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. [url=http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Dedryck-Boyata-Belgium-Jersey/]Dedr yck Boyata Jersey[/url] . The six-foot-fi

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. Dedryck Boyata Jersey . 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." Thomas Meunier Jersey . The premature end left 26 players still to finish the round in the Asian Tour event. Siddikur, who shot a bogey-free first round to share the lead with five others, eagled the par-5 first hole before bogeying twice and rebounding with six birdies. Marouane Fellaini Jersey . Amare Stoudemire had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Carmelo Anthony scored 21 and the New York Knicks won their eighth straight game, 93-92 over Philadelphia on Friday night, sending the Sixers to their 23rd straight loss. http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Michy-Batshuayi-Belgium-Jersey/ . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third.HOUSTON -- With the top of Houstons batting order struggling Friday night, the players at the bottom came through to help the Astros keep their winning streak intact. Jonathan Villar broke an 0-for-26 slump with a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning and the Astros won their seventh straight game with a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the annual Major League Baseball Civil Rights game. It is the first time Houston, losers of 100-plus games the last three seasons, has won seven straight since 2010. Brett Oberholtzer (2-6) allowed four hits and a run in seven innings for the win and Chad Qualls got the last four outs for his fifth save. "Everybody did their part tonight," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Oberholtzer was outstanding. The bullpen came in and was able to close it out and hold the game right there. Overall, just a great team win." The Astros had one hit before Matt Dominguez doubled to start the seventh. Alex Presley singled with one out but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Robbie Grossman followed with a double, which sailed just out of the reach of a leaping Steve Pearce in left field, to tie it 1-all. Villars ground-rule double bounced into the bullpen in right-centre field to put Houston on top and chase Miguel Gonzalez (3-4). "Extremely happy for (Villar) and Grossman," Porter said. "Both of them have been kind of scuffling and for them to be the two offensive heroes tonight, it definitely feels good." Houstons Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters combined for three hits Friday night while the top three had just one. "I feel like were never out of a game," said Grossman, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday. "Were just out there having fun." Adam Jones doubled to start the second inning and scored on a one-out single by J.J. Hardy to put Baltimore up 1-0. But the Orioles couldnt do much else against Oberholtzer as they tied a season high with their fourth straight loss. "Weve scored five runs in the last three games,," manager Buck Showalter said. Vincent Kompany Belgium Jersey. "You tip your cap to the other pitcher, but were capable of better." Gonzalez kept Houston off-balance early and didnt allow a hit until Jose Altuve legged out an infield single on a grounder to shortstop with one out in the sixth. Gonzalez yielded five hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings. The Astros wore the uniforms of the Houston Eagles and the Orioles donned the uniforms of the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues for the game. Houston rookie George Springer, who had hit seven homers in his previous seven games, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to snap an 11-game hitting streak. Oberholtzer had retired five straight before Nelson Cruz extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single to start the fourth inning. But he still faced the minimum in the inning thanks to a double play. He threw perfect frames in both the fifth and sixth and sat down the first two batters in the seventh before a single by Chris Davis. Hardys fly out ended the inning and Oberholtzers night. Gonzalez retired the first eight batters before walking Villar with two outs in the third. But Altuve grounded out to end that inning. He plunked Jason Castro with two outs in the fourth before Pearce robbed Dominguez of a hit with a diving catch to end the inning. NOTES: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Berry Gordy and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown were honoured at a luncheon on Friday in conjunction with the game for their contributions to the civil rights movement. Author and poet Maya Angelou, who died on Wednesday at 86, was honoured posthumously. ... Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... The series continues Saturday when Baltimore RHP Chris Tillman opposes LHP Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel was named the AL player of the week last week after going 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in two starts. ... Baltimore C Matt Wieters, on the 15-day DL since May 11 with a right elbow strain, made 25 throws before Fridays game and Showalter said he will throw again Sunday. ' ' '