ter the summer Ive had, I have a lot of confidence ...," said Raonic.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - In seven-plus seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Josh Gorges faced the Toronto Maple Leafs 36 times. This past summer, the hatred he built up for Montreals arch-rival over the years changed the course of his career.When the Canadiens tried to trade the veteran defenceman to Toronto at the draft, Gorges said no. The Leafs were on his list of teams he wouldnt go to, and he wouldnt remove them.After being dealt to the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres, Gorges stands by his decision not to go to the Leafs because his heart wasnt in it. Thats what he told new team president Brendan Shanahan.I just said, Im a heart-and-soul player. Its the only reason I can be good at this level is I have to play and commit with my heart, Gorges said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Wednesday after practice at First Niagara Centre. And after playing against them for that many years of being our No. 1 rival, I just didnt think it wouldve been fair to them. I wouldnt have been the same player that they wouldve expected me to be.Over time I wouldve got there. But I just didnt think I could commit my heart to playing the right way.A tough, defensive defenceman, Gorges was just what the Leafs were looking for. When the feeling wasnt mutual, Gorges said Shanahan understood completely.What he said to me was, Thats why were trying to make a trade for you is you have that character where you give yourself to one team, Gorges recalled. He even said to me, If you wouldve been a guy that said, Oh yeah, sure Ill go to Toronto, like that, then youre obviously not the player that I thought you were. The fact that you have that built in you is why we like you as a player.Toronto turned its attention to Roman Polak, getting the stay-at-home right-hander from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Carl Gunnarsson. And as Gorges continued to ponder the possibility of being a Leaf, the Habs traded him to Buffalo for a second-round pick in next years draft.Things have a way of working themselves out, Gorges said.What the 30-year-old knew for sure was he wasnt going back to Montreal. Being asked to waive his no-trade clause was enough of a signal of the Habs intentions to Gorges.Knowing that they wanted to get rid of you, its hard to go on and play for a team that doesnt want you anymore, he said. But I dont think that was ever going to be an option, from my understanding. I wasnt coming back.In his conversation with Shanahan and again this week, Gorges said he respected the Leafs organization and that it was no slight to the city of Toronto that he didnt want to play there.His reasoning will no doubt be debated for a while, and his first regular-season game back at Air Canada Centre with the Sabres on Oct. 28 could be something of a circus. But Gorges said hes happy in Buffalo, where hes joined by former Habs captain Brian Gionta.Having a guy that you know, been with for a number of years, you kind of start this chapter off together, Gorges said. Probably most importantly is our wives are great friends. ... The fact that our wives can come together and get used to the city and figure out where to go for shopping and grocery shopping and kids and meet everyone together, it makes things a lot more comfortable for us.Off the ice, theres a comfort level, Gionta said recently at the NHL player media tour in New York City. On the ice, Gorges and Gionta will be counted on by coach Ted Nolan to help lead a very young team.The attitude in training camp has been tremendous, Nolan said. When that happens, you usually look in the room and who the players are to lead that parade. Josh Gorges is one of those guys for sure.Pre-season is a time for boundless optimism, and Gorges is certainly part of that. After going to the Eastern Conference final with the Habs, hell more than likely miss out on the playoffs entirely this season with the Sabres.But Gorges isnt wired to think like that.The great thing about being here is the excitement level and the potential to be good, he said. The fact that no ones giving us a chance, thats an opportunity for us to come together as a group and thats what I like about this situation is we can go and surprise some people. Itll be fun.Notes a€” The Leafs reduced their training-camp roster to 41 players by sending 13 players to the AHLs Marlies. Goaltenders Christopher Gibson and Cal Heeter, defencemen Eric Knodel, Andrew MacWilliam, Brendan Mikkelson and Tom Nilsson and forwards David Broll, Connor Brown, Jamie Devane, Greg McKegg, Carson McMillan, Brad Ross and Brady Vail were assigned to minor-league camp. Four goalies, 12 defencemen and 25 forwards remain. ... Toronto continues its pre-season schedule Friday night at the Sabres.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Panthers Jerseys Sale .com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. Cheap Panthers Jerseys China . The Major League Soccer teams were scheduled to play on Saturday night, but their game was rescheduled after Stu Tudor was hit during a pregame storm. The 54-year-old lieutenant in the Columbus Fire Department is in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the Ohio State Medical Center. http://www.cheappanthersjerseyselite.com/ . The Reds will host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the opener of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the debut matchup will feature a pair of pitchers whose recent resumes have included a fair number of bases-clearing hits. Panthers Jerseys Outlet . Cavaliers shooting guard Craig Ehlo makes a solid play on the ball, but still Jordan hits the amazing shot. Black Panthers Jerseys Online . Austin does not believe the game-time temperature is going to be an advantage for either side heading into the Grey Cup. "We dont think about (the cold)," said Austin. "Im not even sure how you would determine an advantage.Wayne Mardle insists Gary Anderson will have to improve on his quarter-final performance if he is to reach a maiden World Grand Prix final Anderson was well below his best against Kim Huybrechts in Thursdays last eight showdown but found a way to win to advance to a last-four meeting with an in-form Raymond van BarneveldMichael van Gerwen meets Dave Chisnall in the other semi-final with Chizzy the only man of the final four yet to claim a major title. World Grand Prix Semi-Final Michael van Gerwen (1) v Dave Chisnall Gary Anderson (2) v Raymond van Barnveld Brilliant Barney marches on Report from quarter-final night in Dublin Barney is yet to drop a set in a run that has seen him beat Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis and Benito van de Pas and while Mardle says the five time world champion will not be the favourite, he says there needs to be a considerable improvement from Anderson.Theres a case for all of them, but Gary Anderson will have to improve on that, without a shadow of a doubt, Mardle told Sky Sports.Gary will be very relieved to get through because if Kim had played just two per cent better, it could have been a different story. Watch NOW TV Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The first set was as bad as Ive seen Gary playy, but as he said himself, he just couldnt reach tops.dddddddddddd When you get a part of your game that lets you down, it affects other parts.The best he played was the last two legs. Thats a positive - a positive win on a negative performance. But he shouldnt let that bother him. Neither Anderson or Van Barneveld have won the Grand Prix title and Anderson has won the last eight meetings between the pair but Barney has been rejuvenated as he chases a first major title since the 2014 Premier League title.Barneveld will not be favourite for that darts match but that doesnt mean he wont believe he can win it, Mardle added.When Barney is at it, hes a winner. He hasnt won anything since the Premier League two years ago, and hell have to do it the hard way.Hes already beat some real good competitors - Gary Anderson has to play better than that. Barney will play well, and if Gary plays poorly, hell be out. World Grand Prix - as it happened Recap of all the action from the World Grand Prix In a tournament that has seen six of the top eight seeds fall by the wayside early, the semi-final line-up in Dublin promises to be a high-class affair and you can see all the action on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.Michael van Gerwen is the one to beat without a shadow of a doubt, but Chizzy has to believe it, said Mardle.There are four potential winners here, there arent any that cant go on to win a major event.The only one who hasnt won one Chizzy. Is he capable? Of course he is. Just because he hasnt won one, doesnt mean he cant. Maybe it changes for him.You can follow all the action from Fridays semi-finals with our live blog and on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! 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