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NEWARK – With some uncertainty at the position, Dave Nonis took steps to address the Leafs strength down the middle, both now and in the future. Nonis sprung to acquire Game 6 hero Dave Bolland from Chicago on draft day, also selecting 6-foot-5 Rimouski pivot Frederik Gauthier with the 21st overall pick. The moves work to address a position of instability within the organization, most immediately with the acquisition of Bolland, a 27-year-old Toronto native who won his second Cup with the Hawks earlier this week. “It doesnt mean that were not [stilll] looking to try to shore up that area because from our standpoint, it still is an area of, I wouldnt say weakness, but were not incredibly deep down the middle and thats why it was important to get him,” said Nonis, minutes after the deal for Bolland was announced. Centre-ice had been, and still remains to some degree, a position of uncertainty. Tyler Bozak, the Leafs number one middleman in 2013, is on the verge of unrestricted free agency with the very real possibility looming that he moves elsewhere for more money than Toronto is willing to offer. With that in mind and some additional uncertainty in the contributions of Mikhail Grabovski and Nazem Kadri next season, Nonis looked for assurance in Bolland, who has one year remaining at a cap hit of $3.3 milion. “It wouldnt rule out signing Tyler at all,” Nonis said of Bozak, who is searching for a significant raise this summer. “If we can find a way of getting him signed then we will. Nothing has changed in that regard from our standpoint.” The injection of Bolland, the former London Knight, into a complement that already includes Grabovski, Kadri (restricted free agent) and Jay McClement, means the Leafs could theoretically be set down the middle for the fall; that is if Bozak departs and Nonis cannot land additional help through the trade or free agent markets. “Yeah, no question that was part of it,” Nonis concurred. “To make sure that we had some depth and we would be able to compete with the group that we had. We feel that if we get everybody signed and in, and now with David, wed be in a perfectly good position to start the season.” With Grabovski and Kadri (potentially) slotting in as the first and second line centres – in lieu of any other moves, which remain a real possibility – Bolland could line up in the all-important three-hole for Randy Carlyle, removing some pressure on Grabovski in defensive situations while injecting the potential for more offence than McClement may provide. Additionally, if Nonis and the Leafs opt to upgrade further down the middle, Bollands acquisition allows further flexibility to perhaps move someone else out or otherwise enjoy long-starved depth at the position. “He played behind some pretty good people [in Chicago] and I think Randy, he wont pigeon-hole him as a third-line centre,” Nonis said of Bolland, who dropped to the fourth line spot for the Hawks in the playoffs, behind the likes of Jonathan Toews, Michal Handzus and Marcus Kruger. “I think hell probably be put in maybe a more prominent role with us than he was in Chicago.” Formerly the head man in Anaheim, Carlyle had plenty of first-hand experience in the Western Conference with Bolland, who fits the gritty mold the Leafs coach seems prefers in his players. “I can tell you that Randy is very happy that we brought Dave Bolland in,” Nonis noted. “Hes the type of player that thrives under the way he coaches. And Randy moves people around the lineup and I think thats something that Dave Bolland has done throughout his career very effectively.” A force during the Hawks run to the Cup in 2010 – 16 points – Bolland was hobbled by injuries throughout the 2013 season – he sat out 13 games – even missing the first five games of the playoffs with a groin issue. Plugged further down the lineup than he had been in the past, Bolland totaled just a single point in series wins against Detroit and Los Angeles before breaking out with three goals and five points against the Bruins, including the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6. “I think its going to be great,” Bolland said of returning home to Toronto. “I think this is one team like the Blackhawks team thats coming up and is going to do great things – hopefully like we did [in Chicago].” Nonis said discussions with Chicago general manager Stan Bowman had been ongoing for quite some time, the Leafs general manager initiating the deal, which sent the 51st and 117th picks to the Hawks this year as well as a fourth rounder in 2014, shortly after the Cup had been awarded. Toronto now has 12 players under contract for the 2013-2014 campaign, still working on contracts for a restricted free agent class that includes Kadri, Cody Franson, Carl Gunnarsson, and newly acquired Jonathan Bernier. With upwards of $19 million available following the likely compliance buyout of Mike Komisarek, Nonis still has plenty of work ahead. “We think theres more things that we hope to do,” he stated, “whether we can accomplish those between now and September remains to be seen. But were going to try to remain active and see if theres more changes we can make.” In addition to Bolland, Nonis and his scouting staff looked to address the centre position long-term, settling on Gauthier with their first round pick, a big, defense-first centre from the Quebec league. Gauthier projects as a stable, low-risk option down the middle, a player who might line up in a shutdown role for the Leafs one day, though not anytime soon. “Were pretty comfortable that he should round out to a second-line centre top-end, but at least a third line guy that can be very responsible,” Nonis said of Gauthier, who remains a work in progress offensively, nonetheless totaling 22 goals in his first season with the Oceanic. “Hes the type of player that you need to eat up minutes, a big-minute crunching centreman that right now we were lacking.” Of those “indicators” which suggest NHL potential, Dave Morrison, the Leafs head scout, pointed to Gauthiers size, defensive savvy, and ability to process the game. “We just think theres some upside,” Morrison told TSN.ca, also emphasizing Gauthiers competitiveness and skill on the draw, “how much offensively remains to be seen. But were hopeful. Hes still a young guy, a big body thats still growing, still growing into that body.” Nonis said he and his management team looked seriously at the prospect of moving up in Sundays draft, the price-point just too high to justify a move. “The assets to move up didnt make any sense,” he said. “The temptation to try to do something is always there. I think as you get closer to the draft the temptation actually even increases. You have to make sure you check yourself because its pretty easy to do some pretty significant damage by moving pieces out that you think are going to be long-term pieces of the puzzle. “Were there options? There was a couple of options, but they werent going to help the Toronto Maple Leafs, they were going to probably set us back.” The Leafs went on to select Carter Verhaeghe, an Ontario native and centre from the Niagara IceDogs, in the third round, adding Swiss forward Fabrice Herzog in the fifth, P.E.I. Rockets goalie Antoine Bideau in the sixth, and smallish Swedish defenceman Andreas Johnson in the seventh and final round. Nike Air Max Cheap Wholesale . -- 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. Nike Air Max Clearance Sale . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. http://www.cheapairmaxforsale.us/ . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Cheap Air Max For Sale . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Cheap Nike Air Max For Sale Online . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night.CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane has scored bigger goals in his NHL career. Winning the Stanley Cup in overtime sets the bar awfully high. By scoring twice in Game 5 of this years final, all Kane did was put the Chicago Blackhawks within one victory of their second championship in four years with Saturdays 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. "I think everyone wants to be that guy in big-time games," Kane said. "Ive been lucky enough in a couple to step up." Kane stepping up in Game 5 couldnt have happened at a better time for the Blackhawks, as captain Jonathan Toews left with an unspecified injury. The series took a turn with Toews departure and an injury to Patrice Bergeron that forced the Bruins centre to be taken to a local hospital for observation. With arguably the two best skaters out, it was Kanes opportunity to shine. He did so with his second multi-goal game of these playoffs and furthered his status as a clutch performer. "I dont think this game had to happen to define Kaner as a big-time player," Chicago left-winger Patrick Sharp said. "Hes had plenty of opportunities, and he showed up in big games with big performances. I knew he was a big time player before tonight." Kane took over the game like few players can. When he had open ice, he wanted the puck on his stick and always was a threat to score. When Johnny Oduyas shot broke Dennis Seidenbergs stick on the way to the net, Kane was there to put in the rebound to open the scoring. Crashing the net in the second put him in the perfect spot to beat goaltender Tuukka Rask after a heads-up play by linemate Bryan Bickell. "Sometimes you catch some breaks," Kane said. "I think I was in the right spot at the right time tonight on both goals. I thought I had some other chances, too, I could have scored. But I think playing with Johnny and Bicks, they create a lot of space, and Ive been taking advantage of the space they do make." Toews was a focus for the Bruins, who hit him at every opportunity. Boston defenceman Johnny Boychuk appeared to hit him in the head in the second period, though Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he wasnt sure if that was what caused Toews injury.dddddddddddd With Chicago clawing to a third-period lead that Bruins captain Zdeno Chara cut in half with his first goal of the final, Toews sat on the bench but did not take a shift. He wanted to play, according to Quenneville, who said he was hopeful that Toews would return for Game 6 Monday night at TD Garden. Quenneville called Toews day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old centre did not speak to reporters but seemed to be in good spirits as he signed autographs and talked to friends on his way out of the arena. For the final stretch of Game 5 Saturday night, all he could do was provide some moral support. "He was there to chatter a little bit on the bench and keep us into it," Sharp said. "Hes part of the team, obviously, and it was great to have everybody together." Bergeron couldnt even do that. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for observation, the team announced. Bruins coach Claude Julien did not have an update after the game and bristled at questions about the injury. "Not much I can say on his situation," Julien said. "Its just an injury that wasnt able to let him finish the game. He may be in next game." A source with direct knowledge of Bergerons injury called his trip to the hospital "precautionary." He reportedly walked to the ambulance under his own power. If Toews and Bergeron cannot play in Game 6, the complexion of the series changes. "That kind of evens itself out if thats the case," Julien said. "But theres still a lot of good players on both teams that can certainly make things happen." Kane is chief among them. The man whose overtime winner against the Philadelphia Flyers gave the Blackhawks the 2010 Stanley Cup was the one most responsible for getting his team back in the same spot three years later. "I think its exciting to be back in that situation again," Kane said. "This is what you work for all year, all summer, when youre training throughout the year at training camp, whatever it may be. This is what you work for, this opportunity. Weve got to seize the moment and take advantage of it." ' ' '