t getting big league hitters out." "Its not fun,

When the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Frederik Gauthier in the first round in 2013, they knew they were getting a big, strong centreman. Discount NFL Jerseys . When they drafted William Nylander in the first round this year, they knew they were getting a speedy, playmaking forward.Now the Leafs want to see Gauthier and Nylander round out their games. Next up in that process is the world junior championship, with Gauthier playing for Canada and Nylander for Sweden.What were hoping to see from Frederik is to take that next step now and play on offence against (top) guys and drive play into the other teams zone, Leafs assistant general manager Kyle Dubas said. Get up the ice, make the other teams best players defend him. Hes a very large human being, and when he has the puck with his ability, I dont know theres many guys that are going to be able to get it from him.Gauthier is the fourth-line centre for Canada, which opens the tournament Friday against Slovakia. The 19-year-old from St-Lin-Laurentides, Que., showed off good forechecking skills in exhibition action.That fits in with what coach Benoit Groulx wants out of him.Hes got to skate, hes got to get involved, Groulx said. We dont want him to only be a checker or a penalty killer. We want him to be his own player. He has to have a presence on (the) forecheck, he has to have presence in the corners, in front of their net, not only in our zone.Dubas and the Leafs would love for Gauthier to hone his offensive game. At six foot four and 215 pounds, hes quite the handful on the ice and has improved his skating drastically since being taken 21st overall in 2013.Gauthier, who plays for Rimouski Oceanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, has got the message from his NHL organization loud and clear.They talk to me about my offensive skills, like try to be more offensive without giving up my defensive side, Gauthier said. Just being more offensive, part of the rush, part of the scoresheet. More create some scoring chances.Gauthier said he has the defensive side of his game down. Hes adept at taking faceoffs and will be counted on to win important, defensive-zone draws.Hockey Canada director of player personnel Ryan Jankowski said Gauthier proved during a recent exhibition game that he can complement offensive linemates. But Jankowski sees the Leafs prospect as more of a defensive, shutdown centre.I think the offensive component is by chipping pucks, by getting first to pucks, by making simple, little plays, Jankowski said. I think hes only a centreman. I think hes a guy that is limited in his versatility but still has the presence, the size, the determination, the character to be a real good player for any team because of how he approaches the game.Nylander is almost the total opposite of Gauthier in that he has flashy offensive skill but lacks a lot in the defensive end and without the puck. Taken eighth overall in June, the five-foot-eleven son of former NHL centre Michael Nylander spent all of training camp with Toronto but didnt have the physical strength or polish to his game to stick.Since going back home to play for MODO of the Swedish Hockey League, Nylander has eight goals and 11 assists. Former Leafs captain Mats Sundin has watched Nylander play and believes hes going to be great.Hes a very talented young man. Very young still, 18, but hes got all the tools to become a great player in the National Hockey League, Sundin said. I thought it was a really smart move to let him go back and play in the Swedish Hockey League. Hes not physically there yet, but hes still playing against men over there at a high level and hes going to keep developing.Dubas said Steve Staios, Jim Hughes and Dave Morrison from the Leafs scouting and player development departments have watched him play there and have received strong reports on Nylander.Hes showing signs, as every 18- and 19-year-old does, now hes starting to show better ability to check and get the puck back and go back on offence, which is what we want from him to do when he comes over to North America, Dubas said.This world junior tournament is another test of that as Nylander goes up against the best players his age in group play in Toronto. Sweden is in Group B at Air Canada Centre with Russia (which has Leafs defensive prospect Rinat Valiev), the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Denmark.Im excited to see Willie, Dubas said. Hes shifted and played centre with MODO. In the games in November with the national team, he was between wing and centre. Wherever he plays, its going to be exciting to see him come for Toronto and play for Team Sweden.Gauthier, who played an exhibition in what could be his future home rink last week when Canada faced Russia at Air Canada Centre, will start at Bell Centre in Montreal. Canada is in Group A with Slovakia, the United States, Finland and Germany.This is Gauthiers second time in this tournament. This time he hopes to just get more experience, play in every situation, adapt to any role and be ready for whats coming up next.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Wholesale China Jerseys . His fellow Finn, 21 years his junior, had just arrived in Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the Ducks. Wholesale Stitched Jerseys NFL . No pretty goals on this night, just get to the front of the net and fight for a chance. http://www.cheapjerseysforfree.com/ . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing.ATLANTA -- Struggling Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz will test out an ailing knee during a bullpen session Wednesday in Boston, then find out when hell make his next start. Buchholz set a career high with eight walks and allowed six runs in only three-plus innings Monday before Boston rallied to beat Atlanta 8-6, ending a 10-game losing streak. On Tuesday, manager John Farrell revealed that Buchholz remained in the game after his left knee buckled. "So weve got to make sure that he gets through his bullpen tomorrow," Farrell said, adding he wants to be certain "that knee, where he felt like it was a little hyperextended, doesnt persist or show any further soreness." Farrell said Buchholz initially denied that his knee buckled when catcher A.J. Pierzynski went to the mound. "He didnt want that to be any part of the reason of why he pitched the way he did," Farrell said. "But weve got to be conscious of it and see how he comes through the bullpen tomorrow." Buchholz is 2-4 with a 7.02 ERA in 10 starts. Its a dramatic decline from 2013, when he was 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA. Farrell confirmed Buchholzs self-confidence is a concern as a decision is made on his next start. "We cant deny that," Farrell said. "WWe havent made a definitive decision on his next turn through the rotation. China Football Jerseys. ." "Were not blind to what everyone sees. And yes, there is concern because youre talking about a guy that was on his way to potentially a Cy Young year last year and now hes only shown flashes of it, either inside a given game or for a given start." Buchholz said he is having trouble sticking with progress made on his mechanics in the bullpen before games "when youre out there thinking about getting big league hitters out." "Its not fun, I know that. ... It seems to be snowballing on me right now." Asked after Mondays game if it would help if he were given a break from the rotation, Buchholz said "Im going to take the ball whenever they give it to me. ... If I wasnt healthy, that might be an option." Farrell said he still sees flashes of Buchholzs old form. "Thats the thing that personally I continue to latch on to," Farrell said. "Because theres been a couple of starts where hes been very strong. Yesterday he makes an adjustment in the first inning, he carries it through the second inning and then seemingly he loses it again. So I cant say that its strictly mechanical or from a fundamental standpoint." ' ' '