ff positioning in the West Division. Apart from Taylors ailment,

PHILADELPHIA - The Toronto Maple Leafs loaded up on youth and gambled on the future at the NHL draft Saturday. But they also looked after the present, acquiring Roman Polak from the St. Louis Blues for fellow defenceman Carl Gunnarsson and the 94th pick in Saturdays draft. At six foot and 236 pounds, Polak is a wide body. "He makes people pay a price," said Toronto president Brendan Shanahan. "Hes honest but hes tough. Hes a hard-worker, hes a low-maintenance guy." "Hes going to provide a little bit of edge. A tough guy to play against," added GM Dave Nonis. The 28-year-old Czech native has 79 points in 424 NHL games, including four goals and nine assists last season. Nonis said Polak would probably "play in the (No.) 4-5 hole" on defence. "We envision him having a pretty significant impact on our back end," he said. Despite his size, Polak can also skate. "People who dont think he has skating ability really arent watching," said Shanahan. Gunnarsson, a 2007 seventh-rounder, had spent five seasons with the Leafs and played with captain Dion Phaneuf on the teams top defensive pairing. Gunnarssons departure opens the door to Jake Gardner and sophomore Morgan Rielly to step up the depth chart. "Those guys are going to have to take steps forward," said Nonis. "It might be a lot to ask for Morgan in his second year but he made some pretty big strides last year. And we would expect that hell take some more next (year). I think Jake is a good possibility as well. "Again that will be up to Randy (coach Randy Carlyle) to see what he wants to do with that. But we feel there are other people that can play that role effectively with Dion." The Leafs piled pressure on their goalies last season, giving up shots in high numbers. Change was needed. "We liked our defence individually. We didnt necessarily like how they fit together last year. So we wanted to move some pieces and change the look, rebuild it a little bit. I wouldnt say its a major overhaul by doing something like this but it does give us a different element and its a player we didnt really have." A right-handed shot, Polak also fills a void on the Toronto blue-line. Nonis sees Petter Granberg, listed at six foot three and 200 pounds, as a similar-style player to Polak. But the Swede is just 21 and has played only one game for the Leafs. "To ask him to play that way and fit in as a top-six (defenceman) right away, I think might be difficult," he said. "If he does that, great, then we have even more options there." Nonis said the Leafs will "be active" during the free agency period. "If theres a fit there, I wouldnt rule out adding a defenceman and/or a forward," he said. "But I wouldnt promise it either." Toronto took Russian winger Rinat Valiev of the Kootenay Ice in the third round (68th overall), USHL winger John Piccinich in the fourth round (103rd overall), USHL centre Dakota Joseph in the fifth (128th overall), USHL winger Nolan Vesey in the sixth (158th overall) and Swedish winger Pierre Engvall in the seventh (188th). The Leafs used their first-round pick Friday night to take Swedish winger William Nylander eighth overall. Oscar Robertson Bucks Jersey . By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U. Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey . The result was a game-winning, power-play goal. Chiasson snapped a third-period tie and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory on Monday night. https://www.bucksrookiesshop.com/Glenn-Robinson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Yet heading to New York, the Habs remain positive as it all comes down to the one main ingredient that the organization has built its team on - character. Vin Baker Jersey .NYCFC confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that this week Lampard signed a contract to start in July — midway through the new teams first season in MLS. Wesley Matthews Bucks Jersey .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience.SURREY, B.C. - Stephen Adekolu and Bryan Burnham are close friends off the field, so its probably fitting their careers have followed similar paths.Both experienced injuries in university that affected their ability to catch on with professional teams, both had to fight for spots on the practice roster with the B.C. Lions, and both are now getting their chance to play because of injuries.Its something the rookie receivers could only dream of back in training camp.When we first started I remember guys lockers clearing out, Adekolu said after practice Wednesday. If you really looked at me and Burnham, its no secret that we were the bottom two that had to fight our way up and beat out a lot of guys. Thats what we both did.The 25-year-old Adekolu and the 24-year-old Burnham were happy to work with the scout team and said running opponents plays against the CFLs No. 1 defence in practice for the first 12 weeks of the season did a lot for their confidence.We would make small bets or joke around on who would get the most yards on our first-team defence, said Adekolu, a native of Brampton, Ont. We were like: If thats the best defence and we give them a good look, we could go out and play.And thats exactly what they did last week when both dressed for their first pro games in a 40-23 home loss to the Toronto Argonauts.Adekolu watched mostly from the sidelines, but Burnham wound up as the Lions second-leading receiver with five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in place of Courtney Taylor, who has a foot injury and is likely lost for the season. Ive always stayed ready. Those older guys have really helped me stay mentally in it and always ready for when they called my number, said Burnham, who grew up in Moorestown, N.J. I definitely didnt think it was going to come this quick. You never want to see someone get hurt.You never wish for that, but when it does come youve got to be ready for it because thats football.Lions head coach Mike Benevides said both players have earned their chance, adding that Adekolu will see time on offence this week against the Calgary Stampeders.(Burnham) performed at a high level during the (Toronto game) and I think theres a high level of confidence of what he can bring, said Benevides. With Stephen, hes preformed throughout the entire season in practice. He had a strong pre-season and its time to see what he can bring to the table as a fifth guy and a rotational-type of person.Burnham played at the University of Tulsa in the NCAA, while Adekolu spent five CIS seasons at Bishops University. Each suffered knee injuries late in their college careers, which meant they had to work even harder to get a chance at the next level.Adekolu wentt to rookie camp with the Montreal Alouettes last season but experienced tendinitis before returning to Bishops, while Burnhams last game with Tulsa was the 2012 season opener when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.ddddddddddddBoth signed with the Lions this winter and have climbed the depth chart much quicker than expected.I think the biggest thing and the best thing is that the young guys are willing to take coaching, said quarterback Kevin Glenn. Theyre very good character guys. Theyre humble and theyre really just out there wanting to help the team.That attitude has resonated with teammates, who can often sense when a player is unhappy with a situation.I like to try to come to practice everyday with the same attitude. Im out here having a great time. I love being here, said Burnham. I think if you come out here and start to be too serious when things are going wrong, thats when things start to split and you see guys start to change their demeanour.Part of Burnhams even-keel approach comes from his father Lem, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1970s before becoming a psychologist.He always just stayed on me about being patient and managing my stress and being anxious to get out there a€” youve got to manage that or its going to tear you apart, said Burnham, whose sister works in the Lions front office and suggested he try out after NFL teams passed. Its something I really worked at ... he always gives me little mental exercises.He always said for the longest time: Ive been there.The Lions (7-5) visit the Calgary Stampeders (10-2) on Saturday as they continue to battle for playoff positioning in the West Division. Apart from Taylors ailment, the door has been opened for Burnham and Adekolu because of injuries to return man Tim Brown and defensive back Dante Marsh.B.C. handed Calgary its only home defeat of the season in a 25-24 decision back on Aug. 1, and Glenn said the Lions can take some positives from that game even though theres been a lot of personnel changes on both sides.The biggest thing I think is we came back from being 11 points down in the second half, said the veteran pivot. We never quit. Thats a big thing.Adekolu and Burnham also havent quit, and both are excited to step on the field together in a game situation.They also know if they dont perform, theres a hungry recruit just like them waiting to jump up and snatch their spot.You always keep the mentality that when you get your chance either someones not doing their job or someone got hurt, said Adekolu. Football is youre taking someones job or youre playing well enough to get a job. I want to step in and show that I can do the job theyre expecting. ' ' '