TORONTO -- Mike Babcock talks and walks -- or jogs after a morning skate or practice -- like a man full of confidence.Two Olympic gold medals along with Stanley Cup and World Cup titles will do that.Babcock is embarking on his second season in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the NHLs worst team last season and one of the leagues most storied franchises. Two weeks ago, Babcock led Canada to the World Cup of Hockey title right here in Toronto, winning every game along the way -- just as he did two years ago at the Olympics to extend a best-on-best winning streak to 16.Now hes back with the lowly Leafs, who will play in the leagues season opener Wednesday night at Ottawa.It wont be weird at all, Babcock insisted in an interview with The Associated Press.Unlike last year, Babcock believes -- or sounds as if he does -- that Toronto has a shot to be competitive.Babcock raved about the front office, led by Brendan Shanahan and Lou Lamoriello, and its efforts to reshape a roster that was in rough shape a year ago when he arrived after 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto gave him a $50 million, eight-year contract to turn things around and are making moves to give him a better roster.These guys have done an unbelievable job of restocking the cupboard in a hurry, he said. And, getting us in a good financial situation.The Maple Leafs made a forward-thinking trade last February, dealing Dion Phaneuf to the Senators to shed the remaining five years of his contract at a cap hit of $7 million. They went from four games under .500 with Phaneuf to winning just 10 of the last 31 games, plummeting to the bottom of the league with an NHL-low 69 points and their fewest victories in four-plus decades.By design, the Maple Leafs didnt overspend for a relatively lackluster group of free agents last summer.Were going to build from within and if theres a right fit for us in free agency, well do that, he said.Toronto won the draft lottery and landed 19-year-old center Auston Matthews . He is part of a young core group that has Babcock excited, along with Mitch Marner, the No. 4 pick overall last year; Connor Brown, a 22-year-old wing; Zach Hyman, a 24-year-old center; Morgan Rielly, a 22-year-old defenseman; and 24-year-old defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, who has been a standout in Russias top league.The names go on and on, Babcock said.It didnt take long for Matthews to figure out what his new coach was all about when he returned from his World Cup duties to lead the Maple Leafs.Very demanding. Very structural, Matthews said. I think that is a positive. He obviously knows what hes doing. His resume speaks for itself.No coach, in fact, has accomplished what Babcock has in hockey. The 53-year-old Babcock is the only coach who has won Olympic gold -- two, in fact -- a Stanley Cup, World Cup and world championship.Its called good players, Babcock said. I finished dead last in the National Hockey League last year over an 82-game period. Worst coach in hockey. So lets not get carried away here.But make no mistake, Babcock is convinced he can help Toronto chase its first Stanley Cup since 1967.The more you win, the more you feel like you can win, he said.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lageDale Weise Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Travis Konecny Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. http://www.cheapflyersjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-shayne-gostisbehere-jersey . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Brian Propp Jersey Taylor Leier Jersey . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining.KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- All the turmoil surrounding Tennessee over the last week has lent some intrigue to an otherwise uneventful matchup with Football Championship Subdivision program Tennessee Tech.Once ranked as high as ninth, Tennessee (5-3) has lost three straight games to fall out of the Top 25 entirely. The Volunteers also have spent this week dealing with fallout from the surprising announcement Monday that leading rusher Jalen Hurd was leaving the team .All those elements create some uncertainty over just how Tennessee will respond in Saturdays homecoming game, even though the actual result might not feature much suspense.Tennessee Tech, Green Bay Packers, whoever it is, were focused and excited, Tennessee defensive end LaTroy Lewis said. Each week is an opportunity for us to put our identity on the field and on film. Were not happy with what we did previously, so for us, were excited to have another opportunity to showcase our abilities and what our seasons all about.Tennessee Tech (3-5) has lost all of its 30 previous meetings with Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The Vols simply need a win, regardless of the opponent.Tennessee followed up a double-overtime loss at No. 7 Texas A&M by getting blown out 49-10 at home to No. 1 Alabama and then losing 24-21 at two-touchdown underdog South Carolina.When you watch video on Tennessee Tech, they do a lot of good things, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. They play with a lot of energy. Theyre tough. Theyre physical. Coach (Marcus) Satterfield has done a great job there.But at the end of the day, its about Tennessee. Is this team going to step up and play to our expectations? Are they going to play to our style of play?Satterfield understands his Golden Eagles will be facing an angry Tennessee team eager to end its skid.People get on Coach Jones, Satterfield said. Hes the same coach that everybody at the first of the year (was saying) was one of the best coaches in the country. Thats still the same team that everybody thought was one of tthe best teams in the country.ddddddddddddTheyre very, very, very talented. They play exceptionally hard. Theyre very well coached. ... Theyll find their way out of this lull that theyre in. Theyre very good. To say we have our hands full is an understatement.---Some other things to watch when Tennessee hosts Tennessee Tech.TENNESSEES NEW-LOOK BACKFIELD: With Hurd departing the team and Alvin Kamara missing a second straight game due to injury, Tennessee running back John Kelly likely will make his first career start. Kelly rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries at South Carolina. Freshmen Carlin Fils-Aime and Jeremy Lewis also could have expanded roles.TURNOVER ISSUES: Tennessee has committed 20 turnovers this season, and 11 of them have come during this three-game skid. Kansas, Bowling Green and Duke are the only FBS teams with more turnovers. Tennessee Tech might not be able to capitalize on this situation. The Golden Eagles have forced eight turnovers all season and are tied for 114th out of 122 FCS teams in takeaways.HOW TENNESSEE STARTS: Tennessee has trailed by double digits in seven of its eight games this season and has been outscored 83-24 in the first quarter.STOPPING THE RUN: Tennessee is allowing 4.9 yards per carry and has allowed five different individuals to rush for over 100 yards during its three-game skid. The Vols are dealing with season-ending injuries to defensive tackles Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle. They should have an easier time slowing down a Tennessee Tech rushing attack that averages just 2.8 yards per carry.EXPERIENCED BIRDSONG: Tennessee Tech quarterback Michael Birdsong has some FBS experience, as he opened the 2015 season as Marshalls starter. Birdsong has thrown for 1,967 yards and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions while completing 63.3 percent of his passes this season.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '