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PHILADELPHIA -- Its far from a coincidence that the Edmonton Oilers went big with the third pick in the NHL draft. In taking German centre Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers added some much-needed size and depth at a position of great importance. "Its not a stretch to say were really happy and think that we filled a tremendous need for our hockey club and I think is going to have a real significant impact over time with our team," general manager Craig MacTavish said Friday night. "You combine him with our No. 1 pick last year (Darnell Nurse), and we start to see some size and quite a bit of character continue to come into our dressing room." Beyond 2011 No. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers are thin at centre. And in Draisaitl, the highest-drafted German in NHL history, they get a six-foot-one, 208-pound player who has drawn comparisons to Anze Kopitar and Jaromir Jagr. Playing for the WHLs Prince Albert Raiders, Draisaitl had 38 goals and 67 assists in 64 games this past season as he developed his defensive game and faceoff prowess. Hes from Cologne but came to develop in the Canadian junior system and will remain in North America this summer to train. There are still things Draisaitl believes he needs to improve this off-season but the physically mature 18-year-old also thinks hell be ready to play in the NHL in 2014-15. MacTavish cant make such a guarantee. "Obviously we project the team to be much more productive and much deeper than we were this year, and thatll be a significant factor," he said. "We want to make sure that if we do put young kids into our lineup that they have a chance to have success, and thatll be a big factor along with how well he adapts to the NHL game at training camp." Just having a chance to earn a spot at training camp is a nice opportunity for Draisaitl, who understands he wont just be handed a job playing alongside Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. "Im going to have to do my job and earn my spot if I want to play in that league and on that team," Draisaitl said. "I think theyre moving forward for sure and they made some good trades, (David) Perron, and the guys are getting older and more mature. This is just awesome right now." Draisaitl was thrilled to put on the same orange and blue of Edmonton stars of the past, most of whom had their primes before he was born. "Theyve had so many great players on their team: Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, MacTavish -- all those guys are stars in the league, and wearing the same jersey as they do is unbelievable," he said. MacTavish joked that he owed Draisaitl $100 for dropping his name in that group. More importantly for the GMs current job, he hopes Draisaitl can develop into an important piece of this already young core. Draisaitl fills a specific role, too, as the Oilers seek a variety of talent at forward. "(He) protects the puck and is a real offensive-zone player," MacTavish said. "Weve got a lot of skill, but were in need of somebody down low thats capable of sustaining the play. We have David Perron that fits that bill and now Leon will be a guy that can really protect the puck." If Draisaitl develops as scouts expect, he would slot in as the Oilers No. 2 centre of the future. His size mixed with Halls speed could be a tantalizing combination. "Hes probably the fastest skater in the league and hes an exciting player to watch," Draisaitl said. "It might be a good fit, but you never know." MacTavish would love to spend Saturday adding more depth to the organization, but the Oilers dont have a second- or a third-round pick after trades for Perron and goaltender Ben Scrivens. And he doesnt expect to be able to get into the second. "Well be sitting on our hands, it looks like, through the second or third round," MacTavish said. "Hopefully the scouts can pull a few of those impact players out of the later picks." Air Max 95 Cheap Authentic . -- Arizona coach Bruce Arians says there "were obviously very, very many problems" with the officiating in the Cardinals 24-21 loss at Philadelphia. Wholesale Air Max 95 Australia .A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question. http://www.wholesaleairmax95australia.com/.Y. -- The Detroit Red Wings had just enough time to salvage a point. Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework. Air Max 95 Australia . Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth against former teammate Justin Verlander, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Tigers 11-8 Monday night.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers coach Ron Rivera has more to worry about this week than his teams upcoming NFC playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks after an overnight fire at his home left his family displaced on Monday.The Rivera familys 7,000-square-foot, two-story Charlotte home sustained significant damage from an early morning blaze that spewed heavy smoke and fire from the attic two days after Carolinas 27-16 playoff victory over Arizona.No one was injured in the two-alarm blaze, which took about an hour to extinguish.The big thing is were all right, Rivera said. This opportunity to work and continue to work is very reassuring. It could have been worse. Its kind of like (the movie) Its A Wonderful Life, You see things through a different set of eyes now.Rivera and his wife, Stephanie, along with his two brothers and their wives were in the house sleeping at the time of the fire. All made it out safely along with two family pets.Rivera suspects the fire might have started in a gas fireplace, located on the opposite side of the master bedroom wall where he and Stephanie were sleeping. He repeatedly stressed at his news conference the importance of having a home security system or smoke alarms, saying it probably saved his familys life.Rivera said the master bedroom, family room and living room are pretty close to being destroyed and the insurance company estimates it will take six to eight months before theyll be able to return to the home.He said they will stay in a friends private house while waiting for the house to be rebuilt.Charlotte Fire Department Capt. Rob Brisley said at a news conference Monday morning that early indications suggest the fire was accidental and we were able to keep the damage to a minimum, meaning a lot of their household items are safe.Rivera now has to shift gears to focus preparation on the biggest game of his head coaching career Saturday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks on the other side of the country.Rivera didnt arrive at the stadium until Monday afternoon — several hours later than he planned — after dealing with the aftermath of the fire.Rivera doesnt believe the fire will be a distraction to his preparation this week.He said his coaching staff has already prepared for Seattle and Im the only one that has to catch up.This is the second significant off-the-field issue to hit the Pantthers in less than a month.dddddddddddd.Quarterback Cam Newton was injured in a two-vehicle accident Dec. 9 and was hospitalized overnight with two fractures in his lower back. Newton missed one game, but was able to return the following week.Earlier this off-season, Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy was convicted on two counts of domestic violence and hasnt played since the first week of the season while hes remained on the commissioners exempt list.Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen called it a bizarre season.Every year has its own story. Ever year has its own series of events that are hard to predict, Olsen said.But a car accident involving your starting quarterback and your head coachs house catching fire — those are things I dont think anyone anticipates being a part of your story. For whatever reason this has been our year for out of the ordinary events.Said Rivera: It has been different. You cant make this stuff up.Veteran safety Roman Harper said he doesnt believe the fire will be a distraction for Rivera, who is 32-31-1 in the regular season and 1-1 in the post-season since taking over in Carolina in 2011.Coach Rivera will be fine, Harper said. I know he wont let it get in the way of what were trying to accomplish as a team.After reports of the fire emerged, Rivera texted members of his coaching staff and told them his family was fine and had them pass along a message to players that its business as usual.Brisley called the damage to the house significant.Anytime you are faced with a fire and your family is displaced it is significant for the homeowner and it is significant for the family, Brisley said. We are just grateful that there are no injuries.Fire officials reported seeing heavy smoke and fire coming from the house when they arrived. Television video showed blackened windows in the attic of the home.The Panthers did not practice Monday, but players did come into the stadium for some team meetings and a few stopped by to speak with reporters.We have to remain focused on the on-the-field stuff, linebacker Thomas Davis said. We have a great opportunity ahead of us right now. With coach Riveras situation we are thankful no one got hurt. But a house is a materialistic thing that can be replaced. When you lose a life or someone gets hurt its hard to replace that.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '