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TORONTO -- The post-mortem of the past two Toronto Maple Leafs seasons hasnt been pretty. A Game 7 collapse against the Boston Bruins in 2013 gave way to 14-game plunge that cost them a trip to the playoffs in 2014. Starts havent been the Leafs problem. But with an eye on the finish, they hope off-season moves and a competitive training camp can help them write a different kind of ending. After signing David Booth, Daniel Winnik, Leo Komarov, Petri Kontiola and Mike Santorelli and trading for Matt Frattin, the Leafs have 17 forwards in training camp on one-way NHL contracts. Realistically, only 13 or 14 will make the team following Torontos most competitive pre-season in recent history. Thats exactly how general manager Dave Nonis likes it. "We wanted to approach this a different way: There are no spots open, and someones going to lose their job," Nonis said. "We need the competition in this group to be as high as its ever been if were going to maximize the skill level and the talent level that we have." After losing 12 of the final 14 games last season, the Leafs went through an off-season of change. Brendan Shanahan took over as president, Kyle Dubas and Brandon Pridham joined the front office as assistant GMs, and coach Randy Carlyle got to keep his job but had his assistants replaced. In terms of roster construction, the core of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, Joffrey Lupul and captain Dion Phaneuf remains. But after that group wore down as 2013-14 went on, Lupul sees off-season additions as one way to keep history from repeating itself. "I think that was pretty apparent down the stretch that we didnt quite have the energy it required down the stretch and other teams did," Lupul said. "I think having a little more depth and a little more balance up and down the lineup will certainly help that." Knowing no NHL team can ever be too deep, Nonis brought in a handful of forwards and defenceman Stephane Robidas in free agency and also traded for Frattin and defenceman Roman Polak to change that tune. His hope was to create a better bottom-six forward group so that Carlyle wouldnt have to keep his stars on the ice for so long. "If youve got a good third, fourth line you can take away some tough minutes from your top guys and give some rest for Phil, Tyler (Bozak) and James so when were up by a goal or two goals they dont have to be playing as much as they used to be," Winnik said. Even as Carlyle talked up a philosophical shift to three scoring lines and a fourth "energy" trio, the next few weeks will determine more than just a few of those spots. Theres a competition for the second-line right-winger job, and thats not the only position up for grabs. David Clarkson, whom Carlyle hopes can hit a "reset" button after a dreadfully disappointing first season with the Leafs, could be given every opportunity to snatch that spot, but first-round pick William Nylander could win it with an impressive showing. Also in the mix are Booth, Winnik, Komarov, Kontiola, Santorelli, Frattin, Troy Bodie, Colton Orr, Frazer McLaren and Trevor Smith, and there might be eight openings for those 10 players. Nonis wants this camp to resemble the lockout-shortened one in 2013 when players were sent to the minors who might not have been expecting it because of their contract status. "Theres no reason a player should have his spot on the team determined by a one-way contract or the size of his salary," Nonis said. "If we want to have success those players that have higher salaries that are supposed to be our better players have to perform. Theres no secret in that. Weve made it clear to our players and coaches that all the players need to compete and theres other players that will take their jobs if that doesnt happen." Carlyle said its up to him and his staff to pick the right players for those roles. If they choose wisely, it could pay dividends in March and April, the times in which the Leafs have most recently struggled. "The teams that go deep in the playoffs are playing four lines, theyre playing three and a half lines at least," Nonis said. "Injuries as well ... If we have injuries to our top six forwards we think were in a better position to replace those players and the competition in the lineup from one to probably 13 or 14 up front is as strong as its ever been." On defence, veterans Henrik Tallinder and Brendan Mikkelson are in camp on professional tryouts, and one or both lefties could make the team as the Leafs put more priority on balance. Bringing in Polak and Robidas also could have the desired effect of putting less wear and tear on Phaneuf, Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson. "I think Id be the first to admit that at the end of maybe game 70 and game 75 youre feeling it when youre playing 27, 28 minutes," Phaneuf said. "I think it will help our whole defensive corps when you have two guys that can play minutes like that." Notes -- Robidas, who broke his right leg while in the playoffs with the Anaheim Ducks, hopes to be in the lineup for the Leafs regular-season opener Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens. Robidas, 37, who signed a three-year contract on July 1, said he likely wouldnt be able to play in the pre-season until the final couple of games. Nonis said Robidas was on pace in his recovery and had not had a setback. ... Lupul (knee) and goaltender Jonathan Bernier (sports hernia and knee) reported being fully healthy and ready to go for the start of camp. ... The Leafs are scheduled for on-ice testing Friday and have their first practice set for Saturday. Their pre-season opener is Monday in London, Ont., against the Philadelphia Flyers. Wholesale Bulls Jerseys . Old times for a defence that has looked just plain old recently? "No," safety Ryan Clark said. "We used to be much better than that. Custom Chicago Bulls Jerseys . Didnt need any help this time. Wood beat Cincinnati for the first time in his career, repeatedly pitching out of threats for seven innings, and Chicago stalled the Reds week-long surge with a 2-0 victory Monday night. https://www.cheapbulls.com/.A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year. Bulls Jerseys 2020 . Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany. Bulls Jerseys China . The Mavericks were not going to let San Antonio beat them with 3-pointers, and they did not want Tony Parker using the lane as his personal playground.(SportsNetwork.com) - The sliding St. Louis Blues will try to earn some payback for a recent loss when they host the Colorado Avalanche in Mondays Central Division battle at Scottrade Center. The Blues are in the midst of their longest losing streak of the season and the most lopsided defeat of the 0-3-1 stretch came Tuesday in Colorado, as the Avalanche pounded St. Louis by a 5-0 score. The drought has dropped St. Louis into a tie with Winnipeg for the third and final playoff spot in the Central. The Blues currently hold the tiebreaker with the Jets, who are hosting Minnesota tonight. Jarome Iginla, Ryan OReilly and Alex Tanguay each posted a goal and an assist on Tuesday for the Avalanche, while Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves for the shutout victory, which was only Colorados second win in the past eight meetings with St. Louis. Tuesdays loss came in the finale of a three-game road trip that saw the Blues earn just one out of a possible six points. A return to the Gateway City didnt help end the slide on Saturday, when Dallas posted a 4-3 regulation win over the Blues. St. Louis fell to 12-4-1 as the home team this season and has won six of its last seven home encounters against the Avs. The Blues were tied 2-2 with Dallas after one period, but defensemen Trevor Daley and Jason Demers scored power-play goals in the second period to put the Stars up for good. Dallas went 2-for-5 on the power play, while St. Louis converted one of four chances with the man advantage. Vladimir Tarasenko netted his 21st goal of the season for the Blues, who are on their longest losing streak since an 0-6-0 slide to end the 2013-14 regular season. David Backes and Alex Pietrangelo also scored, and Jake Allen stopped 20-of-24 shots.dddddddddddd Quite frankly, were not getting the job done. And thats everybody, said St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock. While injured No. 1 goaltender Brian Elliott is nearing a return to the crease, Martin Brodeur will get the start tonight. Brodeur is 17-8-1 with a lifetime 2.24 GAA versus Colorado. Elliott, who has been sidelined since Nov. 25 with a lower-body injury, was back at practice on Sunday and could return to game action as early as Tuesday, when the Blues begin a four-game road trip in Nashville. The Avalanche posted a season-high winning streak with Tuesdays win over the Blues, but the streak was halted at three in Saturdays 5-2 home loss to Chicago. Patrick Kane tallied two goals and an assist as to lead the way for the Blackhawks, who overcame an early 2-1 deficit with four unanswered goals. Colorado allowed Chicago to score twice on four power-play opportunities, while failing to score on three chances of its own. Their power play was the difference in the game, Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy said. We had our chances to get back in that game, but we didnt manage the puck well. Nathan MacKinnon and Erik Johnson each lit the lamp for the Avs, while Calvin Pickard allowed four goals on 32 shots for the Avalanche. Varlamov expects to start tonight. He is 6-4-2 with a 1.75 GAA and three shutouts in his career against St. Louis. Colorado, which will begin a three-game homestand Wednesday against Philadelphia, is 6-6-5 as the guest this season. The Avs have won two straight on the road and own a 2-0-1 record over their past three away tilts. ' ' '