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PHILADELPHIA -- It didnt take Russian forward Nikita Scherbak long to win over the Montreal media. "Oh my God, a lot of people," a nervous Scherbak said as he approached a phalanx of media backstage at Wells Fargo Center after going 26th overall to the Canadiens in the first round of the NHL draft Friday. "Oh my God." Within five minutes, the Saskatoon Blades winger was over his nerves and had English, French and Russian reporters eating out of his hand. What do you know about Montreal, he was asked. "Merci, bonjour," he offered. And what about the Habs? "I know Montreal wins a lot of Stanley Cups." Asked how much he weighed, Scherbak said he was 190 pounds. "But I havent eaten for two days, Im so nervous," he said to laughter. "Im sitting eating my fingers." The Russian, either six foot or 6-2 depending on who you believe, scored 28 goals and added 50 assists in his first year with the Blades to lead all WHL rookies. He also was named the Blades most valuable player and rookie of the year. "I think Im a good playmaker," he said. Habs GM Marc Bergevin marvelled at the Russians poise. "I saw somebody with a lot of personality. Hes got an appeal to him. Hes got confidence. Montreals a different market and from what weve seen so far we feel we could handle that." The Canadiens also have players who can mentor the young Russian in Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov and Alex Galchenyuk. Asked how close Scherbak is to making the NHL, Bergevin gave the stock answer. "Thats going to be up to him," he said. As for his playing skills, Bergevin pointed to his speed, skating, vision and playmaking ability. "For us, hes a top talent," he said. "For whatever reason he was at 26 so we jumped on him." The GM acknowledged that he would have looked to move down the draft had the Russian been picked earlier. Scherbak said he came to Canada because he wanted to fulfil his dream and that of his family to play in the NHL. "I dont think about the KHL," he added. The language barrier wasnt easy. At first, he said all he could do was "just show." Then he learned "easy words like cat, dog, like food, eat, sleep." A year on, he can chat away. "Thats pretty good," said one reporter. "I think so too," smiled Scherbak. "Maybe I learn French right now," he added. Reporters suddenly felt old when, asked who he looked up to in the NHL, Scherbak cited 21-year-old Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Earlier in the day, Montreal coach Michel Therrien acknowledged he has replayed the Eastern Conference final loss in his head. "Of course," he said at the draft. "if you look at the big picture, yes were happy about the progress we made. But at the same time, when youre two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup final, yes youve got to be disappointed." The Canadiens have already made some decisions. Bergevin says free agents Thomas Vanek, defenceman Douglas Murray and tough guy George Parros wont be back. Talks continue with three other free agents: captain Brian Gionta, and defencemen Mike Weaver and Francis Bouillon. Markov and Therrien have both signed new deals. "Thats good news for us," Therrien said of Markov staying in the fold. "Hes an important player, hes a veteran. Hes got such an important role, so were all pleased hes back with us." Therrien agreed to a four-year contract extension earlier this month. The 50-year-old is in his second stint at the Habs helm. His record over the last two seasons is 75-42-13. Finding an assistant coach to replace Gerard Gallant, now head coach of the Florida Panthers, is also on the Habs to-do list. Defenceman P.K. Subbans contract is also a major issue. Bergevin says there has already been a meeting with Subbans agent. Asked about young goalie Dustin Tokarskis immediate future, Therrien said simply: "Well see at the (training) camp." Tokarski acquitted himself well in filling in for the injured Carey Price against the Rangers. Therrien made a point of praising backup Peter Budaj, who was ignored in favour of Tokarski. "Peter is one of the best backups in the NHL. So I have a lot of respect for Peter Budaj." Yeezy 700 Sale .com) - The New York Rangers hope to punch their ticket to the second round when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a Game 6 battle at Wells Fargo Center. Yeezy Sale . -- The Minnesota Vikings have signed Jerome Simpson, the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver recently convicted on a felony drug charge. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/air-max-90-sale/.com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center. Air Max Sale . -- Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be out three to six weeks with a stress fracture of the third finger of his right hand. Wholesale Shoes Cheap . According to MMAFighting.com, MacDonald needs an x-ray on his right ankle and doctors clearance to fight or he will be subject to a mandatory medical suspension that will end on August 22, 2014.TORONTO – It was nearing the end of a Monday practice and Randy Carlyle was flashing a menacing grin. All those under the age of 24, he said, were due an extra round of skating from sideboard to sideboard. Amid the Leafs longest losing streak of the season and a dismal November, which included two regulation wins in 13 games (4-6-3,) Carlyle is doing his best to remain calm. "Stress varies in coaching," said Carlyle, ahead of a Tuesday tilt with the scorching San Jose Sharks, who have won eight of their past 10 games. "Id say its always high, but [not getting] to the boiling point, its real difficult at times." "Our job is to be the calming influence," he continued, "and our job is to show leadership. Leaders, you cant be going off on your players on a continual basis because they become numb. I think that the screaming and hollering, weve done enough of that at times. Now is the time to accentuate the positives that they bring, correct and instruct and coach the negatives out of our group." Not much went right for his team in the second month of the season, one that ended with four straight losses, nine defeats in 13 games and a seven-game road losing skid. Their defensive troubles remained constant, their offence struggled to produce at even-strength, and one-half of their previously dominant special teams took a hit, their penalty kill dipping to 24th overall. Even the goaltending, superb under considerable strain for the opening six weeks, finally buckled somewhat under a heavy load in recent days. Though their record said otherwise (10-4-0,) October offered many of the same concerning traits to Carlyle and his coaching staff (save for goaltending and special teams.) But, because the wins kept coming, urgency amongst his players remained relatively low. "When youre winning youre winning," said Phil Kessel, who cooled in November with just six points in 14 games. "Its a result-based business. You want to win, so youre always positive when youre winning games. Obviously [the] last month has been a little tougher. We didnt win as many games as wed like and we didnt play as well as wed like. But its a long season. Theres ups and downs. Well get out of that and stay positive." With much of their October luck disappearing in recent weeks – their save percentage and shooting percentage both trending downward – Carlyles message, which urged the need for improvement throughout, is now carrying more weight with it. His early concerns have finally bubbled into real trouble, the Leafs now fifth in the Atlantic Division. "The one thing about what happens is when you continue to have success and youre doing it that way its not as drastic," said Carlyle. "But weve been hit right with a hammer right now so we know where were at and we know what we need to do to correct ourselves. All weve asked of our players is we want 10 per cent more from every individual in there and, in some cases, I believe theres 20 per cent more for peoplee to give.dddddddddddd" "When a coach tells you that, obviously, you look yourself in the mirror, you think over your practice habits, your game habits, your routine and you just make sure that theres nothing slipping in that you need to change," said James Reimer, who has allowed nine goals in his past two starts. "Once you realize that, you put your nose to the grindstone and work your butt off." The Leafs have yet to consistently brand themselves in the fashion that Carlyle would like, that of an aggressive blue-collar hockey club. Of late, hes been troubled by the quality of opportunities for the opposition in the "critical areas" of the ice, the increasing amount of odd-man rushes against and ongoing problems with discipline, the Leafs guilty of the third-most minor penalties this season. "Thus our penalty killing has been taxed," said Carlyle. That penalty kill, ranked second overall last season, allowed 15 goals in November and was successful to the tune of just 70 per cent. Troubles in that regard only accentuated the hefty strain on the two goaltenders, Reimer and Jonathan Bernier victim to the most shots against nightly this season (36 per game.) Improbably saving the day early and often, the tandem has predictably cooled in recent weeks. Reimer and Bernier have combined for an .894 save percentage in the past six games. "Were giving up a lot of chances," said Kessel. “"You cant give as many chances as weve been giving up." While their power-play has remained effective, still ranked as the 5th best this season, the Leafs productivity at even-strength has fallen on hard times. They scored just 18 such goals in 13 November games, managing two goals (overall) or fewer in nine of 13 games. Hoping to spark some change in that respect, Carlyle decided hed enough, for the moment, with the combination of Nazem Kadri and David Clarkson. Clarkson was replaced by Nik Kulemin on a line that also features Mason Raymond. "Were not creating enough," said Carlyle. "Were not creating enough chances and were not creating enough from an offensive standpoint. For me and for us we waited to do an analysis over the three games and we just felt there wasnt enough there." Depth offensively continues to be an issue. Of the 72 goals the Leafs have scored this season, 59 or 82 per cent have come for a group of just seven players, one of them being the injured Dave Bolland. Led by Dion Phaneuf, the defence has just three goals all season. "Were always looking and reviewing the things that you do wrong and there are some things that need addressing – were not going to hide from the fact of that – but we believe that the corrections are very easily adaptable," Carlyle said after a practice which included work on defensive zone coverage, breakouts, and special teams. "Now, does it happen overnight?" he finished with a laugh. "I hope so." ' ' '