Music: {allcanada} Maple Leafs' Robidas taking cautious approach

Thursday, September 18, 2014

{allcanada} Maple Leafs' Robidas taking cautious approach

The Godfather Part II: The Coppola Restoration

TORONTO -- Although he said his leg feels "great," Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Stephane Robidas will take a cautious approach through training camp with the goal of being ready to go Oct. 8, when the Maple Leafs open the season against the Montreal Canadiens at Air Canada Centre.

Robidas, 37, sustained a broken right leg while playing for the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. It was the same leg he had broken earlier in the season while playing for the Dallas Stars.

He signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1.

"That's kind of the frustrating part of it now, I feel like I can do a little bit more," Robidas said. "But I just want to be cautious and wait for a little bit."

Robidas said the plan is for him to participate in most of the practices and most of the drills early in training camp, but to avoid contact for now. He hopes to play in at least the final two preseason games so he is prepared to start the regular season on time.

"That's the goal," Robidas said. "Since I started the rehab this summer the plan was to play the first [regular-season] game. Especially when I signed with the Leafs and I saw that first game in Toronto against the Habs, it's something I looked for, for sure."

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark