Time hasnt diminished Skip Princes affinity for Canadian football and the CFL.The former Montreal Alouettes executive confirmed Friday he recently contacted CFL board chairman Jim Lawson about the commissioners position but hasnt heard back. Prince said while hes busy as the principal of The Prince Companies — which provide consulting services in the sports and entertainment industries —he inquired about the CFLs top job at the urging of two business associates.I had two people from United States Hockey League teams ask me about it and suggest I consider it, Prince said from Austin, Tex. I was very flattered to get those calls and while Im busy and not yearning for the position ... its always been in the back of my mind that it would be wonderful to get back into that (CFL) again.I like the property a lot. Its football played well by great athletes in front of crowds that are very appreciative of the nature of the game ... I just see it as special, it really goes no further than that.CFL commissioner Mark Cohon is scheduled to step down Jan. 9. Lawson, who heads up the committee searching for Cohons replacement, will serve as interim commissioner until Cohons successor is named.Cohon, a 48-year-old Chicago native, succeeded Tom Wright as CFL commissioner in 2007 and signed a three-year contract extension in 2012. He announced in August he wouldnt seek another extension to remain on the job after his current deal ended in April 2015.The CFL hasnt revealed who its looking at to succeed Cohon. On Thursday, league spokesman Jamie Dykstra wouldnt confirm either Princes interest in the commissioners job or reports that Tom Anselmi, the former Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment boss, has been approached about the position.Prince, a 61-year-old native of Richmond, Va., served as Montreals president and chief executive officer from 2002-03 and also was on the leagues search committee that hired Wright to replace Michael Lysko, who was fired by the board of governors in 2002. Prince also served as an adviser to the CFL before starting his own consulting firm in 04.Ive remained a big fan of the league and am impressed at its stability and the many positive elements it has in place, Prince said. I sent a note to Jim Lawson saying Id be interested but Im neither offended nor wounded theres not been a response. That leads me to believe they have a roster of candidates already and thats fine.Ive never lost neither my affection nor love of the Canadian game and desire to see it played very well.Prince possesses a long and extensive sports resume.In August, he completed his tenure as the senior associate director of athletics at the University of Texas following a six-year stint as USHL president and commissioner. He continues to serve as an adviser with American hockeys top junior league.Prior to joining the Alouettes, Prince spent nine years as a vice-president with the NHL (1991-2000) and also served as a vice-president for the parent company of the L.A. Kings. He also helped develop and syndicate the Arena Football League in 1986, serving as its head of business and legal affairs before a stint as interim commissioner.Prince attended Yale, where he played football and basketball before graduating in 74. Hes also a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.Cohons successor will take over a league that has four years remaining on both its blockbuster television deal and collective bargaining agreement with the CFL Players Association. In March 2013, Cohon helped negotiate a five-year deal with TSN reportedly worth $43 million annually that was more than 2 1/2 times the previous agreement.But Cohon couldnt fix Torontos stadium issue — the Argonauts still havent found a new home with their Rogers Centre lease set to expire in 2017. The club reportedly remains in talks with MLSE regarding a lease for BMO Field but that deal is contingent on the completion of a $125-million renovation at the outdoor facility.MLSE is contributing $95 million toward the expansion with the city of Toronto agreeing to provide $10 million. But the anticipated funding of $10 million each from the provincial and federal governments hasnt materialized, potentially threatening completion of the project.The Ontario Liberals are expected to contribute $10 million but the federal government is reportedly balking. That could force the CFL to make up the $10-million shortfall in order to secure the Argos future.The Argos have long been plagued by attendance issues at the cavernous Rogers Centre, which can hold over 50,000 for football. Toronto averaged less than 18,000 fans per game there last year and many football pundits suggest a move to a more fan-friendly, outdoor facility will attract more spectators.But Prince said a new stadium would be just the first step towards recovery for the struggling franchise.You still have to promote to the Toronto public that following the Toronto Argonauts is all right, Prince said. Its ironic because one of the teams in my hockey league is based in Indianapolis, where they also have football and basketball teams like Toronto.The triple-A baseball team there doesnt do well because people in Indianapolis think of themselves as major league. The people running the triple-A baseball team are trying to figure out how to tell people its all right to go watch triple-A baseball and doesnt detract from the nature of their city, and I think the second issue in Toronto would be teaching the fan base the Argos are part of an extraordinary league of their own.Another step would be the Argos creating a positive fan experience at BMO Field and giving their supporters a reason to want to return.What youve got in Toronto, which is why I believe you need a five-year plan, is youve got to get people to come back, Prince said. Id expect over the last 10 years everybody has sampled it and you have a project where youve got to make it exciting. The venue helps but it doesnt end there.Thats why I like the CFL because the game is intrinsically entertaining. Ive never seen a boring CFL game, the rules mandate against it. Dana Barros Jersey .J. -- After getting permission from his 7-year-old daughter, New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has retired after an 11-year career that included two Super Bowl championships. Cheap Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys . Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Buddy Robinson scored 43 seconds apart in the second period to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Bulldogs in American Hockey League action Friday night at the Bell Centre. http://www.cheap76ersjerseys.com/?tag=ch...-iverson-jersey. - Defensive end-linebacker Mike Neal apparently is returning to the Packers. Shake Milton Jersey . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. Cheap NBA Jerseys . - Urijah (The California Kid) Faber finds himself in an unaccustomed position Saturday night at UFC 175 — on the preliminary card.PITTSBURGH – The Maple Leafs are surely thankful to snatch even a point from the all too powerful Penguins. While still being swept in the three-game season series on the third of three goals from Blake Comeau, the Leafs managed to dig out from under a 2-0 first period deficit and swipe a point on the eve of U.S. Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh. As such, Nazem Kadri, who led all Leaf forwards with nearly 19 minutes at even-strength, dubbed it a moral victory afterward. When youre down 2-0 on the road its not easy to come back, said Kadri, who had an assist and drew a penalty in defeat. We put our heads down and we were able to battle back. Comeau edged off Morgan Rielly to score the first of his three markers after only 26 seconds had elapsed in the first. It was the eighth time, disturbingly, in 22 games that the Leafs have surrendered a goal in the first five minutes of regulation. (Theyve won just three times all season when yielding the games first goal (3-8-3).) Head coach Randy Carlyle felt the start was further stunted by a terribly ineffective power-play, which came up empty in three chances overall and is now 1-for-23 in the last six games. Our power-play took momentum away from us, Carlyle said. I dont like to make excuses for it. Weve got to be better. Weve got to work harder. Weve got to execute to a higher level. Beaten soundly in the first two meetings with Pittsburgh this season – the even-strength Corsi was a combined 124-69 in favour of the Penguins – the Leafs rebounded Wednesday with a resilient middle period. They put three past Marc-Andre Fleury, including a pair in less than three minutes from Leo Komarov, and the second shorthanded goal in as many games for Tyler Bozak. A key penalty kill in the frame that followed – which included more than a minutes worth of 4-on-3 action – and some fine goaltending from Jonathan Bernier helped the Leafs hold on for overtime before Comeau notched the winner on a bomb past Bernier. Carlyle, notably, was pleased that his club managed to hold Pittsburgh to just 26 shots after yielding more than 40 in each of the first two meetings. Its the first time all season that the Leafs have held an opponent to 30 shots or less in three straight games – not so coincidentally falling in line with a recent goal of holding the opposition to 25 shots or less (more on that below). We played a gritty game, said Carlyle afterward. Five Points 1. Better Than Last Year? Simple numbers would suggest a step back for Nazem Kadri this season – he has only 10 points through 22 games – but a deeper look reveals mostly improvement for the Leafs 24-year-old centre, inconsistent though he has been. Nazem Kadris Production (entering Wednesdays game) 2014-15 2013-14 ES Points/Game 0.43 0.41 Shots/Game 2.33 1.90 Fenwick Relative 4.06 2.64 Faceoff Winning Pct 50.3 45.2 PP Points/Game 0 0.23 The only obvious point of regression is on the power-play. Kadri had 18 power-play points a year ago, tied for second-best on the team, but he entered Wednesdays game without even a single such point and was removed from the power-play entirely against the Penguins. You look at statistics at certain points, Carlyle said. Nazzie hadnt had a point on the power-play in 21 games. What would you do? Youd make the move then I could criticize you. Kadri was replaced by Joffrey Lupul, who returned from a 12-game absence, alongside Peter Holland and David Clarkson on the Leafs second unit. That unit certainly needed a change, but removing Kadri, among the teams more creative weapons and someone who produced reliably alongside Lupul and Mason Raymond last season, is questionable. Clarkson would seem to represent a more logical choice given his limited offensive capabilities; he also has just one power-play point all season, no longer the threat he once was in such duties for New Jersey. Kadri did add his 10th even-strength point in defeat. He eluded a check along the wall in the Penguins zone before finding Mike Santorelli and then Komarov for the Leafs first goal. Im just trying to be as productive as I can with the ice-time Im given, he said. Im going to go out there and give it a 100 per cent every shift I got and just leave it all out there. Whether thats scoring a goal, drawing a penalty, making a big hit, Im just trying to do whatever [I can]. 2. Replacing Polak Roman Polak averaged a team-high of nearly 18 even-strength minutes before he sprained his left knee against Detroit over the weekend. And now the Leafs will move forward without the 28-year-old for at least a month as he recovers from the injury.dddddddddddd How will they fill that void? Well try and spread the minutes out, said Carlyle before the game against Pittsburgh. We think that the two young players that we have in [Jake] Gardiner and [Morgan] Rielly will have to play more. Simple as that. Carlyle teamed the two together against the Penguins, even noting his comfort afterward in employing the pair against either the Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby lines. He was reluctant to thrust the recently recalled Korbinian Holzer into such duties. And thats the Leafs challenge in replacing Polak, filling the difficult minutes he absorbed through the first quarter of the season. Carlyle rightfully buried the 28-year-old in the defensive zone – his 25 per cent 5-on-5 offensive starts amongst the lowest in the league – and used him as a secondary force against tough competition, thereby freeing Dion Phaneuf from some of those minutes. He also used the former Blue a whole bunch on the penalty kill. At first glance it appears the Leafs will split his duties up; Cody Franson replaced Polak on the first unit of the penalty kill with Phaneuf while Gardiner and Rielly, as noted above, formed the second pair in his absence. All three pairings topped the 15-minute mark at even-strength in Pittsburgh. 3. Replacing Polak II As to Holzer – who returns to the NHL for the first time since a 22-game stint ended in Mar. 2013 – its another long-awaited opportunity to prove himself at the next level. I think I feel comfortable coming in, just more mature coming in, he said of his readiness for round two with the Leafs. Just like youve been around here, youve been in the league, youve played some games, you know kind of what it takes to play on an everyday basis. Its less of the unexpected I think. Carlyles edict for Holzer was simple. Be aggressive, said Carlyle before the game. He has a tendency of backing off and if you give time and space to people in the NHL theyre going to burn you. Though he and unlikely partner, Stephane Robidas, were buried some in the defensive zone at times on Wednesday, the 26-year-old managed to make a positive impression. He threw six hits and broke up a 2-on-1 in the second frame that sparked the first of two goals for Komarov. I thought he played a heck of a hockey game tonight for us, Carlyle said afterward. 4. Shorthanded Attack The Leafs are now tied for the league-lead in shorthanded goals – with the Kings – after Bozak swiped Kris Letang during a middle period Pittsburgh power-play. It was the second in as many games for Bozak and fifth already for Toronto this season. The 28-year-old has scored both his shorthanded goals this season by picking pucks from opposing defenders at the blue-line and then beating Jimmy Howard and Marc-Andre Fleury on breakaways. Just trying to read the play and try and just see what theyre doing before theyre doing it I guess, he said of his acumen in such situations. Obviously getting a little lucky being in the right spot at the right time. The Leafs had seven shorthanded goals all of last season, led by James van Riemsdyk with a pair. 5. 25 shots or less After yielding nine goals to Nashville last week the Leafs established a process goal of holding opponents to 25 shots or less. Why that number specifically? You start looking at the top teams and youre just looking at the average shots, what the good teams are doing, Peter Horachek, one of the teams assistant coaches, explained. And really its a goal to establish yourself and try to play at the level of the top defensive teams. Minnesota came into Wednesday as the top shot suppression team in the league, holding opponents to, you guessed it, 25 shots per game. Stats-Pack 10 – Special teams points for Tyler Bozak this season, including eight on the power-play. 13 – Even-strength points for Leo Komarov this season, second only to Phil Kessel on the Leafs. 17:50 – Ice-time for Korbinian Holzer in his return to the NHL. 8 – Number of times in 22 games that the Leafs have allowed a goal in the first five minutes of the first period. 18:42 – Even-strength ice-time for Nazem Kadri, leading all Leaf forwards. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3 Season: 18.5 per cent PK: 2-3 Season: 84.2 per cent Quote of the Night Nazzie hadnt had a point on the power-play in 21 games. What would you do? Youd make the move then I could criticize you. -Randy Carlyle, on why Nazem Kadri was removed from the power-play on Wednesday. Up Next The Leafs return home to host the Capitals on Saturday. Cheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '