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TORONTO – He was signing the contract to play in Germany the next day. Two solid, if unspectacular, seasons in Portland had yielded nothing for stability. He was 24 and out of options. It was only then that fate intervened. Good buddy and then-American League colleague Marco Rosa stopped by to survey the scene.  "I was like Yeah Im going to go to Germany," recalled the 6-foot-1, 200 pound defender. "He was like You cant do it. And I was like What do you mean, Im signing tomorrow! And he was like If you think you even have a 1-percent chance of playing in the NHL you cant go to Europe now. It just made sense and I was like Alright Im not going." 27-year-old Marlies defenceman Mike Kostka currently owns the hottest, rising stock in Toronto. Trailing only Justin Schultz, the Oilers top defensive prospect, in scoring among AHL defenders, Kostka has piled up 28 points in 29 games and emerged as a potential cog in the Maple Leafs wheel down the road.  "He has been impressive," Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke said via e-mail. "High hockey IQ, great patience with the puck, can really thread passes on the power play." Undrafted after four years at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst – where he served as captain – Kostka has, like many in the American League, never enjoyed the status and security of a top draft pick. Upon his exit from school with the Minutemen, he had exactly one professional option, signing a two-year, entry-level deal with the Buffalo Sabres. "No options make it easy," he said chuckling.  The chip on his shoulder has only grown since. Remaining in North America during that fateful summer in 2010, Kostka spurned the German team interested in his services, choosing to stay as close as possible to the important eyes of the NHL and their affiliates. Weeks passed that August and still he had no takers on this side of the ocean. Finally, Rochester stepped forward with a one-year American League offer worth the minimum. "I had to take it, I had nothing else," he remembered. "And then that was where I was like Okay, enoughs enough. Im not going to put myself in this position again. I was sick and tired of not having options and people not believing in me. It was a bit of a shot. I thought I deserved better, but it was a pretty good lesson to learn that that didnt even matter." Kostka exploded for 16 goals and 54 points that year with the Americans, this after posting 57 points combined in two seasons with the Pirates in Portland. He landed with the Florida Panthers organization the following summer in 2011, one of the final cuts for the NHL squad that fall. Assigned to San Antonio, Kostka was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning after just 18 games last season, landing with the Norfolk Admirals, whom he helped to a Calder Cup with an AHL-leading 12 points (among defenders) in the postseason. On the Leafs radar since his days in Rochester two years back – cemented by his strong performance in the Final against Toronto, a four-game loss for the Marlies – Kostka, an Etobicoke native, signed with his hometown team on a one-year deal this past summer.  A poised, intelligent decision-maker on the back-end, his game is little flash and mostly substance, a do-it-all type for the Marlies who has steadied the top pairing, killed penalties, run the powerplay, piled up points (11 in the last nine games) and played in every game this season.  "Hes not a flashy guy," said Gord Dineen, the Marlies assistant coach, charged with spearheading the defence, "but hes just effective the way he gets things done, the way he moves the puck, the way he shoots the puck, the different ways that he garners offence." Dineen knew before the year began that Kostka had an intuitive knack for the game. His brother Kevin – now the Florida Panthers head coach – told him as much after coaching Kostka in Portland, boasting of the defenders high hockey I.Q. "The way Kevin described him is right on," recalled Dineen of the conversation with his younger brother. "The different view of the game that he holds is sort of what Kevin described to me. Im seeing it in details, maybe more on the defensive side of it than the offensive side." Generally expecting the offensive production, Dineen has been most impressed by Kostkas anticipation in the defensive zone, his "puck sense" or ability to read how a play might develop. "Hes not the most physical guy, but he makes people go through him," noted Dineen. That all-around ability and intelligence is driving Kostkas stock higher and higher within the Leafs organization. If an NHL season is to be salvaged, his name will figure strongly in the conversation for one of the final spots on the Leafs defence – also include Paul Ranger, Korbinian Holzer and even Mark Fraser in that mix among Marlies – versatility and minimal cost ($600,000) surely working in his favour. "When he goes to the NHL, yeah, hes going to have to make adjustments," said Dineen, "but I think hes smart enough to make those adjustments, just maybe do things a little bit quicker sometimes with the puck." The lockout was admittedly "deflating originally" for a player looking toward the next level, but Kostka notes that "even if it comes back that doesnt mean much anyway; its all about making sure Im taking care of my business here and doing everything I can to make sure Im opening as many eyes as possible and hopefully make a good imprint on the organization". While the NHL is trending toward youth with ready-made stars in a cap-conscious world, Kostka could just prove himself a late-bloomer, his contributions climbing upward in each of the past three seasons. Aside from the standard team-related missives, the affable and engaging Kostka says hes focused on "rounding out my game so that I cant have a team go were not calling you up because of X or Y", more or less not giving any team the chance to say no.  "For me its always been a matter of proving people wrong and basically having the mindset of not giving anyone an opportunity to not give me a chance," said Kostka. "I havent been given my opportunity at the next level yet and Im going to do everything in my power to make sure that I do." NFL Jerseys China . Anderson, also co-chairman of the competition committee that suggests rules changes to the owners, said a change could come this year. The NFL traditionally resists changing rules during a season. "We will certainly discuss the rule with the competition committee members, as we do all situations involving unique and unusual circumstances, and determine if we feel a change should be recommended to ownership," Anderson said in a statement. NFL Jerseys From China . Ruben Niebla was named an interim replacement Thursday before Cleveland opened a four-game home series against Boston. Cleveland also put designated hitter Travis Hafner on the disabled list with a sore lower back and recalled infielder Jason Donald from Triple-A Columbus. http://bloodcopy.org/wholesale.html . Third baseman Ernest Vasquez and right-hander James Walczak each tested positive for an amphetamine and received 50-game penalties. OSLO, Norway -- Ashley Young gave Roy Hodgson a winning start as England coach on Saturday, clinching a 1-0 victory over Norway in the teams first European Championship warmup match. Young combined with Andy Carroll after nine minutes, scoring in his fourth consecutive international to provide Hodgson with a potential striking partnership for the Euro 2012 opener against France on June 11 when Wayne Rooney is suspended. "I think he and Carroll have proved they can do that job," Hodgson told British broadcaster ITV. "Both of them were really very good." But two weeks after taking permanent charge of an England side rocked by Fabio Capellos resignation in February, Hodgson had his first setback. Gareth Barry, who replaced captain Steven Gerrard at halftime, limped off in the 73rd with a groin injury and the midfielder will undergo scans before the UEFA squad deadline on Tuesday. "If its serious that will give me something to think about as we dont have much time left," Hodgson said. Englands victory in Norway was its first since coming here ahead of winning the 1966 World Cup on home soil. "It was a marvelous start to my career as the national team coach because its not often Norway lose at home and its a long while since we have won here," Hodgson said. "I dont think you lay foundations in three days ... I hope any foundations we can lay will be in the coming weeks and months." Less than half the team that is likely to start Englands first Euro 2012 match against France on June 11 made the starting lineup in Oslo. Goalkeeper Joe Hart stayed on the bench and four Chelsea players were given an extended break after their Champions League final win a week ago. Carroll was handed his first international start in 14 months, earning just his fourth cap. And the much-maligned forward came close to a fourth-minute oppener, latching onto a cross from Liverpool teammate Stewart Downing, but heading wide.dddddddddddd. But it was Young, supporting Carroll up front, who ensured Hodgsons reign started with an early goal. Carroll flicked the ball from inside the England half to Young, who raced forward and spun around Brede Hangeland before striking into the net. "Ive just got to keep putting on a performance and well see what happens when it comes to the Euros," said Young. "I think it went well with Andy Carroll. Weve worked on the partnership during training and there were a few good combinations between us." After Youngs opener, England goalkeeper Rob Green parried a rising shot from Markus Henriksen which deflected off Leighton Baines, while an inswinging corner from Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen struck the near post. Captain Steven Gerrard was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a sliding studs-up challenge on Tom Hogli in the 39th that led to the Norway defender going off injured. Norway could have levelled when John Arne Riise easily skipped past substitute Theo Walcott on the left flank, but from a tight angle he sent the ball into the side netting. "At times we should have been a bit more positive," Hodgson said. "Theres an element of keeping the ball sometimes when we maybe could have played it forward a bit earlier and get those two players in. "Weve started talking about it and sowing a few seeds." There were debuts for winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who replaced Young in the 72nd, and defender Martin , who came on for Phil Jones in the 88th, as England comfortably held on for the win. Englands final match before Euro 2012 is at Wembley Stadium next Saturday against Belgium. "Weve only been together with the new manager for a few days but I think its gone OK so far," Young said. ' ' '