you have the better chance you have of a quality

[ldh2013]

Despite their well-documented late-season collapse that, as of Tuesday night, guaranteed the team would miss the playoffs for the seventh straight season, Senior VP of Hockey Operations Dave Nonis thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs are a much improved group from the one he and GM Brian Burke inherited three-and-a-half years ago. . Speaking on the Bryan Hayes show on TSN Radio 1050, Nonis said the upgrades from this years squad over the one three seasons ago are clear. “I think were a lot better. Our top scorer when we took over was 55th in league scoring, not sixth (Phil Kessel),” Nonis said on TSN 1050. “Before Joffrey Lupul got hurt he was firmly in the top 10. On our back end, Dion Phaneuf is 12th in scoring and is in the top 10 in ice time. We didnt have any of that. “Has progress been made? Definitely,” said Nonis. “Are we where we need to be or want to be? Obviously not.” Nonis went on to say that moving forward, he thinks the team is only going to get better. While not as much attention is given to the teams farm system, the 42-year-old former Vancouver Canucks GM said hes excited about Torontos group of prospects. “First of all I think that theres a lot more on our reserve list than people think,” Nonis said. “The fact is were near the top of teams with first-round draft picks since 2008 on our reserve list. We have some decent young players coming that we think will help us long-term.” “The cupboard isnt bare. We need to do a lot of things to continue to add to it, and theres some changes we need to make to our team, but its not like we have very little coming at all.” Since Burke and Nonis took over, the plan has been to lean toward the youth movement in Toronto. Nonis said that management is pleased with the play of his teams young players, but admitted there are some downfalls to having such a green roster. “This is the second youngest team in the league, and I think thats a strength long-term, but its definitely hindered us the last five-six weeks because theyve shown at times they dont know how to get out of this. “There were some nights where itd be easy to say it was just bad luck but thats definitely not the case, we havent worked hard enough.” Nonis added that it may have been a mistake not adding a little more experience to this years lineup. But despite the disappointing finish to the season, Nonis said he and Burke have no plans of altering the course of building the team up with young players. “Were going to continue to try and add as many young assets as we can and not all those assets turn into NHL players but the more you have the better chance you have of a quality young core and thats how this team has to be built. There is no other way to do it.” . In the midst of the Canadiens Sunday night game against the New York islanders the mayor took to Twitter to chime in his two cents as the Habs tried to lock up two points. . Kyle Okposo had two goals in New Yorks fourth consecutive victory. The Islanders (18-22-7) also have won seven straight road games. The Islanders rallied past the Stars after trailing 2-0 after one period for the second time in a week. . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. Lawson suffered the injury late in Denvers win Sunday at Sacramento.Delray Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez was a first-round winner on Monday at the Delray Beach Open tennis event. The 32-year old Spaniard dropped the first set but rallied to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Sam Querrey on the hardcourts at Delray Beach Tennis Center. Lopez has gotten the better of Querrey in four of six lifetime meetings between the pair. In Mondays only other match, American 21-year-old wild card Jack Sock was humbled by French left-hander Adrian Mannarino in 6-4, 6-2 fashion. . This weeks top seeds in Florida are 2006 champion Tommy Haas and towering American John Isner. Two-time champion Ernests Gulbis of Latvia defeated Frances Edouard Roger- Vasselin in last years final. Gulbis, however, is not defending his title this week. ' ' '