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WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Jets have a new coach on a short-term deal who knows he has a long-term project on his plate. Wholesale Jerseys . "Weve got our challenges," Paul Maurice said after taking in his first practice with the team Monday morning. "Im not saying Im coming in here and taking this team to a completely different level over the next week." But the veteran coach of more than 1,000 NHL games, who took the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup final in 2002, says he sees a lot of potential in the Jets. "Youth size and speed is the easiest way for me to sum that up. I like some of the pieces and some of the parts." The size was apparent when he stepped on the ice with the team at the MTS Centre. "This is the first time that Ive ever as a coach felt short and thats a really, really nice feeling," he said, following practice, as he met with reporters for the first time since arriving in Winnipeg after Claude Noels firing Sunday. The last straw for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was last weeks 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jets seemed to have taken a step backward rather than move away from the defensive lapses that have left them 19-23-5 and last in the Central Division. For 2 1/2 years, Noel tried to inject a more responsible, defensive gene into the Jets, after they moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta. Now its Maurices turn and he agreed that seems to be whats missing. "My concerns are -- and you should never introduce a negative but Ill get to this now -- getting them to play a game that has a defensive component in it (and) that, for those players that have been here a long time, they havent done it." He says its his job to find a way to get players to buy into a system they can play that will help get them out of a slump that is sapping their confidence and building frustration. They have the skills, he suggests. "Youve seen it in the games where this team can look so dominant at points in time and then you question where that goes," he said. Although hes been coaching in the NHL for almost 20 years, he said something he has learned relatively recently is that it takes time to work with players on an individual basis to help them grow and develop. "Motivation is different for each player but at the end of the day with this group, with what theyre going through, they just want to get out of it," he said. "They just want to win. They want this to go away. The anger, the frustration by the fans, its the same as the frustration in that locker-room. They want to find a way out. Its the coaching staffs job now to lead that way out." The Jets are on a five-game losing streak and well out of that playoff spot Maurice says is one of his objectives. But he says creating confidence in a game the players can understand is his primary goal. "Im used to having some challenges. You know, the underdog team that at the very least fights like a dog," he said. "Thereve been too many years where we got to within a point but there werent many when I walked away saying there was a whole lot more left on the table." At least for now, hes only here for the rest of the season, which will end April 10 for the Jets unless their game turns around. Maurice, 46, also coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for a couple of seasons and recently tried the KHL in Russia but opted to return home to be closer to his family. Other than juggling lines a little, he didnt make a lot of changes prior to Monday nights game against the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. That includes leaving Dustin Byfuglien as a forward, although he says he can see him making major contributions as a blue-liner as well. Byfuglien is one of the top-scoring defencemen in the NHL but his minus-16 rating prompted Noel to try switching him to forward. "Were not trying to go out there and change everything we do tonight," said centre Bryan Little, who will be playing on a line with familiar partner Andrew Ladd but also Michael Frolik. "Hes been here less than 24 hours and I think he realizes that and hes not going to change too much tonight but he expects us to work hard." Little says he expects the changes to come once the Jets get some practice days. The players accepted much of the blame for Noels firing and Little said a game will help. "Once youre out there you kind of forget about everything thats happened and you can just play the game. Im looking forward to it." Cheap Jerseys . After being eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semifinals, Mourinho was asked if hell return to the club next season and simply replied: "Maybe not. Wholesale NFL Jerseys .ca NBA Power Rankings, but there are changes among those teams in pursuit. INAWASHIRO, Japan -- Canadian moguls skier Mikael Kingsbury says he always sets his sights on a podium finish. And lately, hes been getting a lot of them. After winning bronze at a World Cup event on Saturday, the reigning Olympic silver medallist capped off his weekend in Japan with gold in dual moguls on Sunday. "Yesterday I wasnt disappointed, but I made an uncharacteristic mistake. Today I felt very good," Kingsbury said. "I really wanted to win and I focused on the stuff I was doing well. I didnt have my best training this morning so I had to refocus and managed to get the win." Kingsbury, of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., outperformed Japans Sho Endo in his final run. Montreals Pascal-Olivier Gagne took bronze for his first World Cup podium finish. The 24-year-old Gagne, who was ousted by Kingsbury in the semifinal, said that simply cracking the semis was a huge step for him, but winning bronze and sharing his first podium with Kingsbury and Sho was even better. "I was already assured of fourth place so it didnt even matter what happened after, I was just so happy to be there," he said. "I went to see Mik before the dual and took him in my arms because I knew it was my best result ever. "To share the podium with him, hes the most consistent skier Ive seen and Sho, hes one of the best right now, so to share the podium with both these guys really means a lot to me." Gagne got off to a slow start this season, making only one final in his first six events. While his Canadian teammates were winning medals in Sochi, Gagne had to go back to the NorAm circuit to earn a spot in this weekends World Cup event in Japan. He placed seventh in singles and second in dual moguls at Appex Mountain Resort outside of Penticton, B. Cheap NFL Jerseys. C. on Feb. 15 and 16, respectively. Gagne says winning his first World Cup medal on the tough Japanese course made his victory even sweeter. "To finally have my first podium ever, and to have it here in Inawashiro means a lot to me," he said. "Its one of the courses thats the most difficult in the world. Its the course I always looked up to when I was young watching my idols. Its really a fight every time to ski here so Im really happy I made my first podium here." Quebec Citys Philippe Marquis was fourth, Montreals Marc-Antoine Gagnon placed fifth after being knocked out in the quarter-finals by Kingsbury, and two-time Olympic gold medallist Alex Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que., was ninth. In dual moguls, two skiers race down a course against each other, with the top score awarded to the athlete who performs the best tricks in the quickest time. Kingsbury admitted that having to ski against a fellow Canadian isnt exactly ideal. "For sure I dont want to face them in duals because its not fun to have to go up against your teammate," he said. "But when were in the gate, its like theyre from another country. Im not going to ski differently because theyre my friend. We push even harder almost when we are going against our own teammates, but we had a lot of fun today." On the womens side, Hannah Kearney of the United States won gold, followed by Elena Muratova of Russia and Japans Junko Hoshino. Montreals Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, who won bronze in the womens singles event Saturday, placed fifth. Her sister and reigning Olympic gold medallist Justine Dufour-Lapointe, finished ninth after taking first place on Saturday. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
