TORONTO a€“ If there was one aspect of the Maple Leafs that general manager Dave Nonis believed had improved from one year earlier, it was depth a€“ especially up front. New Balance Scarpe Offerta . Toronto brass spent the summer months adding forwards of different distinctions from the free agent market, the trade market and as far away as the KHL a€“ not to mention the waiver wire, Richard Panik claimed from Tampa Thursday a€“ all with the idea of bolstering an underserved area of the roster. Fast forward to Wednesdays season opener and the earliest peek into what that depth may look like. Of the 12 forwards who dressed against the Canadiens, 11 played more than 10 minutes a€“ and one, Matt Frattin, played 9:24. Randy Carlyle, the Leafs head coach, was able to flip four lines with matching speed for three periods, including in the closing moments of the final frame a€“ Montreal winning late on the second of two goals from Tomas Plekanec. First Line Player Ice-Time vs. MTL James van Riemsdyk 22:07 Tyler Bozak 21:31 Phil Kessel 20:31 Fourth Line Player Ice-Time vs. MTL Matt Frattin 9:24 Daniel Winnik 10:39 Peter Holland 11:01 That kind of depth a€“ which produced Torontos game-tying goal late in the third a€“ simply didnt exist for the club a year ago. Consider that Colton Orr, in last seasons opener in Montreal, played less than three minutes, including one shift of 32 seconds in a close third period. Orr, who is now with the Marlies, played more than 10 minutes once in 54 games last season. Frazer McLaren, also demoted to the Marlies in the Leafs final purge after training camp, never played more than 10 minutes in 27 games. Intimidation aside, they combined for zero goals, zero assists and zero points last season. Torontos new recruits will assuredly provide more than that. The teams bottom two lines proved maybe their most effective against Montreal, all the more valuable given the woeful night of the top unit which turned pucks over, generated little offence and was scored on twice by the Habs first trio of Max Pacioretty, P.A. Parenteau, and David Desharnais. Four lines definitely does help out, especially early on in the games to get everyone involved, said Nazem Kadri, who scored the first goal for the Leafs in defeat. One of the potential effects of increased depth is precisely how it could affect that incumbent first line of Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. The Leafs were overly reliant on the threesome last season, a toll that became evident with their struggles during the March collapse. Better balance (or at least the thought of it) stands to alleviate some of the burden on those players. More capability throughout the lineup also stands to increase possession, keep speed and some degree of skill constant, shift after shift, and add hints of offence where it was lacking in the past. Daniel Winnik, who lined up on the left side of the fourth unit Wednesday, offered 30 points as a Duck last year. That kind of production would be a drastic increase from the wasteland of the teams fourth line in 2013-14. This collection of depth forwards, however, is still very much in question. It remains to be seen whether Mike Santorelli can stay healthy and offer the versatility hes shown during stopovers in Florida and Vancouver or if Peter Holland can establish himself as a regular NHL player (centre ice remains a weak spot for the Leafs). It remains to be seen what kind of contribution David Clarkson can make in Year Two, whether Brandon Kozun can make the leap from the AHL, if Matt Frattin can define himself in this league. Its a wild-card group, really, one thats full of questions. But theres upside in the collection as well. And given the interchangeability of the parts, competition for ice-time seems a given and something the Leafs hope instigates improved performance and expanded roles. Youre going to have to work for your ice, said Kadri, who played only 14 minutes in the opener. Some days youve got it, some days you dont. You definitely have to earn it. Holland, for instance, hadnt killed penalties since junior, but took reps in the role against Montreal. Thats extra ice-time and opportunity for a player still trying to establish himself in the league and it comes at the expense of Bozak, for one, who struggled in the role (under heavy total minutes) last season. Theres also insulation in the case of injuries, a reality the Leafs didnt have a year ago when two of their top centres got hurt early in the season. We think we can play a skating game, an up-tempo game, said Carlyle. Were going to play our nine forwards and possibly our 12 forwards on an equal basis. New Balance Outlet On Line . The premature end left 26 players still to finish the round in the Asian Tour event. Siddikur, who shot a bogey-free first round to share the lead with five others, eagled the par-5 first hole before bogeying twice and rebounding with six birdies. New Balance Outlet Scontate . Future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray is in his prime and back for a third season in double blue. The 34-year old was magnificent in 2013, throwing for just under 2,900 yards despite missing eight games, tossing an impressive 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions, completing 66 per cent of his passes in the process. http://www.newbalanceoutlet.it/ .Lets go back to the Avs, who have become one of the funnest teams to watch in this years playoffs.LONDON -- Tuesday marks the 1-month countdown to the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, a defining moment on the world stage for Russia and Vladimir Putin. These games are among the most contentious in Olympic history, embroiled in controversy over terrorist threats, human rights, gay rights, cost overruns, corruption and environmental damage. But is it all doom and gloom for Putins pet project? Before the Olympic cauldron is lit on Feb. 7, its time for a look at the good and the bad for Russias first Winter Games. ------ The negatives: TERROR THREAT: The two bombings in Volgograd -- which killed 34 people in suicide attacks on the rail station and a trolley bus -- have escalated the security alarm. Sochi is located on the edge of the Caucasus region, where insurgents are seeking to create an Islamic state. Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov has urged his fighters to attack the Sochi Olympics, which he described as "satanic dances on the bones of our ancestors." A massive security apparatus will be in place for the games, meaning painstaking metal-detector, X-ray and other checks for athletes, spectators and media. Ticketholders will need to obtain "spectator passes," providing passport and other information to authorities. Email, phone and internet usage will reportedly be monitored by Russian security agencies. Putin is expected to attend many Olympic events, causing further security lockdowns. A heavy presence of Russian security forces could turn the games into an armed camp and undermine any prospect of a welcoming, festival atmosphere. GAY RIGHTS: The Russian law banning gay "propaganda" has caused a furious backlash in the West and tarnished the countrys international reputation heading into the Olympics. While Russia has promised there will be no discrimination at the games, critics continue to bash the law. The IOC has been assailed for not pushing Russia to repeal the legislation. Some athletes are planning to make their views known in Sochi, either by speaking out or carrying or wearing symbols promoting gay rights. Thats something which could land athletes in trouble with the IOC, which prohibits any political gestures at the games. HUMAN RIGHTS: Russias human rights record remains under scrutiny. With the games approaching, Putin has launched a charm offensive of sorts -- pardoning former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and granting amnesty for Pussy Riot punk band members and Greenpeace activists. He has even rescinded an order banning any demonstrations in or around the games. Critics call the moves window dressing. Will protest applications be granted? Will anyone dare come out to demonstrate? Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has accused Russian authorities of mistreating migrant workers and harassing activists and journalists. PUTINS POLITICS: Putins prickly relations with the West have soured any "feel-good" factor about the Olympics. Tensions with the U.S. and President Barack Obama grew after Putin granted temporary asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Putins policies on Syria and Iran, and Russias backsliding on democratic reforms have antagonized Western leaders. For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to the Olympics will not include a president, vice-president or first lady. Obama is sending several openly gay athletes, including tennis great Billie Jean King and figure skater Brian Boitano. French President Francois Hollande and German President Joachim Gauck are not going to Sochi, either. WEATHER WORRIES: Sochi is a subtropical resort on the Black Sea. Temperatures on the coast, where the indoor ice events will be held, will be mild. Thats fine, but there is uncertainty over conditions in the mountains for the snow events. While there iss already a good layer of snow in place, a spell of warm or wet weather could cause problems. New Balance Saldi Online. . As a precaution, organizers have stored up 450,000 cubic meters of snow. Also worth noting: flooding and avalanches are common in the region. RECORD COST: $51 billion. Thats the overall price tag for the games, by far the most expensive in history, summer or winter, and more than three times the budget of the 2012 London Games. The cost includes the long-term investment in roads, tunnels, railways and ski facilities. Everything has been built from scratch as Russia seeks to turn Sochi into a year-round tourist destination. The costs have soared way above previous projections amid allegations of financial mismanagement, corruption and favours doled out to oligarchs and Putins friends. ------ So whats the good news then? Yes, there are things to look forward to. Heres a sampling: NEW SPORTS: Twelve new events are on the sports program in Sochi, with womens ski jumping perhaps the biggest attraction. Female jumpers are making their debut after being rejected for inclusion in Vancouver four years ago. In a nod to the young X Games generation, the IOC has also added ski halfpipe and ski and snowboard slopestyle events. Snowboard star Shaun White, aka the Flying Tomato, will unveil a new trick -- a frontside double-cork 1440. Its a variation of the Double McTwist 1260 he nailed at the 2010 Vancouver Games. HOCKEY FEVER: The NHL players are back. Hockey is the sport Russia really cares about and the host nation will be out to make amends after the disaster in Vancouver. The Russians failed to medal in hockey, knocked out in the quarterfinals by Canada. It was symbolic of Russias worst overall showing at a Winter Games, winning only 15 medals and finishing 11th in the table. Sochi will offer a chance of redemption for superstar Alex Ovechkin, who is desperate to lead Russia to its first Olympic title since a "Unified Team" of former Soviet republics took gold in Albertville in 1992. Of course, Canada and the U.S. might have something to say about that. SKI STARS: Alpine skiing features the anticipated returns of American stars Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller from knee injuries, though Vonns status remains uncertain. High-profile medal contenders include 18-year-old American Mikaela Shiffrin, as well as Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and Tina Maze of Slovenia. COMPACT LAYOUT: All the indoor venues and the stadium for the ceremonies are located in the Olympic Park in the coastal cluster. Its possible to walk or take a short shuttle bus between all the venues. The mountain cluster is only about 45 minutes away. Its a much more compact setup than previous games in Vancouver and Turin. Spectators can use a brand new train service to travel between the coast and the mountains. THE VENUES: Theyre brand new, theyre ready and theyll look great on TV. Gleaming arenas are in place for hockey, curling, speedskating and figure skating. THE BOSS: Dmitry Chernyshenko, a native of Sochi, is the affable head of the local organizing committee. The bespectacled Chernyshenko, who comes from the world of advertising, loves technology. He carries an iPad wherever he goes and is an enthusiastic user of Twitter ((at)DChernyshenko, www.twitter.com/DChernyshenko). He led Sochis winning bid for the games and has spent the last seven years getting the city ready for its big moment. THE STAKES: National pride and Putins personal prestige are on the line. Theres simply too much at play for Russia not to make the games a success. Besides, once the competition begins, the athletes take centre stage and the host nation begins winning medals, the atmosphere invariably takes off. AND FINALLY: Hey, the mascots are kind of cute. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '