TORONTO – Two times in the past three seasons, the hockey team from Toronto has collapsed under city-rattling circumstances, including a rapid descent from near-certain playoff entry last season. In between was a valiant stab at the first Leaf post-season series win in years from a feisty, competitive group – albeit, one that probably benefited from the 48-game schedule. Looking to recapture some of that magic, Leafs management made character, attitude, leadership and qualities of mental fortitude high priorities in their bid at roster reconstruction on July 1st. Led by president Brendan Shanahan and incumbent general manager Dave Nonis, the club reacquired two players from that 2013 squad – Leo Komarov and Matt Frattin – also adding 37-year-old Stephane Robidas to a defence that recently replaced the steady Carl Gunnarsson with edgy-type Roman Polak. “Part of it is always about character,” said Nonis, shortly after 5pm et, when the Leafs first crack at free agency ended. “I dont think that we have a character issue with our team or our players, but I think adding people like Leo and Robidas to [the roster] only strengthens it. The compete level that we had two years ago, I think was at or near the top of the league. 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.” Randy Carlyle couldnt summon much in the way of explanation as to why things unraveled for the Leafs so epically months earlier, but did notice something amiss with the attitude of his group. “We lacked the compete,” he said, while at the draft in Philadelphia this past weekend. “I look at compete as part of the character flaw.” It was clear management sensed something similar, though character and leadership would hardly encompass the Leafs woeful defence and penalty-killing, targeting players in free agency or on the trade market who were known for their high compete level. In addition to Komarov and Robidas, the club also made pitches to keep gritty, but soon-to-be overpaid, Dave Bolland, 38-year-old former Team Canada defender Dan Boyle and long-time Montreal heart-and-soul type, Josh Gorges. Robidas, who was signed for three years at $9 million, offers the Leafs a much-needed veteran upgrade in their top-four, a long-time Dallas Star whos physical, blocks shots and has the ability to play in every situation. A right-handed defender, in short supply for the club a year ago, and veteran of 885 regular season games, Robidas brings a savvy that was lacking on a mismatched back-end last season. “It was a factor,” Nonis said of character when it came to Robidas, who suffered two separate, broken right-leg injuries last season, but will be ready for training camp. “The people that I know that know him, that Brendan knows, speak very highly of the way he handles himself, on and off the ice. I dont think were looking at a guy thats going to come in here and be terribly vocal or anything like that, but in terms of playing the game the right way, taking care of yourself and leading by example, that coupled with being a right-shot and his playing ability, he was the guy we targeted right away.” Komarov bolted for the KHL after that 2013 campaign, but was eager to return to the NHL-lifestyle this fall. He garnered considerably more than the club appeared willing to pay just one year earlier, four years at $2.95 million per season, and quite a bit for a player who was limited offensively as a Leaf. It was clear, however, that Nonis and company valued the Finnish wingers scrappy play and were also hopeful of more upside with more opportunity next season. “Hes a very competitive guy,” said Nonis of Komarov, who had nine points in 42 games with the Leafs. “Hes going to give you whatever he has … He has compete. He gets under peoples skin by the way he plays, not because hes a chirper or anything like that, but he finishes every single check and, sometimes, I think people dont really enjoy the way he does that. But for us, he brought that element; he brought some character to our group. He was very well-liked by his teammates. All the things that you look for in a player, he ticks a lot of boxes.” Polak, too, was added from St. Louis earlier with an eye toward the “edge” he would bring to the Toronto defence, a quality infinitely enduring to the head coach. But for the all the focus on injecting the Leafs dressing room with more bite, increased leadership and character, its Carlyle and the still-yet-to-be-named coaching staff that bear the most watching next season. For whatever the Leafs lacked in determination and persistence last year – and there was a noticeable difference – it was their inability to defend with any degree of success that instigated their downfall last season. No team, as widely known by this point, allowed more shots than Toronto and only three teams allowed more power-play goals. It was a house of cards that was bound to collapse and did when Jonathan Bernier went down with injury in mid-March. And for all his drum-beating about the troubles, and he was quick to point flaws as early as October, Carlyle and his since-deposed trio of assistants could not find the right answers, instill a defensive mindset onto a sometimes immature roster, employ top line-ups and align the talent in place with a suitable style of play. All that will have to change and its up to Carlyle to adjust accordingly. The coming season wont be about leadership concerns or questions of character, but whether a head coach can adapt to a younger and faster league. Robidas, Polak and Komarov should help to address some of the defensive deficiencies of last year – also fitting Carlyles harder brand of hockey – particularly a penalty kill that fell right back to the bottom of the league last season. Roster holes still to be filled include a centre capable of playing in a third or fourth-line capacity – Peter Holland is in line for regular opportunity, but a security blanket for Carlyle is likely preferred – perhaps another defenceman, with Cody Franson likely on the way out, some scoring depth and a backup goaltender, though, Nonis continues to insist that James Reimer could be back next year, despite clear indications of his desire to move elsewhere. Some of those changes could come internally with a round of Marlies keen to take the next step into the NHL. The Leafs additionally have about $15 million in cap space to work with a group of restricted free agents, Jake Gardiner most prominently among them, still to sign. Harry Carson Jersey . 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DETROIT LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 9:30 AM (ET) Detroit - RB Reggie Bush, TE Eric Ebron, TE Joseph Fauria, WR Calvin Johnson, QB Kellen Moore, TE Brandon Pettigrew, OT LaAdrian Waddle Atlanta - CB Javier Arenas, DT Jonathan Babineaux, OT Cameron Bradfield, WR Freddie Martino, QB Sean Renfree, OT Jonathan Scott, LB Tyler Starr SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Seattle - DT Jordan Hill, CB Byron Maxwell, OT Andrew McDonald, TE Zach Miller, C Max Unger, LB Bobby Wagner, WR Bryan Walters Carolina - CB Bene Benwikere, LB Chase Blackburn, WR Philly Brown, G Amini Silatolu, G Trai Turner, RB Fozzy Whittaker, RB DeAngelo Williams HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS, 1:00 PM (ET) Houston - OT Jeff Adams, DB Josh Aubrey, LB Brian Cushing, DB Darryl Morris, WR DeVier Posey, QB Tom Savage, LB Jeff Tarpinian Tennessee - RB Antonio Andrews, WR Kris Durham, TE Richard Gordon, DL DaQuan Jones, CB Coty Sensabaugh, OT Will Svitek, TE Taylor Thompson BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1:00 PM (ET) Baltimore - CB Chykie Brown, LB Arthur Brown, DL Chris Canty, TE Owen Daniels, G/C Gino Gradkowski, RB Bernard Pierce, OT Jah Reid Cincinnati - RB Rex Burkhead, DE Will Clarke, WR A. Carl Banks Jersey . 1. Lions WR Calvin Johnson (6 REC, 101 YDS, 1 TD, 10 targets) leads receivers with 1,299 yards and 12 touchdowns, though his 118.1 receiving yards per game ranks second behind Clevelands Josh Gordon. Gordon (10 REC, 261 YDS, 2 TD, 15 targets) is emerging as a superstar, putting up huge numbers even with Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden at quarterback.PHOENIX -- Wily Peralta had trouble keeping the ball down in the second inning and Arizona took advantage, lining one hit after another. The right-hander started hitting his spots after that, setting up Milwaukee for a big finish. Peralta pitched seven effective innings, Aramis Ramirez lined a two-run double in the eighth inning and the Brewers broke open a close game late for a 9-3 victory over the Diamondbacks on Monday night. "In that second inning, I was missing pitches, missing location," Peralta said. "After that, I just got into a rhythm." Peralta (7-5) shook off that shaky inning to keep the NL Central-leading Brewers close against Arizona and Brandon McCarthy. Milwaukee ran away with it once McCarthy left, scoring three runs in the eighth against Will Harris (0-2): two on Ramirezs third hit and another on a run-scoring single by Khris Davis. Ryan Braun hit a two-run triple off J.J. Putz in the ninth inning and Scooter Gennett had a run-scoring single after homering earlier in the game for the Brewers, who had 12 hits. "We swung the ball really well throughout the game," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "There were a couple of chances early where we could have broken the game open." McCarthy gave the Diamondbacks a chance, shaking off his own early troubles to go seven innings. He helped himself out, too, slashing a two-run single in the second inning. Arizonas bullpen, which has been solid recently, couldnt hold it. Harris gave up the three runs with two outs in the ninth and the Brewers kept hitting from there, sending Arizona to its fifth loss in six games. "We had it set up pretty good right there, but it didnt work out," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson, who was ejected in the ninth inning after a review failed to overturn a stolen base call at third base. "Two outs and to score all those runs, it didnt work out the way it wanted to." Both starters had some rough moments before settling down. Peralta appeared to be back on track in his last start after two shaky outings, holding the New York Mets to a run over 6 2-3 innings. The hard-throwing right-hander didnt keep the momentum rolling early against the Diamondbacks, giving up five hits in Arizonas three--run second inning.dddddddddddd. Roger Kieschnick had a run-scoring single in in his first at-bat after being called up to replace Bronson Arroyo, who was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career due to a sore elbow. McCarthy, a .125 hitter this season, followed with a jam-shot single to right, driving in two more runs to put Arizona up 3-2. Peralta was sharp after that, retiring 10 straight batters until Kieschnick lined a leadoff single in the seventh. Arizona got two on against him, but Peralta hustled to first base to complete an inning-ending double play. He allowed three runs and nine hits and struck out six. "I still thought he fought it, was still up in the zone too much," Roenicke said. "Weve got to get him down in the zone, try to get some easy outs. Hes working so hard out there to get outs." McCarthy gave up five runs in his last start and appeared to be headed toward another shaky outing. He gave up two runs in the second inning and a leadoff homer by Gennett in the third, the 15th he has allowed this season. McCarthy retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced, though, and was helped along by three double plays. Left fielder Gerardo Parra had the best of the bunch in the third inning, diving to rob Ramirez of a hit and throwing out Braun at second after he thought the ball was going to fall for a hit. Second baseman Aaron Hill also made diving stop up the middle to get Mark Reynolds in the seventh inning. McCarthy came out to start the eighth, but was lifted when the Brewers sent up a left-handed pinch-hitter. He allowed three runs and seven hits. "Back in a good place. I started attacking more and trying to do everything I could to keep us in it and go as deep as I could," McCarthy said. NOTES: A moment of silence was held before the game to honour Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died Monday from cancer at 54. ... The Brewers started Elian Herrera in centre field to give Carlos Gomez a night off. Gomez has reached base in 30 straight games. ... Arizonas Paul Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the first inning. ... Arizona LHP Wade Miley will start Tuesday in the second game of the series against RHP Kyle Lohse. 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