Forgive Toronto Maple Leafs fans if they are thinking championship after hiring three-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan as team president. Jonny Brodzinski Jersey .But hope is a necessary panacea for a fan base that hasnt celebrated a Stanley Cup championship since 1967, and watched the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs in a drama-filled 2013-14 season, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference and sixth in the Atlantic Division.And Shanahan sold hope in his introductory press conference April 14.I do like a lot about this group, Shanahan said. From an outsider looking in, there are some pieces that a lot of teams would covet. There are some great aspects to this team.I recognize what it could potentially be like (to win the Stanley Cup) in Toronto. This is the time for me to start learning about the organization from top-to-bottom. Its time for me to listen, to learn and to get to work.With the Leafs set to open the season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 8, here are some things to keep in mind:ANALYTICAL ERA: One of the trends that gained popularity within NHL circles in recent years has been the growth of analytics. Following a 2013-14 season in which they were among the leagues weaker puck possession teams, the Maple Leafs became the latest NHL team to implement analytics into its analysis. Toronto hired Kyle Dubas, the general manager of the Ontario Hockey Leagues Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, to serve as assistant general manager. The Leafs also hired Cam Charron, Darryl Metcalf and Rob Pettapiece to serve as analysts in the hockey research and development department.Analytics is a big part of (Dubas) skillset, general manager Dave Nonis told a radio station. Kyle (is) a hockey guy who understands the analytical side of it.DEFENSIVELY DEFICIENT: Another weakness for the Leafs last season was their play in the defensive end. Toronto ranked 26th and 28th, respectively, in goals against average (3.07) and penalty kill success rate (78.4 per cent).So in an attempt to fix what was broken, Randy Carlyle and his coaching staff spent time during training camp and the preseason implementing a modified defensive system, in which opposing point men will be pressured.Theyll get it, Carlyle said. As a coaching staff, you pick your poison on the things that youre going to shove at the players and I guarantee every coach is shoving defensive zone coverage.WHOS IN GOAL?: The acquisition of Jonathan Bernier from Los Angeles on June 23, 2013, severed as the precursor to a season-long soap opera over which goalie was and should be the Leafs No. 1, the former King or James Remier. Bernier had a 2.68 GAA and .923 save percentage in 55 games, while Reimer finished with a 3.29 GAA and .911 save percentage.So Bernier is the No. 1 goalie, right?Not so fast.We cant ignore what (Bernier) did for our hockey club (last season), Carlyle said. Simple as that. We cant ignore what James Reimers done for our hockey club (in his career). The question (is) going to be: Whos No.1 and is he clear cut?Right now Im going to say its 1A and 1B.BLOOMING GARDINER: Over the course of last season, there was a great deal of speculation regarding Jake Gardiners future with the Maple Leafs despite the defenceman ranking second among Toronto blueliners with 31 points. The conjecture was quieted in the off-season as Toronto and Gardiner agreed to a five-year, $20.25 million deal. I am happy to be a Leaf for a really long time, Gardiner told a reporter after the contract was signed. It shows the Leafs have a lot of faith in me.BREAKING UP FOR THE BETTER?: Carlyle raised antennas early in training camp when he mused about the possibility of moving left wing James van Riemsdyk off of Phil Kessels line. The duo combined for 67 goals, 74 assists and 141 points last season. So what is the benefit in breaking them up?Were going to try to create a different look in our forward group, Carlyle told reporters. We have nine forwards that can provide us a decent amount of offence. Are we going to be able to create three balanced scoring lines? Wayne Gretzky Jersey . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. Jake Muzzin Jersey . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. http://www.nhlkingsauthority.com/authentic-marty-mcsorley-kings-jersey/ . Team officials did not indicate the extent of the injury Saturday, simply listing Rose with "left knee soreness." Rose has played two preseason games without any sign of problems. The first NBA game in South America now will be missing its biggest star.BALTIMORE - Things were going so well for the Carolina Panthers before Pittsburgh came to town. Carolina was 2-0, alone atop the NFC South and eager to impress the nation on Sunday Night Football. Unimpressed, the Steelers amassed 264 yards rushing and cruised to a 37-13 victory. The events of last weekend do not bode well for the Panthers, who face another AFC North opponent with a solid running attack on Sunday: the Baltimore Ravens. You can watch the game live at 1pm et/10am pt on TSN2 and TSN GO, with pregame coverage on live NOW. Not only did the Ravens (2-1) manhandle the Steelers 26-6 on Sept. 11, but theyre coming off a 160-yard rushing performance in a 23-21 win at Cleveland. For Carolina, playing against AFC North competition means fortifying their shoulder pads and making sure all helmets are fully secured. I think, really, its just their physical nature a€” the way they play, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of the division, which also includes Cincinnati and Cleveland. Its only the fourth week of the season, but the Ravens have thus far been forced to delve deep into the depth chart to keep first-year offensive co-ordinator Gary Kubiaks scheme afloat. A three-tiered running back system (Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro) has been employed in the wake of the release of the suspended Ray Rice; rookie James Hurst will be making his first NFL start in place of injured left tackle Eugene Monroe (knee); and tight end Owen Daniels is expected to become more of a target after Dennis Pitta was lost for the season with a dislocated his right hip. Good offences arent made up of one guy here and one guy there. They are made up of a collection of guys that play physical, play fast and can do a lot of things, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. And I think we have that. Former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is one of the fast, physical guys. Following a 13-year run in Carolina, Smith plans to make life miserable for his former teammates as a member of the Ravens. When Im on your team, you love me, Smith said. When Im not on your team, you despise me. Here are some things to know about the Panthers-Ravens matchup: SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Panthers allowed a whopping 7.8 yards per carry against the Steelers, in part because LeVeon Bell and LeGGarrette Blount found big holes after patiently waiting for blocks to develop. Tyler Toffoli Jersey. A couple of times we got knocked out of our creases and allowed the double teams to work, Rivera said. When that happens, youve got to do one of two things: hold your point a little bit better, or stay in your crease as a D-lineman. We just didnt do that very well. INTRODUCTIONS REQUIRED: This is only the fifth time the Panthers and Ravens have faced each other. Flacco has been in NFL since 2008 and faced Carolina only once, never before at home. The previous time these teams met, Brian St. Pierre threw two interceptions for the horrid Panthers, who fell to 1-9 after losing at home 37-13 in 2010. Oh, by the way, current Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was at Auburn in 2010. Hes never played against Baltimore. SLIM PICKINGS: The Panthers are averaging just 72.3 yards per game on the ground and it may be a while before things get much better. Newton is still recovering from rib and ankle injuries and isnt much of a factor to run the ball. He carried just twice for 7 yards against the Steelers. Rivera expects to get DeAngelo Williams back Sunday, but fullback Mike Tolbert is out for eight weeks and Jonathan Stewart is battling a severely sprained knee and may not play, leaving the Panthers quite thin in the backfield. THREE-PRONGED ATTACK: Each of the Ravens three running backs provides a varied challenge to the Panthers. Pierce is a straight-ahead pounder; Forsett has slipped his way to 6.3 yards per carry; and Taliaferro, a rookie, mixed power and finesse in running for 91 yards in his NFL debut last week. All three backs are similar, but they have their own different characteristic style of the way they run, Rivera said. We have to make sure we understand who the back is and then play from there. CAMS DOUBLE: Carolinas 6-foot-5, 245-pound wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is off to a great start, leading all rookies with 253 yards receiving to go along with 16 receptions and two TDs. Smith called his replacement a 6-foot-5 Cam Newton with dreads. 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