mount of changes made throughout off-season, howear - and just not because

VANCOUVER -- Losing some of its top executives leaves Hockey Canada with some big skates to fill. But Canada has the depth of talent to remain a winner on the international stage, says the man who coached the mens team to back-to-back Olympic gold medals. "I am really confident," Detroit Red Wing coach Mike Babcock said Monday. "The group at Hockey Canada have done great things and have lots of different people. "Thats part of it. Different people get opportunities. They grow from it and they move on. A new group will get an opportunity and thats great." Steve Yzerman, Team Canadas executive director at the last two Winter Olympics, has already said he will not lead the team at the 2018 Games at Pyeongchang, South Korea. Bob Nicholson, who spent 16 years as president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, stepped down in May to take a job overseeing business operations for the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL. Under Nicholson, Canadian hockey teams won seven Olympic gold medals. Brad Pascall, Hockey Canadas vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, has joined the NHLs Calgary Flames as an assistant general manager. Yzerman said Nickolson always stressed that Hockey Canadas role was to develop people for the next level. "Not only for players, but also for coaches, for managers, for all people," said Yzerman, the former Detroit star who is now general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "I think Bobs great legacy at Hockey Canada is the structure he set up and the mentality of what we are trying to do in Canada with hockey. Great people will fill those shoes. With Bob Nicholson, those are big skates to fill. But I have no doubt there are tremendous people in this country with a passion and drive. The program will continue to succeed." Babcock and Yzerman were in Vancouver as part of the Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic. A Monday night gala paid tribute to the 2014 Order of Hockey Canada honourees coach Clare Drake, player France St-Louis and Yzerman. Also attending were members of the Olympic champion mens team, the womens team that won gold at the Sochi Olympics in Russia and the team that won the womens under-18 championship in Budapest. Babcock said Canada can be proud of its Olympic success but must continue to work hard if the country hopes to remain on top of the podium in four years. "You take a lot of pride in being the best," he said. "In order to be the best you have to find the best to win. "Were going to have to continue to grow our game over the next four years. If you want to have success at the next Olympics, 2014s effort wont be good enough to win the next one. We have to keep getting better." The NHL hasnt committed to sending its players to the 2018 Games. Among the leagues concerns are a 12-hour difference between Pyeongchang and the Eastern Time Zone, taking a break in the middle of the regular season, and the danger of players being injured. Sidney Crosby, the Canadas captain in Sochi, understands the problems but still thinks the Olympics are worth the effort. "I go back to my two experiences," said Crosby, who scored the Olympic winning goal in overtime in 2010 in Vancouver. "They were pretty good. "To think of all the things that had to happen to make them work, especially in Russia, it would be a similar case, maybe even a little more difficult the next one. Like I said, representing your country and to have those opportunities, I dont think that ever gets old, no matter what the situation. As a player, you want to be part of that." As a possible alternative to the Olympics, the NHL is discussing with the NHL Players Association about holding a World Cup of Hockey tournament in 2016. Yzerman said a World Cup has the potential to gain the same prestige as an Olympics. "It will take some time," he said. "The Olympics have been around for a long time on the world stage. If done right, I can see it being really successful." Babcock said the Olympics "are so special" because they are watched by people who are not even hockey fans. "My mom never watches sports but she watches the Olympics Games," he said. "People who are not interested in sport still follow it. "I think its the greatest opportunity, best-on-best, to celebrate the sport. Its something you want to be part of and you want other people to be part of. Its a thrill of a lifetime." All three people named to the Order of Hockey in Canada were recognized for their contributions to the game. Yzerman played 22 seasons in the NHL and played for Team Canada eight times, including at two Winter Olympics. As a member of Canadas national womens team St-Louis won five world championships and a silver medal at the 1998 Olympics. In 28 seasons as head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears Drake led his teams to six national championships and 17 Canada West titles. Babcock compared Drake to legendary NCAA basketball coach John Wooden. "He is one of the builders of hockey in Canada," said Babcock. "Clare is a gentleman who shared everything he had. He tried to make us all better. "He led the way so guys like myself, who werent NHL players, could one day coach in the NHL." Michael Carter-Williams Jersey . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad. Cheap Rockets Jerseys . The Marlies surrendered two power-play goals and failed to score on six man-advantage opportunities en route to a 4-1 defeat in American Hockey League action on Saturday. http://www.cheaprocketsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-clint-capela-jersey .com) - A pair of programs shooting for their 10th win of the season get together at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, as the NC State Wolfpack tangle with 22nd-ranked West Virginia during the challenge round of the Gotham Classic. Marquese Chriss Jersey . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Eric Gordon Jersey . However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand.The 2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be a very different team than the 4-12 club of 2013. New coaches, a new quarterback, new stars and, to top it all off, new uniforms combine to make the new Buccaneers. Lovie Smith has replaced Greg Schiano at head coach, 2013 starting quarterback Mike Glennon will be open the season as Josh McCowns backup, Darrelle Revis is gone at cornerback and Vincent Jackson is no longer the teams lone receiving weapon. The Buccaneers used their offseason to overhaul their roster, implement a new offence under offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford and convert their base defence to Smiths Tampa 2 scheme. The Buccaneers significantly improved their offence in the offseason, bringing in McCown, who posted a 109.0 quarterback rating with 13 touchdowns and one interception with the Bears in 2013. The team also drafted receiver Mike Evans in the first round of Mays draft and selected tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the second round. Finally, the Bucs have added benefit of running back Doug Marin, who is fully recovered from a season-ending shoulder injury suffered in Week 7 of last season. The reason for the overhaul? The Buccaneers offence posted less yards in 2013 than any other unit in the league. Only Vincent Jackson had more than 600 receiving yards, and his 78 catches were 24 more than next best tight end Timothy Wright, who was traded to the Patriots in the offseason. The Buccaneers hope the added weapons and offensive changes will lead to more balance across the receiving core. On defence, the Buccaneers ranked 20th in yards allowed and 16th in points. Smith brings with him the same defensive system he used in nine seasons with the Bears, who ranked in the top-10 in takeaways in seven of Smiths nine seasons. The Buccaneers secondary lost a superstar when the team released Revis, however the signing the Alterraun Verner will help minimize the loss. Opposite of Verner will be either second-yearr corner Johnthan Banks or veteran Mike Jenkins.dddddddddddd At safety, the Buccaneers boast a solid duo in former first-round pick Mark Barron and 2012 All-Pro Dashon Goldson. However, the strength of the Buccaneers defence will likely be the teams front seven. On the defensive line, former first-round picks Gerald McCoy and Adrian Clayborn will join free agent signees Michael Johnson and Clinton McDonald to create an intimidating front. At linebacker, Lavonte David totaled 145 tackles last season and will line up once again beside Mason Foster, with Jonathan Casillas playing strongside linebacker. The Buccaneers may struggle to adjust with the amount of changes made throughout off-season, however, the team will surely be different than last year - and just not because of their helmets. Notes: Questions on the Line: The Buccaneers signed centre Evan Dietrich-Smith in free agency and traded for left guard Logan Mankins during training camp, however their offensive line remains questionable. Left tackle Anthony Collins was an injury replacement for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, while right tackle Demar Dotson is the lone holdover from last seasons line. At right guard, the team is currently slated to start Patrick Omameh, who has never dressed for an NFL game. He was signed by the Buccaneers off the San Francisco 49ers practice squad last season. Not Wide in Depth: Should the Buccaneers lose either Jackson or Evans to injury, the team will struggle to find a viable replacement at wide receiver. Behind the two starters, Chris Owusu and Louis Murphy hold backup spots. Owusu caught 13 passes for 114 yards in nine games with the Bucs last season, while Murphy has six receptions for 37 yards in 14 games with the New York Giants. The Bucaneers drafted Robert Herron in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, but he remains listed with the third-stringers. ' ' '