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LONDON, Ont. - Petri Kontiola doesnt remember his last NHL game. Its been a long time since I played last time, he says. Long, indeed. Picked with the 196th overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004, Kontiola hadnt suited up in any NHL game of any kind in more than six years – Mar. 2nd, 2008. He had an assist that night – his 12th career game – in a 4-1 win over the Canucks. It could stand as the final point he ever registers as an NHL player. Or not. Now clocked in at 29 years of age, wiser and more mature, the Finnish forward is giving it one final shot to make it back to the league. Its probably his last chance to try and make it, Leo Komarov, his teammate both internationally and now here in Toronto, said. Wedged in the depths of a Blackhawks organization that was soon to pop Kontiola left North America for the Kontinental Hockey League after the 2008-09 season. He hadnt played a game with the NHL club that year - Chicago was led by an emerging Jonathan Toews – and toiled instead between AHL stops in Rockford and Iowa. It appeared his NHL dreams were over. He took his career to the steel town of Magnitogorsk for two seasons before landing in Chelyabinsk, just north of the Russian border with Kazakhstan. Kontiola played there for the next three campaigns, leading the team with 37 points in 53 games last season. But after a sneaky bronze-medal run with the Finnish Olympic team in February, his thoughts began to drift back to the league he had left in such disappointing fashion. I was just like a young kid at that time, he says. Now maybe five years later Im more ready. Gambling that that was indeed the case, Kontiola put up more than half a million of his own money to get out of his contract with Chelyabinsk. Toronto signed him for one year at $1.5 million, offering him one last chance to re-imagine his NHL dream. And so hes back now giving it another go. I think Im at that age that its either now or never, Kontiola said of the decision to return. Thats why. Hell be in tough to make the team. Given the glut of forwards at training camp theres not a whole lot of room for error. Kontiola is the only waiver-exempt forward competing for an NHL job in Toronto, but a trip to the Marlies is unlikely if he fails to crack the Leafs lineup. Hes shown that when he plays with good players he can find people the puck, said head coach, Randy Carlyle. The question will be the pace of the game; can he perform at a higher level? Exhibition games are going to be harder than the scrimmages that we were participating in. Kontiola, who can play both wing and centre, doesnt appear the fleetest of foot and that, it appears, will be the biggest question of him in the days ahead. Can he continue to create offensively at NHL speeds? Carlyle wouldnt say that Kontiola needed to win a job in an offensive capacity, but with six players essentially competing for four spots on the second and third lines he will have to make some kind of offensive impression during the exhibition schedule. I think he needs to be an NHL quality player, Carlyle said, noting a high hockey IQ. Roommates at the Sochi Olympics and teammates through a number of World Championships, including Belarus in 2014, Komarov invited Kontiola to live with him upon his arrival to the city a couple weeks back. He had similar help from the former Leafs tag-team of Mikhail Grabovski and Nik Kulemin when he first landed here in 2013. Im showing him the city and how to drive to the MCC and stuff like that, Komarov said with a smirk. A Leaf draft pick in 2006, Komarov made a similar leap to North America in the lockout-shortened campaign, but unlike Kontiola had never played in the NHL at any point. He excelled in 42 games and after a brief return to Moscow Dynamo last season, returned to the Leafs. Hes intent on making sure his countryman undergoes a quick adjustment, also hopeful of having a familiar face around. He likes to get the puck and make plays, Komarov said, opposing Kontiola in the KHL last season. I hope hes gonna make the team and have a good season. Kontiola admitted to a few nerves ahead of his exhibition debut from London on Monday. Long-legged with an almost choppy stride, he teamed mostly with Carter Ashton and Tyler Biggs, killed a few penalties, set up on the power-play, but managed little offensively. His chase for the NHL though is underway. Last time I was here it didnt go that well, he said. I wanted to try it again. Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . TSN platforms will broadcast 75+ live games per season – tripling the networks current slate of MLB games. With the new deal TSN retains rights to ESPNs SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and, for the first time, acquires rights to ESPNs MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and WEDNESDAY NIGHT BASEBALL. Dalton Pompey Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. http://www.officialbluejaysgearshop.com/Blue-Jays-Roberto-Osuna-Kids-Jersey/ . James scored 25 points against his former team, leading the energized Heat to a 114-107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Dwyane Wade added 24 points and Chris Bosh had 22 for the Heat, idle since a 90-84 loss Tuesday at Indiana. Brett Anderson Jersey . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Justin Smoak Jersey . JOHNS, N.VANCOUVER – TSN announced today that the network is further extending its industry-leading brand with the launch of TSN Radio in Vancouver – making TSN Radio available in six Canadian markets. With a continued focus on local sports and programming, TEAM Radio 1040 and 1410 will be rebranded to TSN Radio 1040 and 1410 beginning Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 a.m. PT. TSN also announced today that Don Taylor joins the TSN Radio family on a full-time basis (see below for more details). TSN 1040 and 1410 join TSNs family of local radio stations in Toronto (TSN 1050), Montreal (TSN 690), Winnipeg (TSN 1290), Ottawa (TSN 1200), and Edmonton (TSN 1260). This announcement comes on the heels of TSNs expansion to five national feeds – TSN1, TSN2, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 – that debuted across Canada on Monday. “We are thrilled to be officially joining the TSN Radio roster,” said James Stuart, Regional Vice-President, Radio and Local Television, B.C, Bell Media. “Vancouver sports fans have been turning to our stations for many years. With the strengthh of the TSN brand, we will continue to serve our loyal listeners with the sports coverage they know and trust.dddddddddddd” TSN Radio in Vancouver will continue to be the exclusive home of every game from the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Vancouver Giants, and Seattle Seahawks. The stations also deliver coverage of the Vancouver Canadians and Vancouver Stealth, as well as live coverage of TSNs slate of major sporting events, including the Grey Cup, IIHF World Junior Championship, FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015, golf and tennis majors, and more. TSNs all-star team of Insiders, experts and analysts will be featured regularly on both stations. Fans can listen to the stations live on AM 1040 and AM 1410 in the greater Vancouver area and via the TSN GO app. Don Taylor Synonymous with sports in Vancouver, Don Taylor has covered the citys sports scene for nearly 20 years. Taylor will continue hosting TSN 1040s afternoon drive show, B-MAC & TAYLOR, weekdays from 2-6 p.m. PT alongside Barry MacDonald. Taylor will also contribute to TSN Radio stations across the country. ' ' '