense that I was going to an organization that has a great mindset, a positive atmosphere, a good fan base that understands the game of baseball. Thats something I feel like can benefit me.Heyward said he is open to negotiating a new contract during the season.I couldnt tell you how any of that is going to go. Right now, I just know Im looking forward to getting settled in with my teammates, fitting in, Heyward said. The goal for me, and I feel like everyone involved, is to be playing in October for a World Series. If all that takes care of itself, then I feel like a lot of good things will come from it, not any negatives.He said he has no preconceived notions on how contract talks would go with St. Louis.As this point, I dont. They asked me to be here and I was traded into this situation, and its a good situation, Heyward said. For me, I just feel like I need to show up and do my job, kind of follow their lead with certain things. Me, Im going to show up everyday and look to play the game the right way and have fun doing it.After that, well see what happens. Its kind of a unique situation because this is my last year before free agency.Heyward got his introduction to St. Louis and its fans at an event Friday that included manager Mike Matheny, principal owner Bill DeWitt Jr. and team president Bill DeWitt III.Heyward brought his parents, Eugene and Laura, with him to St. Louis for the weekend.It was important, he said, that they accompany him.You dont know how long this is going to last, baseball, Heyward said. This is a dream they helped me realize and made a lot of sacrifices for. They wanted to share that moment with me, a new experience and take a good step going forward. NBA Jerseys China .C. -- After turning Tobacco Road into "Raleigh Top," Tennessee is headed to the round of 16. NFL Jerseys Cheap . 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"Ive got a wonderful family that I miss out on a lot of their stuff. That (became) a factor. "There comes a time in my life where you have to turn the page." The 38-year-old known for his famous mullet was also a stalwart on Team Canada. He was drafted sixth overall by Edmonton in 1994 and spent most of his 18-season career in Albertas capital. He mixed grit with a scoring touch and became the face of the post-Wayne Gretzky Oilers, leading the team to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2006. Smyth thanked everyone from former teammates to the Oilers massage therapist in a speech that saw the scrappy forward fight back tears. Sitting beside him at the news conference was Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish. "There are many players that have worn the Edmonton Oilers jersey, but there are no players who wore the jersey that had more passion than Ryan Smyth," MacTavish said. Smyth has 386 goals and 456 assists and 974 penalty minutes in 1,269 games heading into Edmontons Saturday season finale against the visiting Vancouver Canucks. He added 59 points (28-31) and 88 penalty minutes in 93 career playoff games. He also earned the nickname "Captain Canada" for his loyalty to Canadas mens national team. The team is preparing a tribute to the Banff, Alta., native during Saturdays game. Asked what hell miss the most about the game, Smyth said the it will be the journey itself. "Being on the ice surface, the adrenalin, the excitement, obviously your teammates," he said. "Ill for sure miss the guys." What was the highlight, he was asked. "Probably playing a thousand games and coming back and being an Edmonton Oiler." Teammates said he will be remembered as a blue-collar workhorse who made his living with a big stick in front of the net, deflecting and tipping in point shots and passes whhile taking a hellacious beating.dddddddddddd. Oilers winger David Perron said he grew up idolizing Smyth. "He was always around the net being greasy and scoring goals that everyone was like, How did that go in? Oh, Ryan Smyth scored again. At the end of the year hed have 30-40 goals," said Perron after practice Friday. Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens said Smyths trademark goals come from a mix of skill and guts. "Hes always in position but never stops the puck, and it makes it really difficult to see pucks because no matter which way you look it seems like hes there," said Scrivens. "Its a talent he acquired through hard work and just sacrificing his body." Smyth played at least 40 games as an Oiler in 14 of his 18 seasons. He blossomed in his first full season with the team in 1996-97, when he had 61 points (39 goals and 22 assists) in 82 games. Smyth was a steady force up front in Edmonton early in his career. The six-foot-two 191-pounder played a key role in the Oilers 2006 Stanley Cup run. Smyth had 16 points (7-9) in 24 games that post-season as the Oilers dropped a seven-game series to the Carolina Hurricanes. He was shipped to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline during the 2006-07 season. Long-term contract negotiations between Smyths agent, Don Meehan, and Oilers then general manager Kevin Lowe went to the 11th hour but the two sides couldnt reach a deal. With Smyth due to become a free agent that summer, Lowe didnt want to risk losing him for nothing in the off-season. Smyth said goodbye to Edmonton during an emotional news conference at the city airport. He played two seasons with Colorado and two more with Los Angeles before he asked Kings GM Dean Lombardi for a trade in 2011. A deal was finalized in June of that year. He has provided some veteran leadership on a young Oilers squad over his last three seasons. Saturday will be Smyths last chance to set a team record for power-play goals. Smyth and Glenn Anderson have 126 each, one ahead of Gretzky. Internationally, Smyth played at two Winter Games, helping Canada win gold at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. Smyth also won gold at the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and represented Canada at seven straight world hockey championship during his prime. ' ' '