TORONTO – No team may have leaned harder on one line last season than the Maple Leafs. Richard Seymour Jersey . Because of insufficient depth and a reluctance toward regular employment of a fourth line, Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk ended up as some of the most taxed forwards in all of hockey. All three posted new career-highs in average ice-time a year ago, right in there amongst the likes of Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and Ryan Getzlaf. It was likely a detriment in the end. Over-used and likely worn down, Torontos top guns faded down the stretch as the club spiraled disastrously out of a once certain playoff position. Its obviously a long season and you get worn down, Bozak acknowledged. Nearly a quarter of the way into this new season, the Leafs reliance (or overreliance) of their primary offensive weapons has been altered. With increased depth and more accepting use of that depth, Kessel, Bozak and van Riemsdyk are seeing fewer minutes in a shift that may end up benefiting the Leafs in the long run this season. After each pushing nearly 21 minutes a night a year ago, Kessel, Bozak and van Riemsdyk have all dipped below the 20-minute average through 20 games this fall, the ice-time of Kessel and Bozak in particular cut by about two minutes per night. That may not seem like much, but come March those 160-plus saved minutes of wear and tear (or nearly three full games) could mean just that much more energy when the race to the postseason heats up. Obviously we want to play as much as we can every night, said Bozak, playing less than 19 minutes per game, but I think later in the season if you do play maybe two, three minutes less a night that you will be a little more fresh coming down the home stretch. Average Ice Time 2014-15 2013-14 Difference James van Riemsdyk 19:48 21:03 1:15 Tyler Bozak 18:53 20:56 2:03 Phil Kessel 18:34 20:30 1:56 Average Even-Strength Ice-Time 2014-15 2013-14 James van Riemsdyk 15:13 16:27 Tyler Bozak 15:09 17:03 Phil Kessel 15:10 17:30 I think it does make a big difference, said head coach, Randy Carlyle, but you talk to the elite players they say you play me more Ill play better. Thats the reality of what happens with it. Carlyle, though, is not only using his top line less this season, but less frequently in the most demanding of situations against other top lines – though to mostly success against Steven Stamkos on Thursday – and more frequently in the offensive zone. His history of heavy usage from top players dates back to Anaheim. Like Kessel and company, Getzlaf and Corey Perry, the Ducks two top weapons, were extended heavily while Carlyle was in charge, their ice-time scaling back since he was fired in the winter of 2011. For me Im not the biggest, strongest guy so I think a few less minutes a night will save me a little bit extra strength and stuff by the end of the year, Bozak said. Carlyle has had to change his ways some with new management in Torontos fold. Before Brendan Shanahan was hired as the Leafs president, the head coach had a habit of dressing one and sometimes two enforcers, players who garnered little ice-time and produced almost nothing offensively. He sometimes went even further, dressing an additional defenceman in lieu of that 12th man up front. All of which meant increased reliance and dependence on the top line, which provided a heavy chunk of Torontos offence last season. Come March those players predictably slowed down. Kessel had only four goals and 10 points. van Riemsdyk had eight points in 15 games and only one goal and three points in April. Their fall-off may have had something to do with their participation in the Olympics for Team USA, but returning from that Sochi adventure to play nearly 22 minutes a night – in a condensed schedule no less – probably didnt help much to keep them fresh down the stretch. Towards the end of the year its tough to feel fully healthy, but I mean, there was a lot of different guys that were dealing with the same thing so its tough to make excuses about that, van Riemsdyk said, noting the relaxed schedule this season, one with no lockout or Olympics and thus no condensed pace of play. Under Shanahans direction, the Leafs went about improving their depth in the summer, adding versatile forwards like Daniel Winnik, Mike Santorelli and Leo Komarov in free agency – each of whom has been a positive in some regard so far. Carlyle has changed his tuned slightly with those players at his disposal, veering toward use of nine forwards on more even terms. We felt if we could develop some trust in all nine forwards [that we could] expand a little bit more minutes from an offensive standpoint, said Carlyle following practice Friday. Hes even gotten some use out of a once forgotten fourth line, one that relies on skill rather than toughness and grit. Richard Panik has already scored four times in 19 games and is on pace for an astounding 17 goals despite averaging only nine minutes a night. Carlyle might even want to consider using the 23-year-old and his linemates – 21-year-old Josh Leivo and veteran, Trevor Smith – more often given their decent possession numbers and potential for additional offence. Smith has helped trim van Riemsdyks ice-time recently. Hes absorbed the 25-year-olds minutes on the penalty kill since being recalled from the Marlies earlier this month. For all the positive indicators, however, theres every chance the minutes for Kessel, Bozak and van Riemsdyk rise some in the second half, especially if the Leafs are chasing a playoff spot. Youll see that when you dont have success those minutes will go up because youre always pushing to have your offensive players on the ice, if youre playing catch-up in the games, Carlyle said. Lets face it, in the last 20 games of last year we were trying to catch up. Its a fine line because weve got to win games so youve got to take each game as it comes, said van Riemsdyk, who played more than 23 minutes 16 times last season, doing so only once so far this fall. There is some strategy to it, but if theres a situation where we need to be on the ice then were going to be on the ice. It all depends on the situation. Damien Harris Jersey . He chirped to the caddie of Brandt Snedeker about their money game, a Mickelson tradition at the majors. Lefty was in good spirits Monday at the British Open, except for having to return the claret jug. Ted Karras Jersey .3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/701p-gunner-olszewski-jersey-patriots.html . After making his All-Star debut in Fridays Rising Stars Challenge, the Raptors sophomore centre wont be sticking around for the duration of the weekends festivities, thinking about the big picture instead.BRUSSELS, Belgium -- France ended a three-game losing streak on Wednesday by drawing 0-0 with Belgium in a friendly, while striker Karim Benzema extended his goal drought for the national team to 1,155 minutes. Belgium bossed the midfield and created the better chances but lacked the finishing touch despite an inspired Kevin De Bruyne. Eric Abidal was playing his first match for France since recovering from a liver transplant last year while Geoffrey Kondogbia was making his France debut. France will face Georgia and Belarus in World Cup qualifiers next month while Belgium will visit Scotland. "I would have preferred to win, even though we lost our previous matches," France coach Didier Deschamps told TF1 television. "We didnt win this match, but we didnt lose either. The match that we will have to win is the one in Georgia in September." In six matches this year, France has four losses, one draw and just one victory. By contrast, Belgium won its five previous games. Benzema had the first scoring chance of the match in the 11th minute with an effort from a tight angle stopped by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. But Belgium looked the better team, spurred by an attack that had a strong Chelsea flavour with Romelu Lukaku up front and Eden Hazard and De Bruyne on the wings. Laurent Koscielny twice saved France with timely tackles. The Arsenal centre back beat Lukaku to the ball in the 16th to clear a teasing cross from De Bruyne before intercepting a through ball from De Bruyne for Hazard in the 24th. Koscielny teamed up with Abidal in the heart of the France defence. The Monaco centre back played the entire match and showed poise despite Belgiums pressure. Belgium is 10th in the FIFA rankings while France has slipped to 23rd. The gap clearly showed on the pitch. Hazard cut inside to fire a low drive straight into Hugo Lloris arms in the 21st while De Bruyne took advantage of a poor clearance from Koscielny in the 37th but missed the target from close range. FFranck Ribery led Bayern Munich to the Champions League title last May and proved Frances most potent threat. Gino Cappelletti Jersey. The France winger outpaced Marouane Fellaini to square the ball back for Benzema in the 43rd but Vincent Kompany rushed back to clear Riberys low cross. On the stroke of halftime, Ribery set up Benzema, whose curling shot sailed over the bar. The Real Madrid striker also failed to catch the frame from five yards in the 59th and was denied by Courtois in the 66th as his international goal drought continued. Kondogbia shone last month as a member of the France team that won the Under-20 World Cup. But on Wednesday he struggled in midfield for his first cap. One of his turnovers led to a dangerous Belgian counterattack in the fifth minute. Kondogbia nearly made amends in the 30th as Courtois punched a corner into the path of the Sevilla midfielder, whose volley deflected off Toby Alderweirelds head. Belgium stepped up the pressure in the second half. But fullback Sebastien Pocognoli in the 49th, Fellaini in the 62nd, and substitute Kevin Mirallas in the 73rd all missed the target. De Bruyne tormented the France defence, slipping the ball to Lukaku in the 59th but the Chelsea forward could not make contact with the ball, four yards from the goal line. Lloris helped France salvage a draw by saving an angled shot from Lukaku in the 53rd and parrying a powerful strike from De Bruyne in the 68th. Samir Nasri came off the bench in the 63rd to replace Dimitri Payet. That was Nasris first appearance for France since serving a three-game ban for insulting a journalist in an expletive-laced tirade following a 2-0 loss to Spain at the 2012 European Championship. France had the last chance of the match. Olivier Giroud, who replaced Benzema, pounced on a loose ball in the 85th but sent his volley over the bar from 15 yards. In World Cup qualifying, Belgium leads Group A, three points ahead of Croatia, whereas France trails Spain by one point in Group I. ' ' '