Kadri signed as Leafs head into training camp

With Nazem Kadri under contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs head into training camp on Wednesday with just one player unsigned; restricted free agent Cody Franson.

Kadri`s 2-year, $5.8M deal leaves the Leafs with about $3M in cap room for this season.

The Leafs will head into camp Wednesday with a roster pretty much set, and before any preseason games are played this appears to be the lineup the Leafs will start the season with.

The top line will likely will see James van Reimdsyk with Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel.

Look for Nazem Kadri to centre a line with Joffrey Lupul and David Clarkson.

David Bolland could centre a line with Jay McClement and Nik Kulemin. That`s a unit that could be a very effective “shutdown” line for Toronto.

While a 4^th line could see Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr on the wings with Joe Colborne at centre.

Defensively, the pairings could end up being Carl Gunnarsson with Dion Phaneuf; Cody Franson (if he is signed) with Jake Gardiner while Mark Fraser could with John-Michael Liles, or Paul Ranger or perhaps Morgan Rielly, Toronto`s 1^st round pick in the 2012 NHL draft.

Reilly will get a long look at camp. The Leafs will play 8 preseason games and Reilly could play in as many as 5 of them.

There will certainly be an interesting battle in goal as James Reimer (who is a restricted free agent after this season) and Jonathan Bernier will compete to be number 1.

“If you win, you’re in,” said Coach Randy Carlyle. “It’s pretty simple.”

The additions of Bolland and Clarkson give the Leafs more grit and make them tougher to play against.

In Bolland, they get a 2-time Stanley Cup winner.

“He can provide us with a level of compete that matches his resume,” Carlyle said. “That’s what we are looking for.”

The addition of Bolland and Clarkson was in part brought on by the game 7 meltdown in Boston.

It was apparent that night Toronto didn’t have enough veteran players who could handle stressful situations. That shouldn’t be an issue this season.

They also have upgraded their goaltending – an issue again that haunted them that fateful night in Boston.

“We will take what we can from last year and hopefully learn from it and build from some of the things we put in place and try to push this group together,” said Carlyle.

This will be Carlyle’s first full training camp with the Maple Leafs. It will be fast paced, physical and demanding.

Buckle up.