Following what the players and coach described as an "embarrassing" loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis remains willing, patient and fully committed to Randy Carlyle. "The pressure right now should be placed on the players, Nonis told The Dreger Report on Wednesday. "I know Randy and the coaching staff is working hard. Im not now, nor have I ever contemplated making a coaching change. The players have to respond." Nonis refuted the notion that the players are no longer listening to Carlyle, or have tuned out the veteran coach and says at the end of their season exiting meetings after the Leafs Game 7 meltdown to the Boston Bruins last spring, that every Toronto player - to a man - credited Carlyle and his staff as the main reason the Leafs qualified for the postseason last year. The Hits Keep Coming Now Trevor Smith broke his hand in the 3-1 loss to the Panthers and could be out for the next eight weeks, further taxing Torontos depleted centre ice position as Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland are still weeks away with long-term injuries as well. Centre Jerred Smithson was recalled from the Toronto Marlies to help fill the void, but Nonis can see the toll - particularly up the middle - that his teams steady stream of injuries is taking on the club. Nonis has been trolling the league looking for trades and admits he has had offers on James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly and both his goalies. However, the general managers with the most interest have yet to produce anything beyond older players in return or trade packages that are not useful to the Maple Leafs in the long term. More On Gardiner Following back-to-back bad games resulting in a benching against the Panthers, Jake Gardiners availability has once again become topical. Nonis insists hes not shopping Gardiner, but rival management sources say Gardiners name has been brought up by Toronto in trade discussions in Noniss search for a top-six forward. At the moment, there doesnt appear to be a trade fit that makes sense, so amid the growing frustration in Leaf Nation, Noniss plan is to sit tight, pray for good health in the New Year and do whatever is necessary to help this team keep its head above water. Broadway Banter Meanwhile, New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather continues to shop defenceman Michael Del Zotto. Toronto is among the teams with some interest, but the expected return of a young defenceman may be too steep for the Leafs. Its believed the Rangers would prefer a right-handed shot on the blue line, so Cody Franson is a likely target for New York as well. Sources say the Ottawa Senators are also still in the mix, although the sudden and impressive emergence of rookie Cody Ceci may have cooled the Sens interest. And providing Ceci can maintain his play, the Senators may be willing to move either Eric Gryba, Joe Corvo or Patrick Wiercioch to one of the many teams in the market for a defenceman. With the holiday roster freeze looming, its unlikely well see any big-time action prior to the break. But the appetite for change is growing among some of the NHLs big market clubs. Dave Croston Jersey Online . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. They say Russia isnt doing enough to assure that athletes will be protected at the Feb. 7-23 games, happening not far from an Islamic insurgency that Russias huge security apparatus has struggled for two decades to quell. Russia may run greater risks in towns outside the tightly controlled Olympic zone. Suicide bombs last month a few hundred kilometres (miles) away have increased concerns, and an Islamic warlord has urged his followers to attack the Sochi Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putins pet project. Keith Woodside Jersey Online . The young man, never lacking confidence, thought he could be really good. https://www.cheapjerseysatwholesale.com/...-jersey-online/. A fully booked flight forced me to leave two hours later. After a nice meal in which I studied the stats of the Argo win, I prepared to leave the restaurant. As I was gathering my things to leave many large individuals began to walk up and wait for tables. Michael Green Jersey Online . -- Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe was alert and recovering at a Denver hospital Saturday after suffering seizure-like symptoms when the teams bus pulled into the airport Friday afternoon for the flight to Kansas City. Cheap Jerseys Fast Shipping . Austin does not believe the game-time temperature is going to be an advantage for either side heading into the Grey Cup. "We dont think about (the cold)," said Austin. "Im not even sure how you would determine an advantage.1) Sergio Aguero is making a case to be this years Luis Suarez. The Argentine has masked subpar team play through spectacular individual performance. Agueros brace was catalyst in a 4-1 away win at Sunderland. Two minutes after Connor Wickham gave Sunderland the lead, Aguero made Santiago Vergini look a pylon, going between the legs before a thundering blast, bringing the back netting up from the ground. It was a trademark quick-trigger strike that has made Aguero the most dangerous man in the Premier League. His second goal came on a near post run that was equal in quality as finish. He also added an assist, taking his tally to 14 goals and three assists through 14 games. Hes undeniably the Premier Leagues best player thus far. Aguero is now in the conversation among the top players in the world. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are top two. Aguero is somewhere in the second tier, with the likes of Neymar, Arjen Robben, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, etc. Perhaps a more convincing case could be made if Aguero had remained healthy through Argentinas World Cup campaign. The good news for City, health issues havent been an issue as hes featured in every league match. Aguero has been outstanding, yet remains off the blistering pace set by Suarez last season. After missing the five games through suspension, Suarez scored 19 in his first 14. He ended with 31. Suarez was relied upon for Liverpool to remain in the title race, just as Aguero is at present time. With Vincent Kompany (hamstring) and David Silva (knee) yet to return from injury, the onus falls on Agueros shoulders. It is time for the rest of his City teammates to step up. 2) Are Chelsea as the new Invincibles? While they remain undefeated after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Spurs, Im still not buying they will go undefeated. Chelsea are solid and organized, but not without flaws. Jose Mourinho has refused to rotate his squad, meaning heavy minutes logged by many team members. Seven players have started every league match, including three of the four defenders. Cesar Azpilicueta is the other defender and has started 12. 11 players have started nine games or more, with only 18 players seeing minutes. Mourinho is fortunate his team has remained incredibly healthy. This will not continue. Mourinho will have to rotate his squad. And when he does, the team will inevitably slip. The lack of squad rotation this far is a calculated risk. The hope is early points will allow further rotation later as potential important FA Cup and Champions League matches build. So far, so good. 3) Chelsea play the 4-2-3-1 to near perfection. Consistency in system has turned this group into one that doesnt make mistakes and punish those made by others. Gary Cahill gave up a rare chance against Spurs, careless in possession. Harry Kane failed to capitalize. Moments later, Eden Hazard played a textbook one-two with Didier Drogba. Aaron Lennon and Vlad Chiriches fell asleep. 1-0. Three minutes later, Hugo Lloris made a meal of his clearance. A quick touch to Oscar who played a wonderful through-ball to Drogba. 2-0. Game over. Chelseas superior defensive rotation, with the 10-man unit in unison has been an impenetrable wall. Only 11 goals conceded is a testament to team maturity and patience. The formation may not be sexy, but its effective. 4) Mauricio Pochettino left a good situation at Southampton to go to White Hart Lane where expectations are high and the talent questionable. The transition hasnt been smooth. Pochettino seems unsure on how to best utilize the talent in his squad. Through 14 games, he still hasnt a clue how to best deploy his back four. Up front, Roberto Saldado was relegated to the bench Wednesday, after a goal last time out. Nacer Chadli, back from injury, should have gone from the start. And why Paulinho continues to come off the bench is puzzling. Pochettino has some nice players. Perhaps not a top-four side, but certainly better than what Pochettinos getting out of them. All the meanwhile, Spurs are without a win at Stamford Bridge since 1990. Embarrassing. 5) Arsenal are the new Heartbreak Kids. The Gunners scored for the seventh time in the final five minutes of a game this season to get past Southampton, 1-0. Credit the team for the last gasp goals, but leaving it late is also an indication of team struggles. Nothing has come easy. The short-comings are plain to see. But yet again, Alexei Sanchez puts on his cape and comes to the rescue. His ninth of the league season was a similar read; Sanchez the saviour after Arsenal superior in possession, while not creating nearly enough genuine goal scoring opportunities and poor in front of goal. Arsenal deserved no more than a point. Toby Alderweireld going off (hamstring) in the 84th, leaving Southampton with 10-men having already made three substitutions was the turning point. Arsenal remains sixth in the table, which seems fraudulent considering how much work is left to do. Lets see how a busy December plays out for this inconsistent outfit. 6) The lost-look on Ronald Koemans face said it all. Southampton was hugely unlucky. Back-to-back weeks with innocent looking injuries the downfall. Last week it was Morgan Schneiderlin, the teams most important player, leaving at halftime (thigh) while deadlocked with Manchester City. They lost 3-0 after the re-shuffle. Jack Cork (knock) going off in the first half at Arsenal was a huge blow, changing the flow of the game.dddddddddddd And Alderweirelds untimely injury sealed Southamptons fate. Koeman isnt blessed with great depth. James Ward-Prowse (ankle/foot) remains out as well. The current stretch is as tough as it gets. Manchester United are next this Monday. All this makes the 1-1 draw last week with Aston Villa that much more damning. 7) There is an argument to be made Southamptons Fraser Forster should be Englands top keeper. Forster was outstanding at the Emirates, outstanding in positioning and shot-stopping. Southampton has conceded the fewest goals (10), Forster has the most shutouts (7) and top GAA (0.71). We all know the track record of Joe Hart. Forster can be considered a superior option. 8) Just because Marouane Fellaini scored doesnt mean he played well. Fellaini scored his first Old Trafford goal in Manchester Uniteds 2-1 win over Stoke City. For all Fellaini does well, he lacks the top quality demanded at United. His headed goal is testament to his ability to get forward and use his size. The rest of his game is thoroughly average. His misjudgment on the ball, turned phantom neck injury, directly led to Steven Nzonzis goal. Too frequently Fellainis touch lets him down or leads to poor decision-making and distribution. His positional sense is non-existent, unreliable in attack and defending. Antonio Valencia couldnt get forward with regularity due to Fellainis unpredictable ways down the right. United will not get better with Fellaini being a regular. More is demanded in intelligent ball movement. Thats what they need to aspire to. Fellaini is no more than a player to be brought on to change the flow of the game. Hes a disrupter. Thats all. 9) Michael Carrick is Manchester Uniteds most important player. There is no denying his influence as United has won the last four games, the only four games he has started. His composure on the ball and superior ability to read the game has settled the team and kept the group organized. Carrick completed the most passes (104) over the weekend and remains the only consistent in Uniteds midfield. Stoke tried to limit Carricks influence by putting a defensive player on him at all times. This allowed Juan Mata to have his best game of the season, free to roam and find space. 10) There is nothing wrong with Robin Van Persie. The critics insist the Dutchman has lost a step. While that may be true, there are few better strikers in the Prem. The issue has been a lack of service. Uniteds meddling midfield needs to get him more involved. Van Persie made a number of intelligent runs and/or found space against Stoke and his teammates failed to provide service. This is unacceptable. Hes a volume player who requires to be brought into the match. His goal Saturday against Hull serves as reminder what happens when you get him the ball. He had the most touches of the season that game. Feed the target-man and reap the benefits. 11) Steven Gerrard has now scored against 33 different Premier League teams, tallying in Liverpools 3-1 win over Leicester City. It was a rare goal from open play, as 17 of his last 19 have come from dead balls. It speaks to his limitations at this stage of his career. The goal and the victory was a statement. Gerrard should not have started on the bench on his 16h anniversary as a Liverpool player last Saturday. Gerrard need be rested from time to time. But it has to be done selectively. It made no sense for Gerrard to sit in a must-win game with tensions sky-high at Anfield. Gerrard may not be what he once was, but there is no proper replacement. Neither Lucas nor Joe Allen will suffice, they are average at best. If the reins are to be past from Gerrard, adequate talent to replace is a must. 12) After losing for the seventh time in nine matches and getting into a spat with a supporter, Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson declared post-match if fans cant recognize the team-effort, they should stay at home. The comment is an absolute no-no for any manager or player. The fans are the lifeblood that drive the club. Passion should not be curbed. Criticism is part of the gig and comes with the losses, especially for a team in last place. Pearson knows better. The pressure is on Pearson with a crucial away match with Aston Villa ahead. 13) Newcastles Papiss Cisse scored his fifth goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley. The five goals are more than the four games hes started this season, and three more than he scored all of last year. 14) Southampton has received the headlines as surprise up-and-comer; West Ham United and Swansea City are every bit worthy of praise. They sit fifth and seventh respectively, on 24 and 22 points. Both teams are good enough to stay in the mix for Europa League spots. The Hammers defensive duo of Aaron Cresswell and Winston Reid are among the best at their positions. And the team continues to produce without top goal-scorer Diafra Sakho (back). Meanwhile, Wilfried Bony has scored in two of his last three for Swansea. And the balance between ball-cherishers in the middle and speed on the wings has proved a dangerous combination. Sundays game between these teams has the makings of most entertaining of the weekend. Gareth Wheeler can be reached at: @WheelerTSN gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca ' ' '