Willkommen » Third Second Lead Coach AB Val Sweeting Lori Olson-J

TORONTO -- Cody Franson, a one-year contract in his pocket, returned to the Toronto fold Thursday to the sound of his Maple Leaf teammates thumping the ice with their sticks as a welcome. The six-foot-five defenceman was late joining practice after undergoing a medical but his teammates made sure his return was noted. It seemed a combination "Good to have you back" and "What took you so long?" "Hes a big part of this team," said defence partner Mark Fraser. "He has been for a while. "Everyone, I think, was supporting him in his decision. Its always tough when the business side comes into play like that but were definitely all very happy to have him back. I certainly am." Franson, 26, had four goals and 25 assists during a career year in 2013. He got more playing time in the playoffs when Fraser went down, while providing an offensive boost with his hard shot from the point. With three goals and three assists in seven games, he tied for second in team playoff scoring. Coach Randy Carlyle said Franson had grown as a player last season, buying into the teams direction. Carlyle said Franson committed to a more physical game, which gave him more space, and became the teams best option playing the right point. Franson did not file for off-season salary arbitration, saying his case "wasnt as strong as most people assume," and instead looked to negotiate directly with the Leafs. When the two sides couldnt get close on a two-year deal, they compromised on numbers with a one-year US$2-million deal. While it was being negotiated, Franson worked out with the Ryerson Rams. "Im glad its done," he said. "Its a process nobody really wants to go through. Fortunately we were able to find a common ground and get it done before the regular season started." Toronto has now signed Nazem Kadri and Mason Raymond, as well as giving goalie Jonathan Bernier a new deal. The Leafs front office, however, still has work to do to make the salary cap numbers work as it looks to fit an opening day roster under the $64.3-million salary cap. David Clarkson will miss the first 10 games of the season through suspension but the team will continue to bear his cap hit. "Its still the same situation as if Cody had signed at the beginning of camp," said Toronto assistant GM Claude Loiselle. "Were still evaluating. We still have two (exhibition) games left. And well see how it shakes out." Loiselle called it a "tough process." "The cap has gone down $6 million across the board and its difficult." Toronto will "probably" go with less than a 23-man roster to start the season, he said. "But again were going to ice the best team possible and the coach makes those decisions." The Leafs have to dress at least 18 skaters and two goalies. One option might include putting tough guy Frazer McLaren (hand injury) on the long-term injured reserve, which means he is unavailable for at least 24 days and 10 games. That buys the team some cap relief. There are more problems down the line. Toronto could have eight unrestricted free agents next summer including captain Dion Phaneuf and star winger Phil Kessel. And there could be four restricted free agents including goalie James Reimer and defencemen Jake Gardiner and Franson. Carlyle suggested the Franson signing was not a minute too soon, referring to the fact that it had become "decision time." "Either we were going forward with Cody Franson or we were not going to be going forward with him and it was going to be something that we were going to commit to for the rest of the year." Franson, whose salary was $1.2 million last season, was reunited with Fraser at practice. The other defensive pairings were captain Phaneuf and Carl Gunnarsson, Gardiner and Paul Ranger, and John-Michael Liles and Morgan Rielly. Liles, who will earn $3.875 million this season, and Rielly may suffer the most with Fransons return. Carlyle said the Leafs will probably used the 10 games Rielly is allowed to play before deciding what to do with him. Dave Bolland and Colton Orr are expected to return to action in the final exhibition games -- Friday against Detroit and Saturday at home to the Red Wings. Carlyle spoke to the team prior to practice, saying later there was a discussion on work ethic "and our lack of it in the exhibition games." There were some smiles when forward Jay McClement collided with Carlyle in mid-ice during a drill. Carlyle absorbed the impact and, with a smile of his own, made McClement do the next drill twice. "Hes lucky I didnt have any equipment on, I was going to give him an elbow," Carlyle joked. "He almost ran me over pretty good." 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The Wild lead the Northwest Division and look to get back into the win column after having a season-high seven-game winning streak cut short with Tuesdays 2-1 loss at Winnipeg in the finale of a five-game road trip (4-1-0).Rosters Province Skip Third Second Lead Coach AB Val Sweeting Lori Olson-Johns Dana Ferguson Rachelle Brown Garry Coderre BC Patti Knezevic Kristen Fewster Jen Rusnell Rhonda Camozzi Jay Batch MB Jennifer Jones Kaitlyn Lawes Jill Officer Dawn McEwen Wendy Morgan NB Sylvie Robichaud Rebecca Atkinson Marie Richard Jane Boyle Ellery Robichaud NL Heather Strong Stephanie Korab Jessica Cunningham Kathryn Cooper Geoff Cunningham NO Tracy Horgan Jennifer Horgan Jenna Enge Amanda Gates Andrea Ronnebeck NT Kerry Galusha Megan Cormier Danielle Derry Shona Barbour Jock Tyre NS Mary-Anne Arsenault Christina Black Jane Snyder Jennifer Baxter Peter Corkum ON Julie Hastings Christy Trombley Stacey Smith Katrina Collins Jim Anderson PE Suzanne Birt Shelly Bradley Michelle McQuaid Susan McInnis Kim Dolan QC Lauren Mann Amélie Blais Brittany O’Rourke Anne-Marie Filteau Andy Broder SK Stefanie Lawton Sherry Anderson Sherri Singler Marliese Kasner Rick Folk YT Sarah Koltun Chelsea Duncan Patty Wallingham Jenna Duncan Bill Tschirhart CAN Rachel Homan Emma Miskew Joanne Courtney Lisa Weagle Richard Hart ' ' '