TORONTO – Two times in the past three seasons, the hockey team from Toronto has collapsed under city-rattling circumstances, including a rapid descent from near-certain playoff entry last season. [url=http://www.basketballheatshop.com/Cheap-Kelly-Olynyk-Heat-Jersey/]K elly Olynyk Jersey[/url] . In bet

TORONTO – Two times in the past three seasons, the hockey team from Toronto has collapsed under city-rattling circumstances, including a rapid descent from near-certain playoff entry last season. Kelly Olynyk Jersey . In between was a valiant stab at the first Leaf post-season series win in years from a feisty, competitive group – albeit, one that probably benefited from the 48-game schedule. Looking to recapture some of that magic, Leafs management made character, attitude, leadership and qualities of mental fortitude high priorities in their bid at roster reconstruction on July 1st. Led by president Brendan Shanahan and incumbent general manager Dave Nonis, the club reacquired two players from that 2013 squad – Leo Komarov and Matt Frattin – also adding 37-year-old Stephane Robidas to a defence that recently replaced the steady Carl Gunnarsson with edgy-type Roman Polak. “Part of it is always about character,” said Nonis, shortly after 5pm et, when the Leafs first crack at free agency ended. “I dont think that we have a character issue with our team or our players, but I think adding people like Leo and Robidas to [the roster] only strengthens it. The compete level that we had two years ago, I think was at or near the top of the league. We got more out of our players – the coaches did – the players, themselves, did in terms of pushing each other, than we did last year. No question about it.” Randy Carlyle couldnt summon much in the way of explanation as to why things unraveled for the Leafs so epically months earlier, but did notice something amiss with the attitude of his group. “We lacked the compete,” he said, while at the draft in Philadelphia this past weekend. “I look at compete as part of the character flaw.” It was clear management sensed something similar, though character and leadership would hardly encompass the Leafs woeful defence and penalty-killing, targeting players in free agency or on the trade market who were known for their high compete level. In addition to Komarov and Robidas, the club also made pitches to keep gritty, but soon-to-be overpaid, Dave Bolland, 38-year-old former Team Canada defender Dan Boyle and long-time Montreal heart-and-soul type, Josh Gorges. Robidas, who was signed for three years at $9 million, offers the Leafs a much-needed veteran upgrade in their top-four, a long-time Dallas Star whos physical, blocks shots and has the ability to play in every situation. A right-handed defender, in short supply for the club a year ago, and veteran of 885 regular season games, Robidas brings a savvy that was lacking on a mismatched back-end last season. “It was a factor,” Nonis said of character when it came to Robidas, who suffered two separate, broken right-leg injuries last season, but will be ready for training camp. “The people that I know that know him, that Brendan knows, speak very highly of the way he handles himself, on and off the ice. I dont think were looking at a guy thats going to come in here and be terribly vocal or anything like that, but in terms of playing the game the right way, taking care of yourself and leading by example, that coupled with being a right-shot and his playing ability, he was the guy we targeted right away.” Komarov bolted for the KHL after that 2013 campaign, but was eager to return to the NHL-lifestyle this fall. He garnered considerably more than the club appeared willing to pay just one year earlier, four years at $2.95 million per season, and quite a bit for a player who was limited offensively as a Leaf. It was clear, however, that Nonis and company valued the Finnish wingers scrappy play and were also hopeful of more upside with more opportunity next season. “Hes a very competitive guy,” said Nonis of Komarov, who had nine points in 42 games with the Leafs. “Hes going to give you whatever he has … He has compete. He gets under peoples skin by the way he plays, not because hes a chirper or anything like that, but he finishes every single check and, sometimes, I think people dont really enjoy the way he does that. But for us, he brought that element; he brought some character to our group. He was very well-liked by his teammates. All the things that you look for in a player, he ticks a lot of boxes.” Polak, too, was added from St. Louis earlier with an eye toward the “edge” he would bring to the Toronto defence, a quality infinitely enduring to the head coach. But for the all the focus on injecting the Leafs dressing room with more bite, increased leadership and character, its Carlyle and the still-yet-to-be-named coaching staff that bear the most watching next season. For whatever the Leafs lacked in determination and persistence last year – and there was a noticeable difference – it was their inability to defend with any degree of success that instigated their downfall last season. No team, as widely known by this point, allowed more shots than Toronto and only three teams allowed more power-play goals. It was a house of cards that was bound to collapse and did when Jonathan Bernier went down with injury in mid-March. And for all his drum-beating about the troubles, and he was quick to point flaws as early as October, Carlyle and his since-deposed trio of assistants could not find the right answers, instill a defensive mindset onto a sometimes immature roster, employ top line-ups and align the talent in place with a suitable style of play. All that will have to change and its up to Carlyle to adjust accordingly. The coming season wont be about leadership concerns or questions of character, but whether a head coach can adapt to a younger and faster league. Robidas, Polak and Komarov should help to address some of the defensive deficiencies of last year – also fitting Carlyles harder brand of hockey – particularly a penalty kill that fell right back to the bottom of the league last season. Roster holes still to be filled include a centre capable of playing in a third or fourth-line capacity – Peter Holland is in line for regular opportunity, but a security blanket for Carlyle is likely preferred – perhaps another defenceman, with Cody Franson likely on the way out, some scoring depth and a backup goaltender, though, Nonis continues to insist that James Reimer could be back next year, despite clear indications of his desire to move elsewhere. Some of those changes could come internally with a round of Marlies keen to take the next step into the NHL. The Leafs additionally have about $15 million in cap space to work with a group of restricted free agents, Jake Gardiner most prominently among them, still to sign. Custom Miami Heat Jerseys . Left back Armero opened the scoring in the fifth minute when his deflected shot rolled past Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. Striker Teofilo Gutierrez poked in Colombias second goal from a deflected corner in the 58th and James Rodriguez capped it off with a low shot in stoppage time after a slick backheel flick from Juan Cuadrado. Edrice Adebayo Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.basketballheatshop.com/Cheap-Goran-Dragic-Heat-Jersey/ . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Isaiah Thomas thrust both arms in the air and started back down the court, his 3-pointer having just essentially clinched a victory.A lot of players are celebrating at Madison Square Garden these days, and none of them are Knicks.Eric Bledsoe had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Thomas scored 22 points, and the Phoenix Suns beat New York 99-90 on Saturday.It was the seventh straight home loss for the Knicks, who havent won at MSG since beating Philadelphia on Nov. 22. New York has lost four straight overall and is 5-24.I can just see it out there on the court, that we dont believe in ourselves to be able to go down the stretch and win basketball games, Carmelo Anthony said.Markieff Morris added 19 points for the Suns, who won their second straight after a six-game skid. They got 57 points from their point guard trio of Bledsoe, Thomas and Goran Dragic.Thats the strength of our team, Thomas said. When were playing at a high level that gives us the best chance of winning.Thomas made a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, giving Phoenix the lead for good and triggering an 8-0 burst. Marcus Morris made another and Alex Lin tipped in a miss for a 75-68 lead, and the Knicks were playing catch-up from there.Anthony had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks after missing a game with a sore left knee, but he was on the bench for a rest when the Suns surged into the lead in the 3:18 before he re-entered.Theres really no excuse for that, Knicks coach Derek Fisher said. That group that started the fourth quarter, we talked about if we win the fourth quarter, we win the game, and those first few minutes of the fourth quarter were probably the worst stretch of the game.Jose Calderon added 21 points for the Knicks, who rested Amare Stoudemire while already playing without the injured Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith.New York got within three points headed into the final 3 minutes, but Thomas made a free throow, Markieff Morris nailed a jumper and Thomas followed with a 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 95-86 with 1:34 to go. Gerald Green Jersey. Carmelo for that stretch there, I dont know what he scored, three or four straight times. Youre going, OK, hes going to be a handful in there, and thats the time of the game that he likes to get going, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. But again, every time we seemed to match it with something.Phoenix burst out to a 15-4 lead midway through the first quarter before Calderon steadied the Knicks with a couple of 3-pointers. New York cut it to three after one and surged to a seven-point lead in the final minute of the second before taking a 47-44 advantage to halftime.Markieff Morris then scored 12 in the third quarter to keep Phoenix within a point headed to the final 12 minutes.TIP-INSSuns: Phoenix is 6-1 on the road against Eastern Conference teams. ... Markieff Morris, who picked up two technical fouls and was ejected from Wednesdays loss in Charlotte, got called for another after the first half ended Saturday. Anthony shot it before the second half started.Knicks: The Knicks were playing the first of three straight day games. They visit Toronto on Sunday afternoon and are home to face Washington in a noon tip on Christmas. ... Shumpert said he doesnt need pain medication for the shoulder he dislocated Dec. 12 at Boston, just ice. The Knicks said after the injury that he would be re-evaluated in three weeks.TRIPLE THREATBledsoe and Thomas carried the load while Dragic shot just 4 for 11, but Thomas knows it can go another way the next game. We know that one night it might not be your night or it might be your night, just go out there and play the same way, he said.AND NOT MUCH BETTER ON THE SECOND NIGHTThe Knicks fell to 0-7 on the first night of back-to-back games. They are 1-5 on the second.UP NEXTSuns: Visit Washington on Sunday.Knicks: Visit Toronto on Sunday. 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