Following their end-of-season collapse, Dave Nonis told TSN Radio 1050 that hes looking to get the Leafs back to where they were two seasons ago when the team
broke their seven-year playoff drought.
Swingman Rudy Gobert Jersey . The GM said the additions of Leo Komarov, Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak were made with the
expectation that the veterans would set an on-ice example of the way the Leafs
want their top players to compete. “Those players can generate a lot of emotion
and they can bring players into the fight with them, and thats what we had two
years ago and we need to get it back this year,” Nonis said. Despite the
addition of two defencemen, Nonis said he wasnt overly concerned about his
back-ends overall talent level, but felt like their fit as a group of six wasnt
ideal. “We wanted to change the way we played the game. With Robidas and Roman,
youre talking about guys who play very very hard and the compete-level of those
guys is a big part of their game and we think itll rub off with the rest of our
group.” Besides the players he did sign and acquire, Nonis also weighed in on
the loss of centre Dave Bolland, and the Josh Gorges situation, in which the
veteran blueliner accepted a deal to the Sabres after vetoing a trade that would
have sent him to Toronto. “We did put a significant offer on the table for him,”
Nonis said of the Bolland negotiations. “We felt it was reflective of his value
to us, where he should be paid and there was another team that felt like he
should be paid more.” On Gorges: “I may find that odd, but thats his choice and
hes earned that right.” To round out his roster, Nonis mentioned he is still in
the market for forward depth, pointing out the Leafs are looking to put an
emphasis on increasing the reliance on their fourth line. “Your third and fourth
lines have to contribute,” Nonis said, adding that he recognizes the leagues top
teams use their fourth line for between eight and 12 minutes a game in order to
lighten the load on top-end players and prevent them from wearing down. In
addition to possible future free agent additions, Nonis speculated Josh Leivo,
David Broll and possibly Sam Carrick could challenge for a roster spots up front
next season, while on the back-end, Petter Granberg and Stuart Percy could work
their way into the mix. Addressing the rumours surrounding back-up goaltender
James Reimer, Nonis said he is fielding offers for the 26-year-old, but if a
deal cant be reached expects him to be ready for the start of camp. “If theres a
deal that makes sense for us to move James Reimer, and makes us better and gives
us assets that are reflective of what he is, which is a goaltender who has been
a no. 1, who could challenge for a no. 1 here, then youll look to do it,” Nonis
said. “But its difficult finding quality goaltenders. We think he is one and I
would expect if there isnt a deal that makes sense that he would come to camp in
the best shape that he could possibly be in with the mindset to play in as many
games as he can.” Nonis: Leafs looking to increase compete-level
Karl Malone Jazz Jersey .J. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is going to start the off-season training program
with a surgically repaired left ankle.
Swingman Adrian Dantley Jersey . A quick first step to get to the hoop for a layup. A rousing dunk on the break off a
high outlet pass saved by teammate Ramon Sessions. MONTREAL -- Rachel Homan
started defence of her Scotties Tournament of Hearts title in style. Homan and
her Team Canada (1-0) rink from Ottawa scored four in the eighth end for an 8-3
victory over Manitobas Chelsea Carey (0-1) on Saturday night at the Maurice
Richard Arena. "The team played really well in front of me," said Homan, the
winner last year in Kingston, Ont. "It was a tough battle. It was 4-3 and then
one big end kind of ended it. My team just really had it today." It was a nervy
but successful start for Val Sweetings Alberta rink. The Sweeting team (2-0)
with lead Rachel Pidherny, second Dana Ferguson and third Joanne Courtney scored
three points in the ninth end for a comeback 7-5 victory over 20-year-old
newcomer Sarah Koltun (0-1) of the Yukon and Northwest Territories in the
opening draw. In the evening, Sweeting took the early lead, wasted it, and then
scored two in an extra end for an 8-6 win over 22-year-old Kesa van Osch of
British Columbia (1-1). Heather Strong (2-0) of Newfoundland used the shot of
the day to edge the home team, Quebecs Allison Ross (0-2), 5-4 with a raised
angle takeout on the final shot. Stefanie Lawton (1-0) of Saskatchewan downed
Allison Flaxeys Ontario rink (0-1) 8-6. Koltun looked ready for an upset when
she stole a point for a 4-1 lead in the fifth end to throw a scare into
26-year-old Sweeting, a youngster herself in only her second Scotties. "They
were outplaying us for sure," said Sweeting. "We set up some good ends and she
made some good draws to save them, but we stayed patient and had an opportunity
in the ninth and took advantage. "Im happy to get out of that one with a win,
but we definitely have to sharpen up. We knew we couldnt take them lightly. Its
their first time here and they have nothing to lose." A miss by Koltun with her
first stone in the ninth set up the decisive steal by Alberta. Sweetings rink
kept the house clear in the 10th and left no chance for the Whitehorse skip to
force an extra end. Koltun is the youngest skip ever to play in the Scotties and
is the first to skip at the Canadian junior and Scotties championships in the
same year. She went 5-4 at the juniors two weeks ago in Liverpool, N.S. with two
of her three teammates at the Scotties. She skipped a record seven times at
national junior championships and is considered among the risingg talents in the
sport.
Jeff Hornacek Jazz Jersey. . But she may have let one get away in her debut. "We were in control at the beginning and it was
just that one bad end, but its our first game at our first Scotties so well take
what we can from it," said Koltun. "We are happy to be here, but we want to
contend and be competitive and I think we showed that in this first game by
putting up a really strong fight." Quebecs Allison Ross had a disappointing
start as she failed to score until she picked up one point in the eighth end.
After scoring, Ross conceded a 6-1 victory to New Brunswicks Andrea Crawford.
The Quebec side from Montreal curled only 64 per cent as a group, lowest of the
day. She found her draw weight in her evening match against Strong, which had
the crowd of 1,825 roaring, but fell short when the Newfoundland skip pulled off
her winning takeout. "I was reading the ice better," said Ross. "Its a
disappointing loss, but Heather made an amazing shot. You want to leave the
other team a hard shot, and she made it." Strong had won the Hot Shots
competition -- a pre-tournament skills exhibition -- on Saturday morning and it
may have helped her against Quebec. "A lot of the (Hot Shots) are indicative of
what you face in game, so I referred back to that a lot," she said. "I felt good
when I threw it, but I was coming off missing the one right before it, so I was
a little torn. "We were exhausted. It was late back home. There were the opening
ceremonies, we were in the Hot Shots right through. It was a long day, so to
pull off that second win was awesome." Strong had won her first match as she
took a 6-2 lead after six ends, then had to hold off a charge from Nova Scotias
Heather Smith (0-1) for an 8-5 victory. Van Osch needed an extra end to defeat
Kim Dolans Prince Edward Island rink 7-4. The 22-year-old from Victoria admitted
to feeling nervous in her debut match, but settled down as it went on against
the veteran Dolan, who is in her 10th Scotties. Van Osch said she hasnt set any
goals for the tournament. "Were a first-year team," she said. "It was a bonus
just to make it to the Scotties this year. Were taking things as they come, game
by game." There are three draws scheduled for Sunday, including Team Canada
against both Ontario and Quebec. 23:04ET 01-02-14
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