DIE ENTE » this season and its the second time this week. N

Cody Franson would like to have been with his teammates when they took to the ice for the first time this week, but instead the 26-year-old restricted free agent remains unsigned with training camp set to roll on. In a statement delivered exclusively to TSN.ca Thursday evening, Franson expressed optimism that a resolution would come to pass in the very near future. "I really like playing in Toronto,” he said. “I think we have a great team and we have some unfinished business to take care of. I learned a lot from the coaches last year and felt like my game took a step forward. I understand the cap situation this team faces and have been ready to sign a one-year deal for some time. I hope this gets worked out soon so I can get back on the ice with my teammates" Franson wants to remain in Toronto and the Leafs would like to keep him, believing in his promise as an eventual top-4 defender. But the two sides are entrenched in entirely different terms on a contract. Though he would not discuss actual figures for the negotiation, Franson is believed to be open to a one-year deal worth $3 million – cognizant of the cap coming down this year – a number that would seem to fall below his perceived value following a career year in 2013. The Leafs however, are not inclined to sign him to a one-year deal under any circumstance, seeing no benefit to such an outcome while faced with the prospect of an even more challenging negotiation next summer if Franson were to produce another strong year this season. Instead, the Leafs are believed to prefer two years at what they would contend is a fair number for both sides, thereby bringing the B.C. native to the gates of unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2015. If Franson were to reach expectations under such a scenario, its conceivable that the organization could extend him long-term after just a year. Such an offer though does not appear to interest Franson, who endured a similarly difficult negotiation last winter, acquiescing to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million on the eve of training camp. Franson had the best season of his four-year NHL career in the lockout-shortened 2013, finishing amongst the league leaders at his position with 29 points in 45 games, adding three goals and six points in the playoffs. But while he offered plenty of promise as a top-4 defender – his ice-time increasing from less than 14 minutes in January to upwards of 22 in April – the Leafs are not sure hes there yet and would like to see him continue to progress in such a direction before they pay him as such. As is the way with restricted free agency, leverage is in their corner. “I understand his position,” Leafs general manager Dave Nonis said at a press conference on Wednesday. “He doesnt feel that this is fair. We want him signed, Id like to have Cody at camp, but hes not here and we just have to move forward with the group we have.” Franson has and had limited options, one of which was arbitration, a direction he opted not to take, possibly out of concern that certain variables of the case (his minutes per game, for example) could skew the award. Another option is the seldom-used offer sheet; Carolina believed to be mulling such an avenue before ultimately signing Ron Hainsey to a one-year deal on Thursday afternoon. Beyond that, the player has little power beyond standing firm and remaining off the ice and out of camp, an approach P.K. Subban took without much success in Montreal last winter. There is of course danger to such a direction. Believing his offer is fair, Nonis could lose patience with the process and squeeze Franson further with a longer deal at an even lower number. With no control, other than to sit out or attempt to force a trade, Franson would be forced to absorb such a blow. Frustration is evident for both sides in this negotiation. Franson isnt inclined to remain off the ice and wants to stay in Toronto, but also wants the value he deems to be fair and is willing to hold tight to get it. The Leafs similarly want to keep Franson and believe in his potential, but wont go for one year and wont stray higher than what they would contend is a suitable amount at two year. Thus the impasse remains. Ottawa Senators Jerseys . Plata blasted a rising shot to the upper left corner for his team-leading seventh goal of the season. He got the kick after referee Allen Chapman ruled Chris Tierney fouled John Stertzer in the penalty area. Matt Duchene Jersey . The Blue Jackets play Thursday night at New Jersey in their first game after the NHLs Olympic hiatus. A native of Trencin, Slovakia, Gaborik has represented his country at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics but was unable to play in Sochi because of his injury. http://www.senatorssale.com/authentic-daniel-alfredsson-senators-jersey/ . The Detroit Tigers star had microfracture surgery Friday to repair the medial and lateral meniscus in his left knee. "I dont want to say it was a surprise," team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said. Custom Ottawa Senators Jerseys . The Bruins forward has been fined $5,000 by the National Hockey League for spearing Red Wings defenceman Danny DeKeyser in the groin. Jason Spezza Jersey .C. -- Martin Kaymer set a U.INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianas Roy Hibbert had the perfect knockout combination Friday night. On offence, he made all but two shots. On defence, he protected the rim. At the free-throw line, he couldnt miss and no matter what the Bucks tried to stop the former All-Star centre, nothing worked. Hibbert finished with season-highs of 24 points and eight blocks and added 10 rebounds to lead unbeaten Indiana past Milwaukee 104-77 -- the Pacers most lopsided rout in a 9-0 start. "We have expectations and we want to win," Hibbert said. "We want to play deep, deep into the playoffs. You gain confidence with your teammates when were all on the same page and we all have one goal. Some guys on this team before were just trying to get a paycheque and go home and then chilling on the beach and sip mojitos or something like that. Thats not us. " Hibbert was referring to the teams he played on when he first arrived in Indy. Theres no doubt that philosophy has changed. On Friday, the Pacers followed the same blue-collar script theyve used to win their first nine. Milwaukee had a season-low point total, finished well below its season average of 93.7 points, and shot just 34.1 per cent against the leagues No. 1 defence. Its the fourth time Indiana has held an opponent to 80 or fewer points this season and its the second time this week. Now, after becoming the first team in the league to start 9-0 since Dallas in 2002-03, Indiana has a chance to reach even more milestones. The defending Central Division champs head to Chicago on Saturday with a chance to become the 14th team in league history to go 10-0 and they can break the longest winning streak in the franchises NBA history. Indiana also won nine straight from Nov. 2-22 in 2002. Another win also would put them on the precipice of the longest winning streak in Pacers history (11), which stretches all the way back to 1972-73, when they were still in the ABA. About the only bad move coach Frank Vogel made Friday was pulling Hibbert early rather than allowing him to try and become the second Pacers player this week to post a triple-double. Hibbert, true to form, didnt care. Hed rather beat Chicago anyway for the second time in 10 days and at least lock up a tie in the season series against their fiercest division rival. "You know what? I look at the bigger picture. We have Chicago tomorrow, might as well just get a little bit a rest," Hibbert said. "A triple-double would have been great, but oone of these times, everythings going to line-up, the stars, moon, sun, everythings going to line up and Ill have one of those.dddddddddddd." So Hibbert focused on his job. While Indianas top scorer Paul George struggled to get open in the first half, Hibbert scorched the Bucks for 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in just 15 minutes. After making halftime adjustments, the Bucks still couldnt stop the 7-foot-2 centre, whom Vogel called the early front-runner for defensive player of the year. And this time, Hibbert was just as proficient on the offensive end. He knocked down 8 of 10 shots from the field, made all eight of his free throws and dominated the matchup with feisty Zaza Pachulia, who played with a sore right foot. "We threw what we had at him, but it didnt seem to affect him at all," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "You try to take something away and you give something else up. They played well. That teams playing really well." George finished with 22 points, 17 in the second half. Lance Stephenson, who had his first triple double Monday night, had 11 points and four rebounds during a game in which the Pacers fell behind twice in the first quarter, for just 64 seconds. Injury-riddled Milwaukee (2-6) has now dropped four straight. O.J. Mayo led the Bucks with 20 points, and his only teammates to reach double figures were Khris Middleton and Gary Neal, who each had 11. They just didnt have a chance against the leagues hottest team. Coming off of a three-day break, Indiana started sluggishly, then used an 11-2 run to put Milwaukee in a 21-14 hole. The Pacers never looked back. Indiana closed the first quarter on an 8-3 spurt to make it 31-21, extended the lead to 53-37 at the half and then pulled away in the third quarter when George accounted for six points in a 7-2 spurt and George and Hibbert accounted for all seven points in a 7-0 spurt to make it 68-53. Milwaukee never got closer than 11 again. "Every game could be the difference between home-court advantage and not having home-court advantage," Vogel said. "It doesnt matter. Were on a mission and were trying to put ourselves in best possible position come playoff time. " NOTES: Indiana has already beaten all four of its Central Division foes. ... Milwaukee played without Caron Butler, Carlos Delfino, Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders. ... The Bucks have lost five straight in Indy. 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