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EDMONTON -- Dallas Eakins brings an emphasis on fitness, accountability and frankness to his new job as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. His arrival also creates a new beginning for a team that has missed the playoffs seven straight years. Forward Jordan Eberle said its time the Oilers forgot about their potential and started proving their ability. "Its a new slate, new coach, new mandate," Eberle said Wednesday. "Theres a point, probably a couple years ago, when you get sick and tired of hearing how good youre going to be and just want to get to that point." Fellow veteran forward Sam Gagner said the expectation for the team has to be nothing less than the playoffs. "Weve been through a lot of losing," he said after the teams camp opened with medicals and fitness testing. "It helps you grow as a person but its never fun. Our core is pretty much intact and we have a lot to prove. "Its important for us to realize that the time is now to turn things around." To that end Eakins, hired in the off-season to replace the fired Ralph Krueger, made it clear to the players its time to shed the "young team" label and show they belong in the NHL. "Its a cop-out to be labelled young," said Gagner, whos heading into his seventh season with the Oilers. "It allows you to go through some growing periods but thats done now. Weve been through a lot as a core and its time for us to move forward. "We have a mix of veterans, young guys and everything in between and its important for us to reach that next level." Theyll try to do that without veteran captain Shawn Horcoff (traded to Dallas), minus an established backup to goaltender Devan Dubnyk and with No. 1 centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- the first pick in the 2011 draft -- on the sidelines. Nugent-Hopkins underwent off-season shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season. Eakins, who was hired last June after will experiment with winger Taylor Hall, the teams leading scorer last season, moving into the vacant centre spot. "Dont make too much of that," Eakins cautioned. "Its not like Ive asked this guy to go play right defence. Hes played centre before. It may be an option for us a I want as many options as I can. "This is my experiment. If it works, great, if it doesnt I was crazy and well move him back to left wing where hes a pretty good player." For his part, Eakins said one of his immediate tasks is to learn the personalities of each of his players. "Its absolutely No. 1 for me," he said. "I dont know how you motivate a guy or push him in the right direction if you dont know what makes him tick. I just dont know how to do it. You really have to get to know the individuals." The former Toronto Marlies coach assured his players there would be no surprises. Hell be frank and upfront with them on all issues. "Its common sense to me," he said. "I dont like surprises a and I dont think players need surprises either. Theyll know exactly where they stand with me." In return he expects full accountability from his players, and that, said Gagner and Eberle, is how it should be. "He demands a lot of us, which is great," said Eberle. "Accountability is one of the most important things in the dressing room and with Dallas, if theres a problem hes going to address it. Thats how a team should function. If a guys not working hard someone should say something." The Oilers have 62 players in camp. They will open the pre-season Saturday with split-squad games against the Flames in Edmonton and Calgary. Fabian Delph Jersey . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Martin Demichelis Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. http://www.manchestercitysoccerpro.com/Authentic-R...ty-Jers ey/ . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Samir Nasri Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Richard Wright Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the NFL chose the Giants and Jets to host the 2014 Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium, there was some wishful thinking in the area that the locals might somehow find a way to play in the first cold-weather title game in the modern era. The annual preseason game for the bragging rights to Saturday would then be a preview to a February showdown in front of the world. Yup. It was wishful thinking. With the 2013 regular season opener just weeks away, the Giants (1-1) and Jets (1-1) are longshots to reach the Super Bowl. Neither made the playoffs last year and neither is favoured to win their division this season. The Jets are still looking for a quarterback. The Giants need a defence. And both Rex Ryan and Tom Coughlin have a ton of questions to answer. Coughlin, who led the Giants to Super Bowl titles in 2008 and 2012, hasnt avoided talking about the big game being in the backyard. There is a countdown clock in the Giants locker room. "Thats a nice thing to be aware of," Coughlin said. "But we have a long way to go to be in that situation. But lofty goals? Yeah. There are 32 teams that the Super Bowl championship is their goal right now. But we have to make sure we take care of all the nuts and bolts in order to get to a position where youre even able to compete for something like that. "Yes, it is a reminder. Its all positive, provided all the work that has to go into it prevails." The Giants have undergone changes since missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was let go in a salary-cap move and defensive tackle Chris Canty and linebacker Michael Boley were released from a defence that finished 31st overall. So far this season, injuries have forced the offensive line to change two spots and kept defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul off the field. Eli Manning has managed one touchdown drive in two preseason games, and the defence still has not generated a pass rush. "Its always a big game," said Manning, whose favourite target, Victor Cruz, will be out with a heel injury.dddddddddddd "Most times its the third preseason game. The starters are going to play a bunch. Its an important game for us to go out there and try to play well." The game is even more important for the Jets. Rookie Geno Smith, a second-round draft pick, will start at quarterback in his bid to take the job from Mark Sanchez. Ryan also hopes to give Chris Ivory more work at running back and to get a little more out of his defence, which has been so-so in the preseason. Playing the Giants, however, seems raise the interest level. Jets guard Willie Colon was raised in New York City and attended Hofstra, so he is very familiar with the rivalry despite experiencing it for the first time as a player. "Its another challenge for us to go out there and show up and get ready for the season," Colon said. "They have a good outfit. Their championships speak (volumes) for them and for us were trying to get on the ball and get things going, so its going to be a great night for us." Before coming to the Giants in 2011, punter Steve Weatherford played for the Jets. He said the rivalry always ratchets things up a little, even in the preseason. "If we win the game, thats just the cherry on the top," Weatherford said. "We just want to stay healthy." Giants veteran cornerback Corey Webster smiled when asked about the Jets. "I dont think about the Jets at all," said Webster, who is going to miss his second straight game with groin and knee injuries. "Thats not disrespect or anything. They are an NFL team from across town and I wish them all the best, but were focused on us. There is a little rivalry when you have two teams in the same town sharing a whole bunch of stuff. "But ultimately, I want to win every game and it doesnt matter who we are playing." Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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