Leafs Invite Former Bruin Jason Allison To Camp

Perhaps a footnote if happening in any other month, but with the dreadfully slow month of hockey news in August this stuck out. It appears that, according to the Toronto Globe & Mail that the Toronto Maple Leafs have invited former Bruins captain Jason Allison to their camp on a try-out basis.
If you reside on the West coast, you probably remember Jason Allison best from his tenure with the Kings, where he, Adam Deadmarsh and Ziggy Palffy created the "LAPD" line for the early 2000's Kings team. However, if you're from Boston you remember Allison as the consistent performer and buffer of captains between Ray Bourque and Joe Thornton.

Throughout his tenure with the B's, Allison was a consistent performer for a well, average Boston club. In his fully healthy seasons in the Hub, Allison put up 76 points or more and even in an injury-riddled season that held him to just 37 games, Allison continued to perform strongly and finished with 28 points.

Allison's best stat with Boston was undoubtedly his playoff numbers. The 6'3 center scored 19 points in 18 career playoff games in Boston.

As he left Boston and went on to Los Angeles, Allison continued to be a strong performer before a neck injury shortened his 2002-03 campaign and subsequently kept him off the ice in 2003-04. Allison's return to the NHL came in 2005-06 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was expected to provide an added veteran presence and size to the Toronto line-up.

Despite his 60 points in 66 games for Toronto, Leafs fans were not pleased with the seemingly lackadaisical effort Allison seemed to put out on the ice. In the midst of personal problems within his family, Allison left the game and hasn't returned since.

However, Leafs GM Brian Burke is willing to role on the dice and grant Allison an invitation to Leafs camp on a try-out basis. Does the 34-year old Allison still have the legs and skill to compete in the NHL? Can the Leafs pull off a Claude Lemieux to San Jose like move and add this veteran on a two-way contract?

Either way, it's a win-win for up and coming Toronto Maple Leafs.