t scoreless, getting benched for the entire second half. The entertaining shooting guard gave an unsatisfactory answer to a halftime question

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. Air Max Nz Wholesale . "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. Cheap Air Max Nz Free Shipping . In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6. Cheap Air Max Nz Shoes . "Im going to send Webbie a six-pack (of beer) tonight," she said. Webb wasnt sure that would help. "Ill probably drink one and go to sleep," the Australian veteran said. The two players set up a Sunday showdown between former HSBC champions after finishing off their third rounds with identical birdies over three of the last five holes Saturday to separate themselves slightly from the rest of the crowded leaderboard. http://www.cheapairmaxnz.com/ . -- The Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Sidney Rice have agreed to terms on a deal.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After James Harden lit up the Los Angeles Lakers for the first three quarters, he returned in the final minutes to keep the Houston Rockets focused on their finish.Kobe Bryant used to do that job for the Lakers, and they might find out Monday whether hell do it again this year.Harden had 37 points and eight rebounds, and the Rockets rolled to a 99-87 victory without Dwight Howard on Sunday night, sending Los Angeles to its eighth straight defeat.Harden hit four 3-pointers, and the NBAs leading scorer added five assists in the Rockets third victory in four games. He thought he had earned an early night off, but didnt mind returning to the court after Los Angeles trimmed a 25-point lead to 11 in the final minutes.Its my job to be not only a scorer, but a facilitator, said Harden, who scored at least 33 points in his fourth straight game. Make sure everybody is happy, getting good shots. Weve got to do a better job closing out games. Its definitely getting there. Were more than capable of being the best defensive team in the league, but weve got to focus on it every game.Josh Smith and Jason Terry had 11 points apiece as Houston cruised to its fourth straight road victory over the Lakers even without Howard, who sat out after injuring his right ankle two days ago.I thought in the first half, we ran a lot more, Houston coach Kevin McHale said. I think our focus kind of waned later on in the game.Carlos Boozer scored 18 points for the Lakers, who are on their longest losing streak in nearly 10 years.The Lakers werent terribly competitive until the fourth quarter of their latest game without Bryant, who could be out for the season after tearing his right rotator cuff last week.Los Angeles, which committed 21 turnovers and went 1 for 13 on 3-pointers, hadnt lost eight straight games since March 2005. The Lakers missed the playoffs that season for the only time in Bryants career before last year.The effort, that hasnt been an issue, coach Byron Scott said. The turnovers, that has been an issue. When were turning the ball over at that high of a rate, were not givinng ourselves a chance. Air Max Nz Cheap. The Lakers could find out Monday whether Bryant needs season-ending surgery. Scott hasnt given up optimism for an eventual return by the third-leading scorer in NBA history.I think we all hold out hope that it goes well, (and) they say he doesnt need surgery or anything like that, Scott said. Maybe rehabilitation for a few weeks or a month or whatever the case may be. But thats the positive part of me hoping that happens.TIP-INSRockets: Joey Dorsey started in Howards place, scoring four points. ... McHale is uncertain when Howard will return to the lineup. At least his absence spared him the relentless booing hell likely face from Lakers fans for the rest of his career after he spurned the club in free agency in 2013. ... Harden is a Los Angeles native who attended Artesia High School.Lakers: Scott showed up slightly late to Staples Center after forgetting that the Lakers Sunday game time is an hour earlier than every other night. The 53-year-old coach claimed he had a senior moment. ... Rookie big man Tarik Black, who was waived by Houston last month, had three points and five rebounds for the Lakers. He had missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle.SWAGGY SADNick Young played just nine minutes for the Lakers and went scoreless, getting benched for the entire second half. The entertaining shooting guard gave an unsatisfactory answer to a halftime question about a defensive assignment from Scott, who said Young looked to me like he didnt want to be here. Young hadnt played in a game without scoring since he joined his hometown team before last season. Young left Staples Center without speaking to reporters.POINT GUARD POPRookie Jordan Clarkson had eight points on 2-for-10 shooting and five turnovers in his second start for the Lakers, while Jeremy Lin had 14 points and six assists off the bench after being a healthy scratch in Fridays loss at San Antonio. Scott intends to keep his current starting lineup together for the next 15 games or so.UP NEXT:Rockets: Host Dallas on Wednesday.Lakers: Host Washington on Tuesday. ' ' '