PHILADELPHIA – One year ago at the NHL draft in Newark, the Maple Leafs picked Frederik Gauthier with their first selection, a hulking centre with likely third-line potential and a low offensive ceiling. Butch Byrd . They swung for a much higher fence with the eighth overall pick on Friday night, landing the "electrifying" William Nylander from Sweden. A speedy, highlight-reel winger, he is the son of longtime NHL centre Michael Nylander and the first European Toronto has drafted in the first round since Jiri Tlusty in 2006. Nylander is also the first draft pick of the Brendan Shanahan era and an injection of homegrown game-breaking ability, long-starved within the Leaf organization. "Hes got high, high-end skill," gushed general manager Dave Nonis, shortly after the pick was made. And that fills a need within the prospect ranks of the organization, considerably deprived over the years. Though hopeful that the likes of Carter Verhaeghe, Connor Brown and Andreas Johnson may eventually make an impact of sorts with the big club, the Leafs simply did not boast a game-breaker with Nylanders ceiling beyond the NHL club (and have not historically). They havent landed many at all from the draft. Vincent Damphousse, picked sixth overall in 1986, was the last homegrown player to register at least 80 points in a season as a Leaf. Toronto has, additionally, sent only two homegrown players to the All-Star game in the past 20 years, neither of whom was a forward (Tomas Kaberle and Felix Potvin). Dealing first round picks – as they did five times from 2003-2011 – certainly didnt help the matter. Nylander may or may not make it, but he, at the very least, represents the kind of high upside, homegrown talent the organization has mostly lacked, especially up front – Nazem Kadri, who scored 20 goals as a 23-year-old last season, was a recent exception. Nonis wouldnt go as far as to say that adding skill was a priority, but labeled it "an area of weakness". "He might be the most skilled player in the draft," said the Leafs GM of Nylander. Nonis saw that skill firsthand at the Under-18 tournament in Finland this past April. Nylander, playing for Sweden, led all players with 16 points in seven games, notching six goals along the way. As a teenager, he spent part of last season in Swedens top league, totaling a goal and seven points in 22 games – notable given his age and size (5-foot-11, 169 pounds). "He has NHL speed, NHL hands, an NHL shot right now," Nonis said. "Its whether or not the rest of his game can catch up." Unwilling to pay Dale Tallons price for the first overall pick and rights to draft Aaron Ekblad, Nonis said he actually considered moving down if one of two players – Nylander among them – wasnt there to be had with the eighth pick. Nylander grew up around the NHL, his father totaling 920 NHL games for seven different teams. That kept the younger Nylander in North America until the age of 14 when he moved to Sweden, eventually playing alongside his 40-year-old dad last year (with Rogle in the second-tier league). "I like to score goals and make plays," Nylander said, projecting an aura of confidence and cool, noticeably unfazed by all that surrounded him. A free agent and thus able to come to North America next year if he and the organization so choose, Nylander will audition for the Leafs in the fall. "Hell definitely have a chance to make our team," Nonis said. "[But] I really dont care how skilled you are, its very difficult to make the NHL as an 18-year-old. I think itd be a long shot for him to do that, but hes going to be given that opportunity and if hes good enough to stick and play and contribute then we would keep him. If not, well decide at that point whether its best to keep him over in North America or to have him go back to Sweden to play in the Elite League." Nylander boasts a "VERY high ceiling" according to Mark Seidel, chief scout for North American Central Scouting, but has been trailed by attitude questions, something Nonis brushed aside as outward confidence. Like most draftees, the new Leaf prospect will have to get bigger and stronger before he is likely to make the leap to the NHL, additionally requiring some acclimation to the North American ice surface. "It may take him a month to acclimate, it might take him over a year – I dont know that," said Nonis. "But the skill-set is very high end." Rip King . Horford is out 3-to-4 months with a torn pectoral muscle for the Hawks, who have won two straight and five of six games. Atlanta improved to 2-0 on the residency with Saturdays 93-91 triumph over Minnesota, as Ivan Johnson scored his teams final four points, including the game-winning free throw with 4. Frank Oliver .com) - Top seed Klara Zakopalova reached the second round, while former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone came up a loser Tuesday at the inaugural Rio Open tennis event. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/justin-canale-jersey-for-sale/ . Canada wasnt in the game from the outset. Head coach Dan Church left Calgary in the morning without addressing the players. He told The Canadian Press he felt the organization lacked confidence in his ability to defend the Olympic gold medal in February.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Odell Beckham Jr.s first three months in the NFL werent fun. It started with a hamstring injury in training camp, jumped to a disagreement New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin and eventually led to the feeling of letting down his teammates and himself. All it took was one game for Beckham to make all the frustration go away. Beckham made his NFL debut a memorable one, catching a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning with 10:02 left to lead the Giants to a 30-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, extending their winning streak to three games. To be out this long and to have to deal with the adversity I have had, I just I have to thank God for giving me the opportunity to play and for allowing me to score in my first game, Beckham said after scoring. Its just great to get that off your chest. Manning said the scoring pass in the corner of the end zone was a route that the two had never practiced. Beckham made a double move and came back to catch the ball. I just saw it go up and I said: There is no way this is going to hit the ground, said Beckham, who finished with four catches for 44 yards. Fellow rookie Andre Williams scored on a 3-yard run to ignite the second-half rally that saw the Giants (3-2) come from 10-points down to hand Atlanta (2-3) its third road loss in as many games. Falcons coach Mike Smith refused to blame the teams injuries for the loss. Its not anybodys fault but mine, he said. It is my responsibility as the head coach, ultimately. And I will, and do, take responsibility for that. It is not about those players. Manning threw two touchdowns and Josh Brown added three field goals, the last of which was set up when the Giants sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on fourth down with 4:40 remaining. Ryan threw for 316 yards and a touchdown playing behind a banged-up offensive line that held up until the very end. Atlanta dropped its second straight since dominating Tampa Bay 56-14 on Sept. 18. The Giants fell behind 20-10 on a 74-yard catch and run by Falcons running back Antone Smith after Antrel Rolle missed a tackle. Beckham, the 12th pick overall, missed all of the preseason and the first four games of the regular season. Al Del Greco. In the third quarter Sunday, he finally made an impact. After Smiths score, the Giants came back an 81-yard drive that featured Beckham drawing a 26-yard pass interference penalty against Robert Alford. Williams caught a 14-yard pass from Manning (19 of 30 for 200 yards) and ran for 11 before powering his way over from the 3 with 2:05 left in the third quarter to get the Giants within 20-17. After the defence forced a three-and-out, the Giants took the lead with an 11-play, 64-yard drive that featured passes of 14 and 15 yards to Beckham, the last one a jumping catch in the corner of the end zone for a 24-20 lead. Fellow receiver Victor Cruz was excited after Beckhams first game. He is a guy who can change the complexion of our offence and wide receiving corps, and make us that much better, Cruz said. Its big for us to get him back and going in the right direction. Atlanta never threatened after Beckhams score, and Brown iced the game with his second and third field goals. The Falcons line lost centre Joe Hawley and right tackle Lamar Holmes with season-ending injuries last weekend and had left guard Justin Blalock out with a back problem. Peter Konz, Gabe Carimi and Harland Gunn replaced them and kept Ryan upright most of the game, helping them take a 13-10 lead. Julio Jones had eight catches for 88 yards in the half and finished with 11 for 105. He helped to set up two 20-yard field goals by Bryant and a 10-yard TD run by Jackson. Manning finished 19 of 30 for 200 yards. Giants running back Rashad Jennings left the game in the second half with a sprained knee, and Williams got most of the carries. NOTES: Williams finished with 65 yards on 20 carries. New York gained 124 yards on 34 carries. The Falcons had 90 yards on 21 carries. ...Atlanta outgained New York 397-317. ...Safety Kemal Ishmael and linebackers Paul Worrilow and Prince Shembo each had 14 tackles for Atlanta. Giants linebacker Jacquian Williams had a team high 13. Giants LB Spencer Paysinger left the game with a hamstring injury. AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow Tom Canavan on Twitter at www.twitter.com ' ' '