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TORONTO — Toronto FC finally found a home for Richard Eckersley on Monday, sending the English fullback to the New York Red Bulls for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Burch Smith Jersey . The move, long expected, was money-related. The MLS Players Union listed Eckersleys salary last season at US$310,000, second-highest among the numbers made public for Toronto players. His number for 2014 was even higher, thanks to a contract renegotiation last year to help ease the 2013 salary cap burden. Toronto declined comment when asked if the club was absorbing any of that salary. „As per team and league policy, we cant disclose terms of the deal,“ a Toronto spokesman said. Which sounds like a yes. Toronto was more interested in ridding itself of Eckersleys wages than getting something in return, which other clubs knew. While a fourth-round draft choice is a modest prize — there are only four rounds in the SuperDraft — Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko can add it to the draft choices obtained for the rights to goalie Stefan Frei and midfielder Bobby Convey, two other players who did not figure in TFCs future. Eckersley, 24, made 92 appearances for Toronto over three seasons after joining the club on loan from English side Burnley FC in April 2011. The loan became a permanent deal in January 2012. Eckersley established himself as a starter at right fullback, filling in at centre back when needed. Signed to a rich contract by a previous regime, he found himself on the outs towards the end of last season because of his salary cap hit. The red-haired Brit was a fan favourite for his marauding runs and combative style. But manager Ryan Nelsen used Mark Bloom for the last six games of the season, electing to keep Eckersley on the sidelines with his future on the club uncertain. The team recently signed veteran English fullback Bradley Orr on loan from Blackburn Rovers. „Weve been really honest with Richard,“ Nelsen said prior to flying to Florida for training camp Sunday. „Hes given great service to the club. Hes done really well and its not his fault that a contract was given that was probably not appropriate.“ NOTES — The Vancouver Whitecaps filled a void at right back by acquiring Steven Beitashour from the San Jose Earthquakes for allocation money. Born in California to Iranian parents, Beitashour holds dual American-Iranian citizenship and has represented Iran. The Whitecaps also announced the signing of midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, acquired in Stage 2 of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft … Former Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu has joined the Philadelphia Union on a one-year loan from Stoke City of the English Premier League. Edu, who was MLS rookie of the year in 2007 with Toronto, returns to MLS in a bid to get more playing time in advance of the World Cup. The American joins the Union via the leagues allocation process, which previously was not valuable as a way to sign designated players. The league has changed that rule for 2014, saying it reviews roster rules on an annual basis „and reserves the right to modify them prior to each season.“ Kean Wong Jersey . – For a general manager who preaches building through the draft, Reggie McKenzie has struggled to find impact players his first two years in Oakland. Darrell Evans Jersey . Miralem Pjanic dribbled through the defence to score an extraordinary goal in the 43rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico and Gervinho added another from a rebound in the 65th for Romas ninth straight victory — ending Milans five-match winning streak.Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) – Tyler Johnson scored twice to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Brett Connolly and J.T. Brown also scored, while Ben Bishop made 20 saves for the Lightning, who have won six of their last seven. Dale Weise and Max Pacioretty scored for the Canadiens, who had a six-game winning streak broken. Carey Price allowed all four goals on 36 shots in the loss. The Canadiens drew first blood in this game on Weises fifth goal of the season at 15:07 of the first period, but the Lightning scored four times in the second to take control of the contest. Tampas first goal came at 3:17 as Jonathan Drouins wrister on the fly from the right circle was stopped, but Brown was in front to backhand home the rebound. Skating on the power play, the Lightning made it a 2-1 game as Johnson and Nikita Kucherov played catch with the puck before Johnson whacked it in for his 16th of the season at 10:42. A turnover in the neutral zone saw Taampa go the other way, with Cedric Paquette passing it from the right wing to the slot for Valtteri Filppula, who had his back to the net and left a drop pass where Connolly blasted it home with 1:44 left. Tom Haller Jersey. Just over a minute later on the power play, Johnson banged in a rebound in front of the net for his second of the game and a 4-1 lead. Montreal got one back at 5:01 of the third when Pacioretty skated in on a short break and snapped a wrister that hit Bishops glove on its way into the net. That was as close as it got, though, as the Canadiens gave up a pair of man advantages, including one in the final minute, that hindered their chance at a comeback. Game Notes Tampa Bay hosts Buffalo on Friday … Montreal hosts Pittsburgh on Saturday … Tampa was 2-for-6 on the power play while Montreal went 0-for-3 … Kucherov and Ondrej Palat each had two assists for Tampa … Montreal assigned defenseman Bryan Allen to Hamilton of the AHL on Tuesday. ‚ ‚ ‚