Bewerbungen » ctober 22, 2014DW: I know you also enjoy a goo

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. Milan Lucic Jersey . Louis Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia will have surgery on his left shoulder this week and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Terry OReilly Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. http://www.cheapbruinsjerseys.info/authe...ruins-jersey/.Y. - Alex Rodriguez paid $305,000 for evidence that could be used in the case involving the Biogenesis of America drug clinic, the Daily News reported Saturday. Jaroslav Halak Jersey . Ferguson told Uniteds in-house TV channel on Saturday that he has no immediate plans to walk away from the game, and that he still hungers for more trophies even after 25 years in charge of the club. Patrice Bergeron Jersey . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play.DW: You are of course the younger brother of NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen – did the two of you ever get to play together on a team, whether it was in peewee or high school or whatever?DA: No, we never got a chance to play together because hes three years older than me, and so the closest we got to play with each other was on the street playing street ball against other neighbourhoods. We lived on Weston Drive, and Weston Drive was a force to be reckoned with growing up as kids. But we didnt get to play professionally because he played in the NFL, and I came to the Canadian Football League and we pretty much stayed in our leagues and divisions, so we never got a chance to play. We always desired to play with each other if I had of been in the National Football League. #53179647 / gettyimages.com DW: You played your entire career in the CFL, but when a player like Doug Flutie returned to the NFL and had success, did you consider giving the NFL a shot?DA: Well, I did consider it but I think the number a major reason why I came to the Canadian Football League was because Warren Moon was my hero growing up, and knowing that my size was always a factor when I came out of college at Cal State Fullerton, scouts were always wondering and questioning if I could handle the physicality of the National Football League because I was only around 61” and 150 something pounds coming into the professional ranks my first year in Edmonton. Now I was an athletic quarterback, and I dont think they were prepared for someone who could run and throw in that era because if you werent 64” and 220 pounds, and a pocket passer you werent going to play quarterback in the National Football League in that era in the 80s.(Image courtesy of AJ Sports World)DW: Your were in attendance at the Raptors game a few weeks ago – are you a big Raptors fan, and what do you think of the success theyve been having?DA: Im a huge sports fan in general, but I do enjoy going to National Basketball League games, the Raptors are doing an outstanding job. The way theyve slowly built their team, and I think the biggest change this year is that their bench is much deeper, and I think those guys understand their roles and I think all the great basketball players on their team are playing very well. I mean, the latest loss is even due to one of their starters going down. But theyre a sound basketball team that plays hard and I enjoy watching them play. To #RaptorsNation pic.twitter.com/LW1AtrLsY5 — Hall of Famer (@damonallen9) October 22, 2014DW: I know you also enjoy a good game of golf – first of all whats your handicap, and also whats your favourite part of the game?DA: I play to around a five handicap. I think the one thing I do like about golf is throughout my whole life Ive always been around team sports, and I think golf is somewhat individual, even though when you look at the structure of golf, the individuals do have teams around them that make sure they stay on top of their game. Even golf is starting to be more of a team sport because you have a fitness specialist, and philosophy person, a psychology expert, everything, trainers, and so golfers are much more prepared and its not just them versus the course. But that is the one aspect I like about golf, when it comes down to just you challenging the course, or challenging your foursome or the individual youre playing with. #1665009962 / gettyimages.ddddddddddddcom DW: A few hockey questions for you now – are you a big hockey fan?DA: Im a big hockey fan! I started my career off in Edmonton and I was able to see a few Stanley Cups in Edmonton and get to know [Wayne] Gretzky and [Mark] Messier and all those guys during that era. I came from a city of champions, so that was my first introduction to hockey, and I think every since that Ive really enjoyed the game and I have great friends around the NHL. I try to go to some games, and see the good teams when they come to town. Im a good friend with P.K. Subban and Kevin Weekes and yeah, I do always have a great time at hockey games.DW: I was actually going to ask who your favourite player is… I guess you might say P.K. Subban?DA: Oh ya, new generation Im a big fan of P.K. Subban, Sidney Crosby, [Alexander] Ovechkin… I like individual players, not necessarily the teams they play for. I like the skillset these young guys have; its amazing.DW: Did you play at all as a kid?DA: No, not as a kid. I actually wish I had continued on my learning process when I was in Edmonton, I started off playing early in my career but I let it go once I went to Vancouver with the B.C. Lions. I regret not keeping up with the sport, I can still skate, but I wish I could play hockey well.DW: You were drafted by the Detroit Tigers, is that correct?DA: Yes, I am a baseball player, body wise and all those things, so most people actually thought I was going to be a baseball player. I grew up playing two sports all the way through college; I won a National Championship in the College World Series, and was also playing football at the same time. For me sports were always about participating in the game, and when I came out of college I was a middle reliever spot starter so there was time when you didnt play because your starter would go six or seven innings. There were times in college where you would sit around waiting to be called upon, and you dont get called. In football, I was the starting quarterback so the participation aspect was so crucial to me in my decision-making on what sport I wanted to play. I just didnt know I was going to be playing 23 years of football, thats all.(Image courtesy of Bring Back Titan Football)DW: So tell us a little about the Jack Daniels Holiday Barrel Tree event and the charity its supporting…DA: Im excited about supporting a charitable event, especially when it talks about giving back, and understanding the nature of the Jack Daniels Holiday Barrel Tree thats going to be lit in support of Dr. Jay Charitable foundation of care that helps families and children facing terminal illnesses, its just making their lives easier. I think I have a heart for giving, and giving back, especially when it comes to young kids, whether they have an illness or whether they want an opportunity to play sports. I just have a heart for it. The great thing about the tree is it will be up all the way until December 27th. It will be down their on King Street West, and my good friend Mike “Pinball” Clemons is here. Everyone should see this tree made out of barrels.DW: Yeah, it sounds really cool.DA: I think everyone whos downtown between now and the 27th should come by and see the tree. Its that time of the season where we all think about giving to others and giving back, and like I said I have a heart for it and Im looking forward to it. ' ' '