Dein erstes Forum » ar, has been just a tad more spora

TORONTO - James van Riemsdyk is on pace to score more than 30 goals, amass nearly 70 points and tally new career-highs in just about every statistical category. And yet the 25-year-old doesnt sound much satisfied with his season to date, yet to hit his real groove just yet. No, I dont think Ive played to my full potential, van Riemsdyk said after a 40-minute practice on Wednesday morning. Ive done some good things, theres some positives to build on, but I definitely think I can continue to get better, for sure. Hes been productive here and there, but never quite as consistently as he would like or expect. Though still third on the Leafs with 10 goals and 20 points through 24 games, van Riemsdyk has scored in just two of the last eight games, the latter coming on Tuesday night when the puck deflected innocently off his leg, a marker that was initially credited to Tyler Bozak. His last goal before that came nearly two weeks prior. That night, with the Leafs in crisis mode after a 9-2 spanking from Nashville, van Riemsdyk flashed the gifts which made him the second overall pick in 2007, the gifts that underscore the surface hes only started to scratch. With just under eight minutes to go in the middle frame and Tampa in town, van Riemsdyk freed a puck just outside Torontos blue-line, stormed through the neutral zone past a pinching Anton Stralman before firing a quick wrist shot beyond the glove of Ben Bishop. Less than three minutes later with the Leafs on a power-play, he snatched a rebound from Bishop before lifting the puck, as if on a string, into the upper netting of the cage. It was the kind of goal he scored often during the real breakout campaign of his career last season. van Riemsdyk punched career-highs of 30 goals, 31 assists, and 61 points, also showing dominantly alongside Phil Kessel at the Sochi Olympics. And yet there was a sense with van Riemsdyk that there was more ground to cover, that there was still another level he could reach. He conceded as much before the season. You dont want to really limit yourself, van Riemsdyk said in late September. You want to continue to get better so you can read into that for what its worth. You dont want to rest on last season, you want to continue to push the envelope and see if you can continue to get better, wherever that gets me. van Riemsdyk says its about consistency in the early months this season. That consistency, he says, hasnt been there near enough. Hes actually producing at about the same rate at even-strength as last season - 1.93 points per 60 minutes - but his line - which still includes Kessel and Bozak - has been less forceful, save for their continued potency on the power-play. A creature of habit, van Riemsdyk isnt about to change anything though in a routine thats evolved considerably from the early days of his NHL career. Back in Philly, during his first season with the Flyers, van Riemsdyk stuck with what he playfully dubbed the Arron Asham program, a simplistic routine that consisted of showing up, watching TV for 45 minutes and then suiting up for practice. But after that first season, in which he scored 15 times in 78 games, something changed. van Riemsdyk looked around and saw how Ian Laperriere went about his business. He observed how this seventh round pick from Quebec had carved out a career of more than 1,000 NHL games. He was warming up for like 45 minutes at a time before every practice and game and Im like What the hells wrong with this guy? Like whats he doing? van Riemsdyk recalled. And from there I realized stuff I needed to do if I wanted to have a long career, if I didnt want to just be a flash in the pan, he continued. I want to play this game as long as I possibly can and keep myself as healthy as possible so thats when I started buying in more to things like diet and getting the right treatment consistently, working out the right way and all that good stuff. And thats become kind of my M.O. If you want to have a long career you have to take care of that stuff. Its details to manage and protect. When the Leafs end their daily skate, be it a practice or before a game, van Riemsdyk remains. Long after Kessel and Bozak have left the ice, hes there to stand in front of a gaping cage and tip pucks in the same manner that hes come to score more than a few goals. And thats why, even now when hes not satisfied with the ways things are going personally, does he stick with the routine. Stick with the details and the results will follow, he believes. Thats what I try to do no matter if things are going great [or] if things arent going good you just stick with the same program, van Riemsdyk says. Whether thats at the rink working on things; whether thats doing stuff at the gym; whether thats getting treatment away from the rink; you just stick with your same program, you believe in your program, you believe in your process and go from there. In a bid to keep him fresh (and an obvious benefactor of improved depth), the Leafs are using van Riemsdyk slightly less than last season. He was the sixth most deployed forward in hockey a year ago, garnering more than 21 minutes nightly. That number has been cut by more than a minute and a half this season, van Riemsdyk removed from the penalty kill entirely in October with other capable options emerging. Hes hardly had a bad season, far from it in fact. With increased power-play production van Riemsdyk is actually on pace for 34 goals and 68 points, both of which would establish new career-highs. But that undercurrent of dominance, so prominent at times last year, has been just a tad more sporadic. I dont know if hes found his groove, said head coach Randy Carlyle, noting van Riemsdyks good fortune in attacking the front of the net, likely referring to the unlikely marker against Dallas. For whatever reason I think in spurts Ive played well, but not as consistently as I can, van Riemsdyk added, offering not so much frustration but ambition. By no means do I think Ive played bad, but I think I have more to give for sure. Alessio Romagnoli Jersey . A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. Lucas Biglia Jersey . has left the San Jose Sharks to become the Boston Bruins director of player personnel. http://www.authenticshopacmilan.com/c-41...c-jersey.aspx.3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday. Alessandro Guarnone Jersey . They signed their first kicker. Ottawa inked Nick Setta, a 32-year-old native of Lockport, Illinois, to a contract. Gerard Deulofeu Jersey . - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert.TORONTO, Ontario - The CFL is in need of a new director of officiating. The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately. "Its our understanding Tom intends to seek a position on the competitive side of football, as a coach, general manager or administrator," CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement. "We thank him for his efforts and wish him the very best in his future endeavours." Higgins became the CFLs director of officiating April 15 2008. Prior to joining the leaguues head office, Higgins spent more than 25 years as a player, coach and personnel director.dddddddddddd Twice he was named the CFLs coach of the year and in 03 led the Edmonton Eskimos to a Grey Cup title as the clubs head coach. "Toms tenure as director of officiating has seen the introduction of many improvements and innovations from the debut of the Command Centre for video review to the introduction of position coaches to the addition of a co-ordinator for the development of amateur officials," Cohon said. ' ' '