Bayern Trupp » Carolina Panthers -

EDMONTON -- Dallas Eakins brings an emphasis on fitness, accountability and frankness to his new job as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. His arrival also creates a new beginning for a team that has missed the playoffs seven straight years. Forward Jordan Eberle said its time the Oilers forgot about their potential and started proving their ability. "Its a new slate, new coach, new mandate," Eberle said Wednesday. "Theres a point, probably a couple years ago, when you get sick and tired of hearing how good youre going to be and just want to get to that point." Fellow veteran forward Sam Gagner said the expectation for the team has to be nothing less than the playoffs. "Weve been through a lot of losing," he said after the teams camp opened with medicals and fitness testing. "It helps you grow as a person but its never fun. Our core is pretty much intact and we have a lot to prove. "Its important for us to realize that the time is now to turn things around." To that end Eakins, hired in the off-season to replace the fired Ralph Krueger, made it clear to the players its time to shed the "young team" label and show they belong in the NHL. "Its a cop-out to be labelled young," said Gagner, whos heading into his seventh season with the Oilers. "It allows you to go through some growing periods but thats done now. Weve been through a lot as a core and its time for us to move forward. "We have a mix of veterans, young guys and everything in between and its important for us to reach that next level." Theyll try to do that without veteran captain Shawn Horcoff (traded to Dallas), minus an established backup to goaltender Devan Dubnyk and with No. 1 centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- the first pick in the 2011 draft -- on the sidelines. Nugent-Hopkins underwent off-season shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season. Eakins, who was hired last June after will experiment with winger Taylor Hall, the teams leading scorer last season, moving into the vacant centre spot. "Dont make too much of that," Eakins cautioned. "Its not like Ive asked this guy to go play right defence. Hes played centre before. It may be an option for us a I want as many options as I can. "This is my experiment. If it works, great, if it doesnt I was crazy and well move him back to left wing where hes a pretty good player." For his part, Eakins said one of his immediate tasks is to learn the personalities of each of his players. "Its absolutely No. 1 for me," he said. "I dont know how you motivate a guy or push him in the right direction if you dont know what makes him tick. I just dont know how to do it. You really have to get to know the individuals." The former Toronto Marlies coach assured his players there would be no surprises. Hell be frank and upfront with them on all issues. "Its common sense to me," he said. "I dont like surprises a and I dont think players need surprises either. Theyll know exactly where they stand with me." In return he expects full accountability from his players, and that, said Gagner and Eberle, is how it should be. "He demands a lot of us, which is great," said Eberle. "Accountability is one of the most important things in the dressing room and with Dallas, if theres a problem hes going to address it. Thats how a team should function. If a guys not working hard someone should say something." The Oilers have 62 players in camp. They will open the pre-season Saturday with split-squad games against the Flames in Edmonton and Calgary. New York Mets Gear . And theyre pointing to the NHLs biggest market: Toronto. With Gretzky paid out for what is believed to be $7 to 8 million, Gretzky may be eager to get back into the NHL and TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports that the Maple Leafs are very much interested in The Great Ones services. Fake Mets Jerseys . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/. Alina Fodorova of Ukraine took third place. Broersen based her gold-medal performance on great high jumping, and finished with 4,830 points, while Theisen-Eaton, from Humboldt, Sask., set a national record of 4,768. Mets Jerseys China . Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match. New York Mets Store . And on Sunday against the Houston Astros they were pleased to see his work finally pay off with his first win since May 24.Richard Graves is out in Chicago for Sky Sports, running the rule over the 2016 NFL Draft class, and where they might end up. 1. LA Rams - QB Jared Goff (Cal)For me, the best quarterback in this years class. An intelligent player, calm in the pocket and doesnt panic when its collapsing around him. He has a strong arm, and has shown precision accuracy with long throws.The one knock on Goff is his slight frame, but his mobility and awareness enables him to avoid pressure. Coming out of California, he appears a perfect fit for the new LA franchise. 2. Philadelphia Eagles - QB Carson Wentz (North Dakota State University)Wentz has the frame you look for in an NFL quarterback. Standing 66 tall and 231lbs, hes well equipped to handle himself and has the skill set to match.Calm in pressure situations, with an ability to keep his eyes down field, Wentz has experience of taking snaps under centre but comes from a relatively small football program in North Dakota. Ive heard some compare him to Ben Roethlisberger. Its too early for that but its not a bad thing at this stage. North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz is considered one of the top two picks for this years draft 3. San Diego Chargers - OT Laremy Tunsil (Mississippi)Arguably the best player in this draft class and would almost certainly have gone No 1 overall if the the Titans hadnt traded that pick to the Rams.Hes a 65, 305lb giant who possesses strength, size and a proven ability to stonewall the best pass rushers in college football, along with slick footwork and speed that belies his size. The Chargers know QB Philip Rivers is their best player and Tunsil will be his protector for years to come. OT Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss is arguably the best player in the class 4. Dallas Cowboys - DE Joey Bosa (Ohio State)This defensive end was a one man road block in college football, to the point where some opponents literally stopped running the ball in his direction. He doesnt possess a great burst but he has a tremendous motor.Capable of playing anywhere along the defensive line and able to beat blockers, Bosa hails from good footballing stock, as both his father and uncle were drafted to the NFL in the late 1980s. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars - LB Myles Jack (UCLA)Jack has the speed and explosive power to disrupt plays on the field. He has a great nose for the ball and invariably finds himself in the right place to make a play. Played on both offence (running back) and defence during his time at college but missed the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL. At 61 and 245lbs he has the build to play in the NFL right now and, health permitting, will be a huge addition to whichever team takes him. 6. Baltimore Ravens - S Jalen Ramsey (Florida State)Ive heard comparisons to the Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, but Ramsey doesnt have the same imposing frame. Despite that, Ramsey is a physical, hard-hitting safety, more than capable of playing the same type of role.Hes adaptable to any position in the secondary and has a natural ability to shed blockers and avoid traffic in pursuit of the ball. Ramsey defends the pass well and is terrific against the run. Jalen Ramsey #8 protects the ball for the Florida State Seminoles 7. San Francisco 49ers - DT AShawn Robinson (Alabama) A man mountain in the hugely impressive defensive line of the national champions. AShawn Robinson regularly commanded double team blocking and was the anchor that allowed team-mates to make highlight catching plays.Hes not flashy but that isnt what you want from a defensive tackle. Hes a hard-working, 3-down player with a strong bull rush whoo applies pressure up the middle.dddddddddddd. 8. Cleveland Browns - WR Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi)This entire receiving class has been knocked for the lack of speed but if Cleveland select Laquon Treadwell, they are getting a physical beast of a playmaker, in the mould of Dez Bryant.Treadwell has fantastic hands, capable of making unbelievable catches and, unlike Bryant, would draw comparisons to Hinds Ward in the physical way he blocks for team-mates. In my opinion, he is the best wide receiver in this class. 2016 NFL Draft: Beginners guide All you need to know ahead of Thursdays showpiece 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Vernon Hargreaves (Florida)Hargreaves height may be a concern for some NFL teams. Hes just 511 but he more than makes up for it in his style of play.Hargreaves has great awareness and vision on the field, locates the ball well and has good body control. An instinctive back, Hargreaves didnt give up a single touchdown during his last two years at college.10. New York Giants - RB Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State)Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry grabbed the headlines with his size and play for Alabama in college football, but Ezekiel Elliot is the standout back in this class.Quite simply, hes better at everything - running the ball, catching the ball out of the backfield and blocking. Elliott has it all. Hes a 3-down back, elusive in the open field and able to make tacklers miss. An exciting addition with game-changing, playmaker potential. 11. Chicago Bears - DE DeForest Buckner (Oregon)12. New Orleans Saints - DT Sheldon Rankins (Louisville)13. Miami Dolphins - CB William Jackson III (Houston)14. Oakland Raiders - LB Leonard Floyd (Georgia)15. Tennessee Titans - OT Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame)16. Detroit Lions - OT Jack Conklin (Michigan State)17. Atlanta Falcons - LB Darron Lee (Ohio State)18. Indianapolis Colts - C Ryan Kelly (Alabama) NFL Draft 2015 Looking back at the top players selected outside the first round of the 2015 draft 19. Buffalo Bills - DE Kevin Dodd (Clemson)20. New York Jets - OT Taylor Decker (Ohio State)21. Washington Redskins - DE Kamalei Correa (Boise State)22. Houston Texans - TE Hunter Henry (Arkansas)23. Minnesota Vikings - WR Corey Coleman (Baylor)24. Cincinnati Bengals - WR Josh Doctson (TCU)25. Pittsburgh Steelers - S Karl Joseph (West Virginia) NFL Draft 2016 Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson talks to Sky Sports ahead of the 2016 NFL draft 26. Seattle Seahawks - DT Jarran Reed (Alabama)27. Green Bay Packers - LB Reggie Ragland (Alabama)28. Kansas City Chiefs - OG Cody Whitehair (Kansas State)29. Arizona Cardinals - S Keanu Neal (Florida)30. Carolina Panthers - CB Mackensie Alexander (Clemson)31. Denver Broncos - QB Paxton Lynch (Memphis)*The New England Patriots will not select from the first round following a penalty for deflating footballs. NFL Draft 2016: Previous QB No1 picks Looking back at the good and not so good of previous QBs to go first pick You can follow the 2016 NFL Draft on Sky Sports 1 from midnight on Thursday and with us here all week on www.skysports.com/nfl Also See: Draft Day Beginners Guide Eagles Claim No2 Pick Rams-Titans Trade Assessed Successes and Failures from Last Years Draft ' ' '