TORONTO – Maple Leafs general Dave Nonis touched base with his coach Randy Carlyle on the eve of the NHLs free agent frenzy with a general game-plan for the hours ahead. "Randys not the most talkative guy," Nonis joked afterward, "I didnt need too much time to get through it." By the time the dust had cleared from the annual spending extravaganza on Friday evening, Nonis had in fact altered his roster, once more, to better suit the needs and wants of Carlyle. David Clarkson, a one-time 30-goal man and pesky Toronto native in the gutsy Carlyle mold was brought in from New Jersey on a whopping seven-year deal. He was joined by Tyler Bozak, the Leafs incumbent first-line centre and leading minute man at forward, the 27-year-old inking a lengthy five-year contract, which seemed to oust Mikhail Grabovski, not a Carlyle enthusiast in any sense, from the picture. Those moves capped the draft-day acquisition of Dave Bolland, a scrappy pivot chock-full of Carlyle qualities, and the earlier addition of Jonathan Bernier, who offers security beyond James Reimer. "I can tell you our coach is happy with the options that we have right now in a lot of different areas," Nonis said, citing increased flexibility on both the penalty kill and power-play, Bolland filling the former, Clarkson the latter. In Clarkson, the Leafs get a "truculent" irritant with a knack for finding the back of the net in recent years, the 29-year-old sniping 30 goals a season ago before adding 15 more in 2013 (but only five in the final 28 games). While an upgrade on the wing with a straight-line abrasive style, capable of playing both in the top six and bottom six and certainly on the power-play, Clarkson came at a considerable price, especially over those that he effectively replaced in Clarke MacArthur and Matt Frattin, landing $5.25 million over the stretched term of seven years. Whether he can make good on the hefty investment is a legitimate question, especially given the unlikelihood of another 30-goal season. Nonis, rather, is banking that under the pugnacious leadership of Carlyle, the brash and intensely physical Clarkson will thrive once more, adding an increased element of chippiness to the Toronto lineup. "If David Clarkson doesnt score 30 goals in a Leaf uniform," Nonis stated, "but provides all the other things that we know hes going to provide, were pretty comfortable were a better team." And of the price and term, Nonis said it was simply the cost of playing the high stakes game of free agency. "If we wanted to get in on a player like David Clarkson, that was the price-tag for us to pay," he conceded, just days after Grabovski and Mike Komisarek were bought out by the organization. "Im not worried about [years] six and seven right now. Im worried about one [year] and year one I know were going to have a very good player." In the case of their positioning down the middle, the Leafs ultimately chose Bozak over Grabovski, in a move that, again, aligns with Carlyle. Save for a trade, Toronto could not have kept Grabovski at the inflated price of $5.5 million, retained Bozak at $4.2 million annually and also added Clarkson for the weighty price he was sure to demand and did, in fact, receive. So they opted for Bozak, a player whom Carlyle trusts fervently in every situation and one who is closely linked to Phil Kessel, a free agent after next season. "How Randy uses him you can easily draw that conclusion," Nonis agreed of deeming Bozak a better fit for the club than Grabovski, denying however that their choice came down to one player over the other. "Not that Grabo isnt a great player, its just for us, Bozie is a better fit; plays more minutes. But it wasnt about Grabo or Bozak." Its obvious why they opted for Bozak over Grabovski given Carlyles preference, but theres a real question as to whether Bozak is the better option, even in spite of Grabovskis obvious struggles in 2013. Bozak posted 18 even-strength points in 2013 in 700-plus minutes, only marginally ahead of Grabovski, who totaled 13 with a far more defensive lean and far fewer opportunities. Of repute for his acumen on the draw, Bozak posted a 52.6 per cent rate, again only slightly better than Grabovski at 50.6 per cent. Bozak, shooting a sizzling 20 per cent, totaled 12 goals to nine for Grabovski, this in spite of substantially more power-play opportunity. Additionally, over the two seasons prior to 2013, Bozak tallied 33 goals and 79 points, vastly inferior to Grabovski, who had 52 markers and 109 points. But in the case of their decision at centre, the Leafs opted for the player who fit more suitably under the graces of the head coach and his strategy. Carlyle employed Grabovski in mostly defensive situations in his first full season behind the bench in Toronto, his checking line centre more often than not. Bozak in contrast, lined up with Kessel and James van Riemsdyk on the top line all season, garnering first duty on both the power-play and penalty kill and additionally on every key draw. Nonis said he exercised the buyout option on Grabovski without knowledge that Bozak would in fact commit to remaining with the Leafs, describing the move as one demanded by the cap crunch this summer. "Which made for a very uncomfortable sleep last night," he grinned. The money for Bozak, while a significant raise that nearly triples his previous salary, was not a huge stretch considering the wealth of duties he does assume and was, according to Nonis, the max his team would pay. "It wasnt out of any disrespect to Tyler, but it was a number that topped out for the Toronto Maple Leafs," Nonis indicated. "To his credit, I think that Bozie wanted to stay here." Securing Bozak for a continued presence in a first-line role, the acquisition of Bolland at the draft this past Sunday works to additionally solve a need that Carlyle struggled to fill all season, that of the checking line centre. As noted above, Grabovski assumed the role almost by default with Bozak entrenched alongside Kessel and Nazem Kadri bursting on the scene as a viable offensive option in training camp. With Bolland now in the fold, Carlyle can employ a scrappier, more defensive-minded element against opposing top lines while additionally employing Jay McClement in a secondary role. Adding to Carlyles options in the crease, the Leafs swung a trade for Bernier during the Stanley Cup Final, inking the 24-year-old to a two-year deal worth $5.8 million late on Friday evening. After acquiring Bolland and signing Bozak, Clarkson and Bernier, Nonis now has upwards of $10 million to spend as his team draws down to the $64 million cap, still with restricted free agents Kadri, Cody Franson, Carl Gunnarsson, and Mark Fraser to sign. That would seem to leave little room to dramatically upgrade a defence that was often over-matched last season, T.J. Brennan, who played with Buffalo and Florida last season, the lone addition to the group thus far. Nonis was asked early in his administration as Leafs general manager whether or not the group assembled fit under the style of Carlyle – who had assumed control from Ron Wilson as the Toronto coach in the final stages of the 2011-2012 campaign. He replied toward the negative before an ultimately successful 2013 campaign. "We need to alter that a little bit," Nonis said of the teams construction in early January. "We need to make a couple of changes to play that style." And while his group unquestionably veered toward the Carlyle brand of smash-mouth hockey, Nonis moved toward adjusting the group further to fit the needs of his head coach as the offseason kicked into gear on July 5th. "The good news for me is, its not my problem any more, thats up to Randy," Nonis quipped when questioned on the breakdown of his forward complement with the Clarkson addition. "Ive done what I could do." Cheap Authentic Air Max .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Cheap Air Max From China . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Air Max Outlet . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Air Max Sale . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. NASSAU, Bahamas -- Bubba Watson was 7 under through nine holes in the second round of the Hero World Challenge, such a strong start that it might have led someone to declare a 59 watch.It rarely happens, of course, though it does lead to one question.Isnt the target now 58?Golf established its magic number in 1977 when Al Geiberger shot 59 in the Memphis Classic. It was matched 14 years later by Chip Beck in Las Vegas, and then David Duval at the Bob Hope Classic (1999), Paul Goydos at the John Deere Classic and Stuart Appleby at The Greenbrier Classic (both in 2010) and Jim Furyk at the BMW Championship in 2013.Then Furyk shot 58 at the Travelers Championship this summer.Isnt that the new standard? The new watch?Probably not, Hunter Mahan said. Fifty-nine is a special number in golf. Its pretty sacred. Until theres numerous 58s, its not going to change. To start out with a `5 is a cool thing.Appleby says a 59 watch should still apply out of the respect to those who have one. He was smiling because hes one of them. He said when people have gone nearly 40 years thinking 59 was the number, that wont change overnight.I guess it might have been like when Henry Ford invented the automobile, but people still talked about a horse-and-buggy, he said.The point of such a score is that it starts with a 5. Besides, no one would ever say that someone is on a sub-60 watch. There have been seven scores in the 50s on the PGA Tour starting in 1977 with Geiberger. But there have been 32 scores at 60 starting with Al Brosch in 1951 at the Texas Open.Its still cool to be the in 50s, Stewart Cink. I dont care if it happens once a week for the next 10 years, its still pretty cool for someone to get there.Furyk made par on the last hole at the TPC River Highlands to shoot his 58, and even he thinks a 59 watch is still appropriate. Furyk said golfs magic number on the PGA Tour lasted too long for it to be anything else.That barrier of 60 is still pretty cool, said Furyk, the only player to have done it twice. I still think someone is going to shoot 58, and someone is probably someday going to shoot 57. I hope I get to hold onto it like Geiberger did for 39 years. Other guys will shoot 58. But if 40 years from now someone shoots 57, that would be really cool. Ill be in my 80s.One record that might last even longer -- two rounds in the 50s.I think it will be longer before someone does it, Furyk said.---RYDER CUP COMMITTEE: The U.S. Ryder Cup committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday by telephone, the first step toward picking a new captain. Attention has focused on Jim Furyk, mainly because he answered a hypothetical question at Sea Island that he would take the job if offered. He said he was not lobbying to be captain.At some point after a captain is selected, the next decision will be how to pick a team.Davis Love III, the winning captain and part of the committee, hinted that the entire U.S. team will be set before the Tour Championship. This year, Ryan Moore was the 12th and final player selected for the team after his playoff loss at East Lake.The 2018 Ryder Cup is Sept. 28-30 in France.One thing weve got to really work on is picking this team, make sure we have a week to get everyone ready, Love said. Rushing off to Paris at the last minute when a guy has just made the team, throw him on a plane and were going to Paris, were wondering if thats the smartest thing to do. Thats onee of the discussion points.dddddddddddd.Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods also are on the committee. The PGA of America is represented on the committee by Pete Bevacqua (CEO), Paul Levy (president) and Suzy Whaley (vice president).---KUMARS BIG DAY: One of the most unlikely victories last week was on the Asian Tour when Mukesh Kumar won the Panasonic Open India at Delhi Golf Club.If the name doesnt sound familiar, it shouldnt outside of India.Kuman turned pro in 1984 -- thats two years before Jack Nicklaus won his last major -- and while he won 123 times on the domestic tour in India, he never played more than eight tournaments a year on the Asian Tour. In fact, he had played only 55 tournaments that awarded world ranking points over the last 20 years.Kumar closed with a 70 in the fog-shortened Panasonic Open India and won his first Asian Tour event at age 51.I am very proud of myself, Kumar said. I have waited 32 years for this.He was No. 1,716 in the world and moved up to No. 487. His previous best in the world ranking was No. 707.---WEB SCHEDULE: The Web.com Tour Championship will return to Atlantic Beach Country Club, where it was never played.Hurricane Matthew wiped out the final event of the Web.com Tour Finals, leaving several players without a last chance to earn PGA Tour cards because the new season started the following week in California at the Safeway Open.Tour officials can only hope they didnt make a mistake by not changing the date.The Web.com Tour Championship was pushed back to a week that no other golf in America, hoping to capitalize on viewership (although all that matters in an event like that is who gets their tour cards). When a hurricane interrupted, there was no other option but to cancel it.Next year it will be Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, which is the same week as the Presidents Cup. But the Safeway Open starts the next week.---DIVOTS: Adam Scott, who lives at Albany in the Bahamas, played the Australian PGA Championship last week and will remain Down Under through the holidays. But he sent his plane back to the Bahamas with a few passengers -- Rickie Fowler, Russell Knox and his wife Andrea, and Jimmy Walker. One of the pit stops was in San Antonio to pick up Walkers wife. Scott is not due back to America until the end of the West Coast Swing at Riviera. ... The Arnold Palmer Invitational is offering a holiday sale of two Arnold Palmer collector lapel pins with the purchase of two tickets. The umbrella pins that Palmer wore daily have never been offered for sale. The will be available until Dec. 24 at www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com. ... Hideki Matsuyama tied for last in the Hero World Challenge last year. That prompted Russell Knox to say, I wonder if I should tank my final round. Do you think that will help me next year?... The PGA Tour Champions released its 2017 schedule on Tuesday, with 26 official tournaments. Among those joining the 50-and-over circuit are rookies David Toms and Steve Stricker.---STAT OF THE WEEK: Dustin Johnson will end the year having earned the most world ranking points in 2016. He was followed by Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama.---FINAL WORD: They dont heckle in golf. Nobody even says anything. Heckled? Go play in Boston in the playoffs. -- Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. ' ' '