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TORONTO – Mason Raymond was coming off what he believed to be a pretty good sixth season in Vancouver. He scored 10 goals in 46 games and entered the summer of 2013 as an unrestricted free agent for the first time. But when September rolled around and training camps were due to open in a matter of days, Raymond found himself without the safety and security of a contract. “We all knew what was happening with the cap,” he told the Leaf Report. “But did I think Id be in that situation? No, not at all.” Amid the now forgotten wreckage of the last NHL lockout was the plunge in the caps upper limit from $70 million in 2013 to $64.3 million this fall. The dip in available dollars and subsequent uncertainty left many veterans, like Raymond and new Leaf Jerred Smithson, searching with frustration for amenable contracts, often with little or no success. Though he had played in over 300 NHL games and had scored 25 goals as recently as 2010, Raymond had no better option but a professional tryout in Toronto on the eve of training camp. Suffice it to say, the lack of opportunity took him by surprise and remains a source of bewilderment. “I had a good year last year,” said the 27-year-old, who totaled 22 points in his final season with the Canucks. “I fully expected something to materialize. To be honest, I didnt really know that youd come into a team on a tryout five days before camp opened. I was optimistic and so was my agent, but it just seemed like for whatever reason a lot of players got stuck in the situation that I did.” There was a general sense among teams, including the Leafs, that cost-effective opportunities might present themselves because of the cap crunch this summer. But to find Raymond available on the eve of training camp was certainly an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Inked to a one-year contract for an even $1 million, he has proven a valuable find so far. Averaging what would be a career-high of 19 minutes, Raymond has scored five goals and 11 points in 17 games. His speedy presence, amid a 10-game suspension to David Clarkson and early injuries to Nik Kulemin, James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul, as well as current ones to Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland, has been an obvious aid to the Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic division. “Ive always believed Im an NHL player,” Raymond said. “I thought that prior to coming to camp, I thought that all summer and I think that to this day. You have to go out and prove that more importantly to yourself, I think. Im a big believer that, [if] you do the right things, play some good hockey, everything else will take care of itself.” Some fled to Europe with no jobs to be found as the summer months waned and became fall. Others stuck around and remained as patient as possible, Raymond and Smithson, a veteran of 588 career games prior to this season, among them. “I knew the situation,” said Smithson, in conversation with the Leaf Report. “I knew the cap was going down, but nothing can really prepare you for that. I figured I was still good enough to get a job, get a one-way deal somewhere and, when it didnt happen, it was tough. It was not so much humbling, but more frustrating. I knew it was a possibility, but once it really hit, it [was] not a good feeling.” Unlike Raymond, Smithson wasnt able to land even a tryout in the NHL, but one instead with the Marlies of the AHL. It was mid-October. He and his fiancé were parents of a newborn baby. Patience had been predictably difficult to keep. “I knew right away I wasnt obviously a big name, that teams were going to go after the first few days, so I was prepared to be patient – maybe not this patient, but prepared to be patient,” he said. “Once August rolled around and still, there wasnt anything that was really coming out at me. There were a few tryout offers or two-way deals, but nothing that I was really willing to bite on right away.” Smithson and his agent were forced to give a good, long look to Europe. “It was never a dream of mine to go over to Europe,” he said. “And I made that clear to my agent right away that Im willing to be as patient as I can. It was obviously a lot harder than I originally thought, but it worked out.” Injuries to Bozak and Bolland finally opened a door back into the NHL for Smithson last week - the 34-year-old signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $550,000. A noted faceoff specialist and penalty killer, he has quickly gained an important role for Randy Carlyle, plugging the gap of the two injured centres in both regards. “Im not a big fan of the term ‘it is what is, but I cant control [the cap crunch],” said Smithson, who played seven seasons in Nashville, also making stops in Los Angeles, Florida and Edmonton. “I could just control my attitude and try to stay in the best shape as I possibly could and, if a phone call came, just be ready for when that opportunity knocked. Im very grateful for the opportunity the Leafs gave me, with the Marlies and with them, [and Im] just looking to take advantage of it.” Though Smithson projects as more of a stop-gap option, Raymond could earn himself a larger contract next summer with a productive season. Two years ago, Clarke MacArthur joined the Leafs late in the summer on a bargain one-year deal, worth $1.1 million. Now a member of the Ottawa Senators, MacArthur busted out with a career season that first year in Toronto, subsequently signing a two-year deal worth $6.5 million the following offseason. Raymond could be in line for something similar if he remains productive. At the very least, with the cap expected to rise once more, he is unlikely to find himself in such a precarious position again. "Thats hockey, thats life, thats the cards you were dealt and you have to deal with it,” Raymond said of the cap crunch this past summer. “You can sit here and say the what ifs, whatevers, and all that, but it was a situation and, unfortunately, it happened to some of us. I think [the cap was] the reason, [but] I dont know the exact reason. For [Smithsons] sake and my sake things have worked out well.” Jerseys From China . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. http://www.buycheapjerseysauthentic.com/ . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Cheap Jerseys . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.The struggling Toronto Maple Leafs try to snap a four-game winless skid tonight when they play host to the red-hot San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre. You can listen to the game on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto. Toronto will try to halt its longest slide of the season. The current 0-2-2 stretch is the clubs worst skid since it dropped five straight (0-3-2) from March 7-16 of last season. Nazem Kadri will not be in the lineup tonight for the Leafs. Kadri will miss the game on bereavement after the death of his grandfather. The 23-year-old has seven goals and 10 assists in 24 games this season. He missed three games in November after a suspension for his hit to head of Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom. Peter Holland will start in place of Kadri. Toronto wrapped its November schedule with a mediocre 4-6-3 record. The Maple Leafs suffered a regulation loss in their last game of the month, dropping a 4-2 decision at Montreal on Saturday. The Leafs fell behind 2-0 in the first period of Saturdays loss in Montreal and saw the deficit grow to four goals before James van Riemsdyk scored his 12th goal of the season with 1:50 left in the second period. Mason Raymond added Torontos only other goal of the game just 22 seconds later. Canadiens goaltender Carey Price made 12 of his 34 saves in a spotless third period to help the Habs hold on for the win over their bitter rivals. "I thought it was a hard-fought game," said van Riemsdyk. "There were times we didnt play as well as we could have. Those were the times that cost us the game." Jonathan Bernier gave up four goals on 39 shots for the Maple Leafs. Bernier could get the start again on Tuesday and is 1-2-0 with a 3.57 GAA in four career appearances against San Jose. Fellow Toronto goaltender James Reimer is 1-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA in two lifetime outings versus the Sharks. The Maple Leafs hope to get back on track tonight at the start of a brief two-game homestand. Toronto, which also will welcome Dallas on Thursday, is 9-4-0 as the host this season compared to a 5-6-3 mark on the road. Toronto went 0-2-1 on a recent three-game road trip and was winless on the road in November (0-4-3). Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul will sit out a fourth straight game on Tuesday duue to a groin injury.dddddddddddd Lupul has eight goals and seven assists in 22 tilts this season. Cody Franson will be a game-time decision for the Leafs on defence. Franson did not play in the Leafs Saturday night loss. The Sharks will try to match their longest winning streak of the season tonight. The Sharks have won their last five outings, leaving them one victory shy of their season-opening six-game tear from Oct. 3-15. All told, the Sharks have posted victories in eight of their past nine outings and their recent hot play has vaulted San Jose into first place in the Pacific Division standings. Anaheim, which hosts Los Angeles on Tuesday, is one point in back of San Jose for the Pacific lead. San Jose, however, has a solid 8-2-3 record as the guest this season and has won its last three trips to Toronto. The Sharks have taken five of six overall from the Leafs. The Sharks also played on Saturday when they recorded a home shootout win over the Ducks, who entered the contest tied with San Jose for first in the Pacific. Joe Pavelski scored in the second round of the shootout to lift the Sharks past Anaheim, 4-3, to take sole possession of the divisions top spot. Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who went 5-0-0 on a recent five-game homestand. Martin Havlat and Logan Couture also lit the lamp Saturday, while Antti Niemi stopped 28-of-31 shots in the victory. "Its the division, its the conference," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said after the win. "Its that close. Its got to be exciting for hockey fans all over because there really isnt anybody thats pulling away or a clear-cut favorite, and some really important hard-fought games at this time of year." The Sharks received a scare in the first period when captain Joe Thornton was hit near the left eye with a deflected puck. The veteran centerman left the game briefly before returning later in the period. Thornton, who contributed an assist towards Saturdays win, has registered a point in five straight games and is expected to play on Tuesday. He is leading San Jose this season with 29 points on four goals and 25 assists. Niemi expects to get the start tonight for San Jose and is 1-1-0 with a 2.01 goals against average in two career games against Toronto. 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| Beitrag vom 12.04.2016 - 06:49 |
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