MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has made his philosophy well known by now: construct the foundation through the draft and use free agency to supplement the core of the roster. Dave Schultz Jersey . Coming off of a five-win season and with so many holes to fill, Spielman needed to be a little more aggressive on the open market to take some of the pressure the looming draft. Spielman capped a busy first week of free agency by signing receiver Jerome Simpson and cornerback Derek Cox to one-year deals on Friday, saying he needed to move quickly to shore up the defence and give them some freedom for the May draft. The Vikings spent big money to keep defensive end Everson Griffen and sign defensive tackle Linval Joseph to replace Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. They also worked hard to keep quarterback Matt Cassel and get cornerback Captain Munnerlyn to help beef up the struggling defensive backfield, while sprinkling in Simpson, Cox and Fred Evans on one-year deals for depth. "By doing that, it sure helps you head into the draft not to get boxed in; well, youve got to take this position," Spielman said on Friday. "Now we have that flexibility to see how the draft is going to fall -- and I do believe this is a very deep draft and the potential of moving up or down in the draft to accumulate picks -- youre still going to be able to add a lot of youth and a lot of young talent that can come in and help our ball club." The Vikings pick No. 8 overall in the draft, which starts May 8. Addressing many of their most pressing needs in free agency frees Spielman to get creative. With Cassel, he doesnt have to draft a quarterback early. With Joseph there to occupy double teams, he doesnt have to get a run stuffer to play next to last years first-round pick, Sharrif Floyd. With Munnerlyn on one corner opposite Xavier Rhodes, and Cox added to a group that also includes Marcus Sherels and Josh Robinson, he doesnt have to draft a cornerback right away. The aggressiveness also gives a new coaching staff that includes head coach Mike Zimmer, offensive co-ordinator Norv Turner and defensive co-ordinator George Edwards, a solid veteran base with which to work. "I think by the activity that weve done so far, its by no means the end of what were going to do," Spielman said. "Well continue to monitor the market and work through the next couple weeks. But it gives us the flexibility that well need heading into the draft, where you dont have to hone and say you have to take this position. Again, with the opportunity as we develop our draft board to take the best available player." Simpson bounced back from an injury-plagued first season in Minnesota in 2012 with a solid season last year. He caught 48 passes for a career-high 726 yards in 2013 and expressed a desire to return to the Vikings when the season closed. Spielman said the Vikings like the deep threat Simpson brings to the table alongside fellow receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson. But Simpson could face discipline from the league for a drunken driving arrest when next season opens. "He does have explosive speed down the field and does give us a vertical threat, but we felt confident enough and comfortable enough after the new coaching staff had met with him and understand the whole circumstance behind that last arrest that we re-signed him back to a one-year deal," Spielman said. Spielman said the Vikings were in talks to bring back left guard Charlie Johnson and were not closing the door on a possible return for Williams, the stalwart defensive tackle who has anchored Minnesotas line since 2003. The Vikings hosted defensive tackle Henry Melton for a visit, but he left on Thursday without a deal. "Theres no decision thats been made," Spielman said of Williams. "I told him wed leave it open. But we were trying to address some other needs that we definitely wanted to get done first." Brian Elliott Jersey .A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question. Sean Couturier Jersey .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/cole-bardreau-hockey-jersey/ . The Red Wings hadnt played the night before. The Boston Bruins had. A month from now, or two months from now, it doesnt matter. But right now it does matter, when you start and you play back to back, its wear and tear on you for sure, Babcock said. The Colorado Avalanche are looking to take advantage of a home-heavy stretch and figure to have the right club visiting them next. The Edmonton Oilers will try to avoid a team-worst 12-game road slide in the first meeting between the Western Conferences two last-place teams Friday night. Colorado (14-15-8) beat Philadelphia 4-3 at home in overtime Wednesday on Ryan OReillys winner. OReilly has four points in his last four games to bring his season total to 21. Scoring a goal and contributing to a win is something Ive been missing a lot lately, so definitely to have that is a relief and something Ive got to continue to bring, OReilly said. The Avalanche, last in the Central Division, began a stretch of five home games out of six. We have five of our next six games at home and I thought it was important to start with a win, coach Patrick Roy said. Hopefully that will bring some confidence to our team. Confidence is in short supply for Edmonton (8-22-8), owner of the worst record in the league. The Oilers are 2-14-7 in their last 23. I think this team is pretty fragile right now, said winger Matt Fraser, claimed off waivers from Boston on Monday. I heard it a long time ago that losing can be contagious, and part of that, being a new guy in here coming from an organization like Boston, is youve got to bring that element of your game when youre not content with losing. Edmonton is 0-6-5 on its road slide after Wednesdays 4-3 overtime loss to Calgary. That matches the team record of 11 straight defeatts set Dec. Chris Pronger Jersey. 23, 2009-Feb. 20, 2010, with all of those coming in regulation. Fraser scored on the power play as the Oilers were 1 for 3 after going 0 for 26 in their previous 12 road games. Edmonton has an NHL-worst 6.5 percent mark on the power play away from home. The Oilers are giving up 3.39 non-shootout goals per game for the leagues worst average, while the Avalanche allow an average of 34.0 shots on goal at home to rank last in the West. Edmonton has blown two-goal leads in its last two games, recovering to win 3-2 in a shootout over Los Angeles on Tuesday. Right now I love our starts, said winger Jordan Eberle, who ended a nine-game goal drought Wednesday. I love the way were competing for 40 minutes. It seems like the last two games, weve almost let them come at us and weather the storm and thats not how you win hockey games in this league. Edmontons Ben Scrivens is 0-4-4 with a 3.95 goals-against average in eight road starts while backup Viktor Fasth has an NHL-worst 3.50 overall GAA. Colorados Semyon Varlamovs eight regulation defeats against the Oilers match his most against any opponent. He is 1-4-0 with a 4.69 GAA in his last five starts versus them. The Avs took two of three from Edmonton last season. Game Notes: COL was 2-1-0 vs EDM last season COL has gone 4-2-0 past 6 at home vs EDM Colorado: 1-2-0 past 3 games, 11GA (won last), 6/10 on PK MacKinnon (0PTS) last 2 games Edmonton: 1-0-1 past 2 games, 5GF, 1/6 on PP Hall (2A) past 2 games Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '