TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to reap the reward of having the NHLs worst team last season. Authentic Frank Ragnow Jersey .Auston Matthews is the prize.Toronto took advantage of its awful season by drafting the highly skilled player with the No. 1 pick overall, the franchises first selection at the top of the NHL draft since 1985.Matthews, who just turned 19, will have a chance to make an instant impact.The Maple Leafs won just 29 games last season, their fewest since 1970 when they played six fewer games, and won only one more game the previous season.Mike Babcock, meanwhile, proved coaching can only do so much.Toronto gave him a $50 million, eight-year deal a year ago, hoping the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold-winning coach could make a difference.Last year, he did not as the Maple Leafs finished last in the league.This season, Babcock is expecting much better results.Were way better, Babcock said in an interview with The Associated Press while leading Canada to a World Cup of Hockey title. We got kids, but we got skill. Its a way different program than a year ago. We now have a team.Were like a fast-climbing stock. You want to buy. Last year, you didnt want to buy.Here are some things to watch as Toronto prepares to play at Ottawa on Oct. 12 in the NHLs first regular season game:FRANCHISE PLAYERTorontos hopes of reviving its beloved hockey franchise rest with Matthews, its first No. 1 pick overall since selecting Wendel Clark a little more than three decades ago.Matthews showed the world his talent as a key player for the North Americas 23-and-younger team, scoring once against Sweden and Russia and having an assist against Finland. He also very much belonged on the ice in his preseason debut against Montreal after playing in the World Cup.I felt really good, Matthews said.The 6-foot-3, 216-pound center looked good, too, flashing his rare blend of size, speed and skill. He was born in California and lived in Arizona before going to Switzerland last year to prepare to play in the NHL. Matthews had 24 goals and 22 assists in 36 games for the Zurich Lions.Lots of skill, Babcock said after coaching Matthews for the first time in a game. Hell figure it out.IMPORTANT INVESTMENTBabcock bristled at the notion Toronto didnt make a splash in the summer to improve their team, pointing to picks the team gave up to acquire Frederik Andersen from Anaheim.We traded a first and a second to get a goalie who could win games, he said.The Maple Leafs also dealt goalie Jonathan Bernier as part of the deal.Andersen signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Maple Leafs, cashing in on his 77-26-12 record over three seasons while competing for playing time with the Ducks.ON THE MENDJames van Riemsdyk got a chance to get into game shape during the World Cup, playing three games and having one assist for the U.S.The 27-year-old forward played in just 40 games last year before his season ended due to a broken left foot.Its huge to have him healthy, Babcock said. We think hes a high-end player. The more skill we have around him, the better off well be.I think JVR is going to have the best year of his career.So far, the 2013-14 season was his best when he had 30 goals and 31 assists.GETTING AN ASSISTBabcock was busy with Canadas World Cup team, giving assistant coaches Jim Hiller, D.J. Smith and Andrew Brewer a chance to lead the team during training camp and early in the preseason.It was a great to give those guys an opportunity to run the program, Babcock said. They probably enjoyed it.TURNING 100The Maple Leafs are planning a season of celebrations to commemorate their centennial. The highlight may be when Toronto hosts the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field, home of the Canadian Football Leagues Argonauts, in the leagues annual outdoor game on New Years Day.----Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Calvin Johnson Womens Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Authentic Tyrell Crosby Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. http://www.cheapdetroitlionsjerseysauthentic.com/ .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche.Alastair Cook lasted five balls for Essex wearing the new approved helmet after complying with new safety regulations on Monday. Cook scored 105 and 35 not out in Essexs 10-wicket win over Gloucestershire in their opening County Championship Division Two match last week, only to be spoken to by the England and Wales Cricket Board for wearing old-style headgear.New helmets, which comply to British Safety Standards and have a smaller gap between the peak and grille, were introduced in the winter after a number of high-profile injuries, including to Stuart Broad and Craig Kieswetter. On Monday, Warwickshires Jonathan Trott continued to stick with the old helmet and scored an unbeaten 62 against Middlesex at Lords, but Cook did not have such a good day after switching his headgear.With Sussex making 360 in their first innings at Hove, Essexs run chase got off to a poor start with Cook nibbling outside off stump from the bowling of Steve Magoffin and thick-edged the ball to Chris Nash at second slip.The new rules brought in by the ECB also state that international and county batsmen wear a helmet at all times, even when facing the spinners. Wicketkeepers also need to wear the new headgear standing up to the wicket, as do close fielders. Laying down the law ECB speaks to Alastair Cook about new helmet regulations Former England skipper and Sky Sports cricket pundit Nasser Hussain has sympathy for Cook and feels it is unfair to dictate what headgear a batsman should use.Hussain told the Daily Mail: The fact he nicked off to Steve Magoffin may have had nothing to do with the new lid but he would have gone to bed thinking if he had been wearing his old helmet he would have been able to see the ball better. Former England captain Nasser Hussain thinks Alastair Cook should be able to decide which style of helmet he wears. Authentic Tracy Walker Jersey. . The last thing a batsman wants is any doubts over their equipment and, however trivial it may seem to move the grille up a few centimetres, I can assure you it makes a huge difference.Cook is a sensible man who knows his responsibilities to the wider game. I would rather have the England captain confident and comfortable. He has earned the right to make his own choices. The England skipper needs just 36 runs to reach 10,000 in Tests Players cannot be banned from playing in non-compliant headgear but could find themselves reported to the ECBs disciplinary committee and face possible sanctions.If Cook had continued to use the old-style Gray-Nicholls helmet, both county and Test umpires could have asked him to leave the field.The 31-year-old has been made available for Essexs first four County Championship matches and is due to lead the England team out again in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley on May 19. Also See: Cook speaks to ECB over helmet Essex CCC County ins and outs CC Division One preview CC Division Two preview Pundits county picks Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China ' ' '