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TORONTO -- After taking a sip of water at the start of his news conference, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis made sure to thank the players who were around last season and left on the first day of free agency. "I just wanted to thank them for what they attempted to do over the last 12 months and wish them all the best going forward," Nonis said. Attempted might be the most important word after the Leafs went from being almost surely playoff bound to collapsing with an eight-game losing streak. Gone from that group are centres Dave Bolland and Mason Raymond, who signed elsewhere Tuesday. In come defenceman Stephane Robidas, signed to a US$9-million, three-year deal, and forward Leo Komarov, signed to an $11.8-million, four-year deal, along with forward Matt Frattin, re-acquired in a trade that sent winger Jerry DAmigo to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Its Noniss hope that those players change the Leafs mix back to more of what it was like in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, when they made the playoffs. "The compete level that we had two years ago, I think was at or near the top of the league," Nonis said. "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. Some of the players that were talking about either were here and will help us get that back or have a history of doing that. That was a focus for us." Robidas at 37 brings 885 games of experience to Toronto, along with a right-handed shot. He broke his leg while playing in the playoffs for the Anaheim Ducks but started skating last week and expects to be ready for Day 1 of training camp. Komarov returns from the 2013 Leafs after a year with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL. He had four goals and five assists in 42 games that season, but the 27-year-old Finn is expected to have a much bigger role this time around. "Leo offers a lot more than I think even we got out of him two years ago," said Nonis, who met with Komarov in Finland and "laid that out so that he knew that he wasnt just a fourth-line guy that was playing six minutes a night, that we feel that he can do more." Komarovs return could help fill the void left by the departure of Bolland, who signed for five years and $27.5 million with the Florida Panthers. Bolland said on a conference call with local media that the Leafs were close to bringing him back. "We were getting there," the 28-year-old Toronto native said. "We were just a little bit apart." Nonis did not begrudge Bolland for taking the more lucrative deal with the Panthers. "We feel our offer was very fair, very strong, it reflected his value to us," he said. "He chose to go somewhere else, thats his right. Hell be a good player for them ... The only way to prevent that from happening was to spend more than we felt was appropriate, and I dont think thats something we wanted to get into." Raymond also got more money than the Leafs were willing to pay: three years and $9.5 million from the Calgary Flames. Being closer to home was part of the Cochrane, Alta., natives decision to go there. Even before signing in Calgary, Raymond expected changes around the Leafs under new president Brendan Shanahan and after the teams late-season collapse. "I think we all wouldve loved to finish a lot better," Raymond said in a phone interview. "When you have new management or different changes within the organization, that (roster moves are) susceptible to happen." What Bolland and Raymond have in common is they werent around for the Leafs somewhat-expected 2013 season that Nonis seems to want to replicate. Komarov and Frattin, who was sent to Los Angeles a year ago in the deal that brought goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Leafs, were. "We talked a little about the chemistry that we had two years ago and the work ethic and i think players playing outside their comfort zone," Nonis said. "Those are two players that played a big part in it." Notes -- Nonis said if a trade for restricted-free-agent goaltender James Reimer was there and made sense, the Leafs would make it. Otherwise, he reiterated, Reimer could be back next season. ... The process of hiring assistant coaches is still ongoing with no resolution as of Tuesday. Authentic NBA Jerseys . It was a day that saw England slump off a World Cup field once again battered and bruised. This time there was no red card to wonder about, no goalkeeping error or individual mistake. They were thoroughly beaten by something they have nothing of – genuine world class ability. Cheap NBA Jerseys . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener. https://www.cheapnbajerseysjustwholesale.com/. About seven hours before facing Washington in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round series, team officials said the oft-injured Bynum would miss the rest of the playoffs and would not even be with the team for the rest of the post-season. Nike NBA Jerseys . - Regan Smith had the checkered flag in sight at Daytona a year ago and a freight train of cars in his rearview mirror. Stitched NBA Jerseys . - Houston defensive end J.ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Toronto right-hander Drew Hutchison makes his first big- league appearance since June 2012 on Tuesday night when the Blue Jays visit the Tampa Bay Rays for the second test of a four-game season-opening series at Tropicana Field. A native of nearby Lakeland, Fla., Hutchison was 5-3 in 11 appearances with the Blue Jays two seasons ago before an elbow injury shelved him for the remainder of the schedule and ultimately prompted ligament-replacement surgery that scrapped his entire 2013 season on the major-league level. He made 10 appearances across three minor-league levels in the Blue Jays organization last year and was 0-4 with a 4.81 earned run average in 35 1/3 innings, then was 1-1 in four spring-training starts this year while posting a 1.50 ERA across 15 innings. In one career meeting against the Rays, Hutchison was tagged for seven hits and six runs in four innings of an 8-5 loss at Tropicana Field on May 22, 2012. "I just think he looks stronger, his bodys filled out even more," Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said. "I think hes coming into his own. Hes more mature. I just cant get over how he carries himself. Hes actually a young leader on this team." The Rays will oppose him with right-hander Alex Cobb, whos won 11 games in each of his first two big-league seasons. The Boston native was a fourth-round pick of the Rays in the 2006 draft and initially reached the majors at the tail end of 2011, when he made nine starts and won three gamees while posting a 3.dddddddddddd2 ERA. He went 11-9 in 23 starts in 2012 and 11-3 in 22 outings last season, while holding batters to averages of .254 and .228, respectively. Cobb is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays, whove managed eight hits and struck out nine times in 13 1/3 innings. On Monday, in a matchup of the 2012 Cy Young winners, David Price outdueled R.A. Dickey and the Rays took down the Blue Jays, 9-2. Price (1-0) threw seven scoreless innings before giving up a two-run homer to Erik Kratz in the top of the eighth. The 2012 AL Cy Young winner finished with six strikeouts, allowing six hits and one walk in 7 1/3 innings. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in his first Opening Day start for Tampa Bay. Matt Joyce drove in three runs while going 2-for-2 with a double and Evan Longoria and James Loney picked up an RBI apiece. The 2012 NL Cy Young winner, Dickey (0-1) lasted five innings, getting knocked around for six runs and five hits while walking six and fanning four. Kratz was the lone bright spot for Toronto, smacking a two-run homer on the first and only pitch he saw. Tampa won 11 of its 19 matchups with the Blue Jays last season. In fact, Toronto hasnt won a series at Tropicana Field since April 6-8, 2007, with Tampa Bay going 19-0-1 in series play since then. The Rays 148 wins over the Jays and their 84 wins at Tropicana Field are their most against any opponent. ' ' '