Clan-Members » likely to earn a bigger role with Hollins out for a half, t

TORONTO -- One guy has more points over the past five seasons combined than any player in the NHL -- more than Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane or Alex Ovechkin over that span. The other guy tied the all-time single-season record for wins last season en route to a Vezina Trophy. The third has a Stanley Cup ring and was second only to Drew Doughty as a minutes-eater on his NHL club last season.There they were Wednesday afternoon at Air Canada Centre, Claude Giroux, Braden Holtby and Jake Muzzin?-- representing a combined?$20 million in NHL salaries for the upcoming season -- getting in a skate on a day when the rest of Team Canadas lineup stayed off the ice on the eve of Game 2 of the World Cup of Hockey finals.It is testimony, of course, to Team Canadas mind-blowing depth of talent that it can romp through this event without making those three guys regular members of the lineup.Just as important, though, is how these star players have accepted their situation. Of course, it kills them not to play. Theyre born competitors.But theyre also cognizant of the need to put Team Canada first, and so they have.Obviously we all want to play, Giroux said Wednesday. Thats just in our blood. And we just want to see Team Canada win.Having just missed out on being picked for Canadas 2014 Sochi Olympic team, Giroux was absolutely jacked when he got the call this time around. During the teams pre-tournament camp in Ottawa you could practically see his eyes glow with excitement at the prospect of finally getting his shot.The experience has still been positive, but appearing in just one tournament game isnt exactly what he had hoped for at the start.You dream of playing for Team Canada when youre a kid, Giroux said. You must want to help your country win. Obviously you want to play. Everyone on this team has the attitude that they want to make a difference. They want to be out there to help the team win. Its tough. But Im learning a lot and having a lot of fun here.Both Giroux and Muzzin were original roster members but have since been passed over for playing time by late-replacement additions in Ryan OReilly and Jay Bouwmeester, respectively.But that again speaks to the remarkable depth and plethora of choices with which Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock is blessed.Obviously, you want to be out there. every guy wants to be out there, Muzzin said. But when youre a scratch on one of the best teams in the world, I mean, its an honor just to be here. Its a privilege to be here. You cant really be too angry. Yeah, I want to play and I want to show what I can do and play at this elite level and prove myself at this level, but at the same time our team is full of really, really good hockey players. Thats just how it is.Holtby feels it might have been a little tougher on Giroux and Muzzin because, as he says, there are more moving parts in the lineup with forwards and defensemen. But as one of the teams three goalies, he had a pretty good sense going in that Carey Price would be the starter.It was probably easier for me because I was a little more prepared for it, Holtby said. Its been good. Its been a challenge in some ways, but its been fun.That Corey Crawford has been the backup ahead of Holtby was a mild surprise, just because of the Washington Capitals goalies standout 2015-16 season. But then again, when you consider Crawfords Stanley Cup experience with the Chicago Blackhawks, its kind of a toss-up.Its a pretty big honor just to be named to this team, Holtby said. Its pretty much an all-star team. Its pretty cool that way. I think youre just proud to represent your country. You dont really question it. But you definitely gain a new perspective of guys back on your (NHL) team that are struggling to get into the lineup. Its a tough spot.Giroux, the Philadelphia Flyers captain, echoed the sentiment of having a better appreciation for the players who vie for a lineup spot back home.It helps you understand what guys go through when theyre healthy scratches, Giroux said. Its not the most fun thing. You just got to grind it out and hope for your chance. But being part of this team has been a blast.Giroux is a victim of being on a team loaded with star centers, some of which are Olympic holdovers. Still, this July 17 tweet on NHL point leaders from ESPN NHL analytics guru Rob Vollman underscores Girouxs accomplishment the past half-decade: Its amazing that Giroux can be cast aside, but at the same time, its not all that shocking when you look at the names on the lineup.The talent thats here is pretty surreal, Giroux said. You can see every line is playing well right now -- how Canada finds a way to play a team game even when theres a lot of talent. A lot of guys that can take over a game. Everybody buys in, and its one of the reasons Canada has been successful.Muzzin has just tried to soak in as much as he can from this dressing room of full of leaders and superstars.Seeing the guys in here and how they prepare and seeing the different things that they do, I mean, you learn so much from different guys, said the?Los Angeles Kings?blueliner. And they learn things from you, it goes vice versa. You pick a coachs brain a little bit, you get a different view, you learn a lot. How can you not learn from this experience??A tough task for the three of them is trying to get as ready as possible for the NHL season which is just around the corner.Thats kind of been the challenge, right? Muzzin said.Its strange, because weve been playing hockey for longer, but were almost behind when we get back just because of the situation were in, Holtby said. But in preseason, its not like you play every game. Its a new challenge, but theres still enough time to get ready for the season.All three will go home with memories nonetheless.The whole experience has been great, just being around the guys has been fun, Giroux said.Only on Team Canada. Adrian Colbert Super Bowl Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Frank Gore Super Bowl Jersey . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. https://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Deebo-Samuel-Jersey/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Nick Mullens Super Bowl Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Joe Staley Super Bowl Jersey . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina has known all summer it wont have one of its top receivers and special-teams performers for the first half of its opener against No. 18 Georgia.The No. 22 Tar Heels are still tweaking how theyll adjust the lineup with senior Mack Hollins serving a suspension due to a targeting penalty from the bowl loss to end last season.Really the biggest deal for us is hes been a starter on all four special teams, so youre talking about four different units that youre having to prepare for, UNC coach Larry Fedora said Monday at his game-week news conference. Thats been more difficult than preparing offensively. The next receiver will step up. Weve got a lot of guys that have been playing the position.Hollins was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit while making a block in the second half of the Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Baylor. By rule, that ejection triggered a first-half suspension in the next game, carrying over to the first 30 minutes of Saturdays game against the Bulldogs in Atlanta.Hollins, a 6-foot-4 former walk-on from Rockville, Maryland, had 30 catches for 745 yards -- good for an NCAA-best 24.8 yards per reception -- with eight touchdowns last year as the Tar Heels offense set school records on the way to an 11-win season.But his impact is just as important on special teams, where he has served as a three-year captain. Look no further than receiver Ryan Switzers 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in a November blowout of Miami: Hollins made the first block to give Switzer space for a clean catch and drove the tackler behind the play, then sprinted back to get in fronnt of Switzer and lead a convoy of blockers down the sideline and into the end zone.ddddddddddddHes really good. Ill just say that, Georgia first-year coach Kirby Smart said. Hes the best gunner, kickoff cover guy, plays on every special team. He is a dominant feature player.Fedora said he expected it would take multiple different players to fill Hollins jobs on special teams. He didnt sound quite as concerned with replacing Hollins on a deep and veteran-led offense.Switzer and Bug Howard will serve as the top targets for junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky, while Hollins is still listed atop the depth chart at the other receiver spot. Junior Austin Proehl would appear to be the player most likely to earn a bigger role with Hollins out for a half, though Fedora said its still undecided exactly who will start in Hollins spot. He also said the Tar Heels have been having multiple receivers work at inside and outside positions to make them interchangeable.The good news for the Tar Heels is that Hollins will have fresh legs when he takes the field after halftime Saturday.Its just going to be exciting with him bringing that leadership and energy the second half, Trubisky said. Itll definitely give us a spark. ... Its going to be a cool moment. Its going to be different.---AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Athens, Georgia, contributed to this report.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the APs college football site at http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '