Bewerbungen » after back-to-back years of underachievement. The Co

The Ottawa Senators followed up an impressive showing 2012-2013 -- a season in which they finished with their highest points percentage since 2008 -- with something of a collapse in 2013-2014, ultimately missing the playoffs by five points, but it wasnt really that close for most of the season. Off-Season Game Plan examines a team facing some challenging times as GM Bryan Murray tries to put together a roster for next season. Perhaps the first challenge facing Murray is that its expected he will be moving out Jason Spezza, a premier point producer who is about to enter the final year of his contract. Its not as if the Senators shouldnt consider moving a player who, while immensely talented, also turns 31 this summer, but the return for such a deal is going to be crucial to determining just how soon the Senators are going to be competitive. Maybe they wont miss a beat; theyll find some good value on the free agent market and prospects will step into bigger roles, but no team can operate on the assumption that everything will be just fine after subtracting a point-per-game centre. The underlying concern for Murray, while building a roster, and the Senators franchise in general is that there have been increasing questions about owner Eugene Melnyks finances. Questions started when Daniel Alfredsson departed last summer and in interviews following the season, Melnyk preached a prudent fiscal approach. If this summer sees Spezza go, and unrestricted free agents Ales Hemsky and Milan Michalek also head out the door, that would leave the Sens with three over-30 players -- D Chris Phillips, RW Chris Neil and G Craig Anderson. Otherwise, the roster would largely be comprised of players either in or approaching their peak years, which could make for a relatively quick rebuilding effort, though that may be dependent on whether the budget allows the Senators to keep other veteran talent. Following the 2014-2015 season, RW Bobby Ryan, D Marc Methot and goaltender Anderson are all heading towards unrestricted free agency. If the Senators arent contending next season, and those three are still approaching UFA status, will there be an inclination to sign them to long-term deals or will they be trade chips at next years trade deadline? These are the types of questions that hover over any team in the NHL as they make roster decisions, but the decisions have less room for error on teams that are operating on an internal budget and that appears to be the world in which the Senators are now operating. The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- Corsi, adjusted for zone starts, quality of competition and quality of teammates, hits, blocked shots, penalty differential and faceoffs. Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be around 70, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013-2014 regular season ratings at 87.12. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com. CF% = Corsi percentage (ie. percentage of 5-on-5 shot attempts), via www.extraskater.com. GM/COACHBryan Murray/Paul MacLean Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Jason Spezza 75.70 75 23 43 66 52.3% $7.0M Kyle Turris 73.77 82 26 32 58 52.8% $3.5M Clarke MacArthur 73.22 79 24 31 55 54.1% $3.25M Bobby Ryan 72.78 70 23 25 48 51.1% $5.1M Mika Zibanejad 67.53 69 16 17 33 53.8% $894K Colin Greening 60.78 76 6 11 17 50.9% $2.65M Chris Neil 60.13 76 8 6 14 50.7% $1.9M Erik Condra 59.79 76 6 10 16 53.7% $1.25M Zack Smith 57.37 82 13 9 22 50.2% $1.888M Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Ales Hemsky 67.84 75 13 30 43 49.6% UFA $5.5M Milan Michalek 66.03 82 17 22 39 51.9% UFA $4.333M Matt Kassian 53.73 33 1 1 2 47.3% UFA $575K Since 2005-2006 five players -- Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Joe Thornton and Pavel Datsyuk -- have scored more than Jason Spezzas 1.06 points per game (minimum 300 games played), so its not surprising that he will be in demand on the trade market. He turns 31 this summer and will be going into the final year of his current contract, but its just not easy to acquire a centre with Spezzas scoring pedigree. But, as a trade chip, hes valuable and if the Senators are trying to save money, getting out from under that $7-million while receiving young talent in return, then thats going to change the Senators window to win. One reason that the Senators can afford to shop Spezza is that Kyle Turris took a big step forward last season, doubling his previous career-best, scoring 58 points and he did it while generating positive possession numbers and playing hard minutes. Turris also had a career-best on-ice shooting percentage, which is likely to regress, but the 24-year-old has established that he can play in all situations and, with Spezza likely moving on, Turris will have to carry a heavy load. Playing a career-high 17:38 per game, Clarke MacArthur scored a career-high 24 goals and, as usual, delivered strong possession stats while skating on Turris wing. A three-time 20-goal scorer, MacArthur is consistently an above-average finisher (in terms of shooting percentage). Bobby Ryan was the Senators marquee acquisition last summer and while his production was okay, and he was part of a strong line with Turris and MacArthur, he did so while battling a sports hernia injury for much of the year. A four-time 30-goal scorer who just turned 27, Ryan is a rare talent and one that could be a cornerstone piece for the Sens going forward, but hes also heading into the final year of his contract, which leaves open the possibility that he could be moved out. At the very least, expect teams to inquire about Ryans availability until a decision is made on a new contract. Absurdly demoted to the AHL at the start of last season, as though he wasnt good enough to stay with the NHL team, Mika Zibanejad was quickly recalled and played well. Hes not yet entrusted with difficult minutes, but generates strong possession stats, so that could be the next step for a 21-year-old that plays both ends of the rink and offers a size/speed combination that is difficult to contain. A big-bodied forward whose production was inflated by playing with Jason Spezza a couple of years ago, Colin Greening hasnt scored so much since and has a contract extension kicking in next season that doesnt quite fit with a depth forward. If he can handle a regular spot in the top nine, that would be fine, but theres some risk that he wont be at that level for the next three years. Far and away the leader among active players in penalty minutes, Chris Neil saw his ice time drop by a couple minutes from the 2012-2013 season, yet hes still taking up too much ice time given his relative lack of production. Hes turning 35 this summer, so its not likely to get better either. A puck possession beast who cant finish a lick, Erik Condra is reliable and safe, but offers very little upside due to a lack of offensive production. While not charged with the toughest assignments, Condra still provides strong defensive work. Zack Smith is a gritty checking centre, who can chip in offensively, but he gets a lot of ice time for relatively minimal production. Smith takes some tough checking assignments, which undoubtedly increases his usage but if, for example, Zibanejad emerges in a bigger role, that might knock Smiths ice time down by a few minutes and that wouldnt be the worst scenario for this team. This summer could provide some serious change in Ottawa. If Spezza is traded, and Milan Michalek and Ales Hemsky leave via free agency, that would remove three of their top scoring options. There will be prospects battling for some of those openings and the return on a Spezza trade would have to include some young talent, but its safe to say that the Senators forward group is going to look significantly different next year. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Erik Karlsson 84.47 82 20 54 74 54.8% $6.5M Patrick Wiercioch 67.72 53 4 19 23 53.1% $2.0M Marc Methot 66.22 75 6 17 23 52.3% $3.0M Jared Cowen 63.42 68 6 9 15 50.9% $3.1M Chris Phillips 62.59 70 1 14 15 51.7% $2.5M Cody Ceci 61.98 49 3 6 9 51.0% $894K Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Joe Corvo 69.07 25 3 7 10 52.1% UFA $900K Eric Gryba 62.61 57 2 9 11 50.9% RFA $563K One of the games most electrifying players, Erik Karlsson generates offence like no other blueliner and, at a $6.5-million cap hit, is a relative bargain through 2019. He is criticized for not being a lockdown defender, in addition to being a brilliant skater and puckhandler, but Karlsson keeps the puck in the opponents end so consistently, thats it is hard to get too worked up about what hes not doing. Patrick Wiercioch entered last season with expectations that he might take over some of the minutes that left town with veteran Sergei Gonchar, and Wiercioch did play more early in the year, putting up 10 points in his first 20 games, but couldnt hold a spot in the lineup through the middle portion of the season. He played relatively soft minutes, but was effective in those minutes, so its not unreasonable to think that the 23-year-old will be able to handle more responsibility next year. Marc Methot spent most of the year paired with Karlsson, providing a defensive anchor to Karlssons freewheeling ways. He finished with a career-high 23 points last season, including the first three power play points of his career, but Methot isnt going to make waves with his puck skills. Hes big, strong and has logged nearly 22 minutes a night in two seasons for the Senators, often against quality opposition. He is also entering the final year of his contract. A 23-year-old who already has a spotty history of injuries, Jared Cowen struggled in 2013-2014, but the Senators are operating with expectations that he can be better in the future, as he gets further removed from hip surgery. That may be the case, but it would be risky to go into next season expecting Cowen to handle a top-four role if it turns out that time itself doesnt make him better. After making his presence felt as a rookie in 2012-2013, Eric Grybas role was reduced last season. He dressed in 57 games and logged nearly three minutes less per game than the year before. He doesnt do anything special, particularly offensively, but he can do a reasonable job in a depth defensive role. The first overall pick in 1996, Chris Phillips is still grinding for the Senators, and while hes still utilized in a defensive role, hes obviously declined from the days in which he was charged with shutting down the oppositions best lines on a nightly basis. He has a reasonable enough contract for the next couple seasons. Pressed into action sooner than expected as a first-year pro, Cody Ceci started well, but went through some tough times as well; nothing unusual for a 20-year-old rookie defenceman. He was sheltered in his usage, but has good size and the 15th pick in the 2012 draft has offensive upside that he didnt have a chance to display as a rookie. This unit might be okay if Cowen is as good as the Senators expect, but that is the risk going forward. If Cowen isnt up to handling top-four minutes, then thats a hole that is a situation that will need to be addressed. Its possible help could come via a Spezza trade, but the Senators could also look for value on the free agent market. Returning Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Craig Anderson 72.34 53 25 16 8 3.00 .911 $3.188M Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Robin Lehner 66.98 36 12 15 6 3.06 .913 RFA $870K After leading the league in goals against average and save percentage in 2012-2013, Craig Anderson found out how regression works, especially as it applies to goalies. Andersons .941 save percentage crashed to .911 last season which isnt terrible, but is below average. Anderson also had to finish strong to get there. His struggles in October and November opened up the possibility that Robin Lehner could take over the starting job. 22-year-old Lehner had a .938 save percentage through the first couple months of the season, picking up where he left off the year before, and seemed like a capable replacement for a struggling Anderson, but Lehner couldnt handle it, posting an .891 save percentage in 21 games from December through March. The Senators can bring this tandem back next season, hoping that they bounce back, and that Lehner will be better positioned to take over from Anderson, who will be a free agent next summer. Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Curtis Lazar C Edmonton (WHL) 41-35-76, +41, 58 GP Mark Stone RW Binghamton (AHL) 15-26-41, +5, 37 GP Matt Puempel LW Binghamton (AHL) 30-18-48, -11, 74 GP Jean-Gabriel Pageau C Binghamton (AHL) 20-24-44, +15, 46 GP Mikael Wikstrand D Frolunda (SHL) 4-7-11, +4, 19 GP Mike Hoffman LW Binghamton (AHL) 30-37-67, +11, 51 GP Stephane Da Costa C Binghamton (AHL) 18-40-58, +19, 56 GP Ryan Dzingel C Ohio State (Big 10) 22-24-46, +17, 37 GP Mark Borowiecki D Binghamton (AHL) 2-6-8, +14, 50 GP GP Shane Prince LW Binghamton (AHL) 21-27-48, +23, 69 GP Chris Driedger G Calgary (WHL) 2.64 GAA, .918 SV%, 50 GP Fredrik Claesson D Binghamton (AHL) 3-26-29, +37, 75 GP Drafted 17th overall last summer, Curtis Lazar isnt considered a gifted offensive player, even though hes scored 79 goals in 130 WHL games over the past two seasons. He is considered a gamer, though, who continues to get better and that makes him a safe prospect who might be able to challenge for a spot as soon as next year. A sixth-round pick in 2010, Mark Stone has been knocking on the door for an NHL job and, after a productive showing in the AHL last season, he also picked up eight points and had strong possession stats, in 19 games with Ottawa. Hes ready for a full-time chance next season. There were seven 30-goal scorers in the AHL in 2013-2014 and only one was younger than Matt Puempel, the 24th pick in 2011, who has done decidedly more finishing than playmaking the past couple seasons. Jean-Gabriel Pageau had some late-season and playoff success with Ottawa in 2013, but managed two goals and no assists in 28 games last season, resulting in more AHL time. To his credit, Pageaus AHL scoring rate improved dramatically, which is promising, but hell be in a battle for a roster spot again next year. A mobile defenceman picked in the seventh round in 2011, Mikael Wikstrand may be a few years away, but hes already been productive in limited time in the Swedish Hockey League. A couple of years down the road, could be a gem. Could be. A late-bloomer who laid the AHL to waste last season, 24-year-old Mike Hoffman, played 25 games in Ottawa, contributing six points (3 G, 3 A) and didnt look out of place. Could be interesting if the speedster can carry some of that AHL production to the next level. Stephane Da Costa has been up and down from the AHL over the past couple seasons, but may have finally hit his stride last year, scoring better than a point-per-game in the AHL as well as putting up strong possession stats in a dozen games with Ottawa. Will it be enough to land a spot next season? Drafted in the seventh round in 2011, Ryan Dzingel had 84 points in 77 games over his last two seasons at Ohio State and made a smooth pro transition, scoring seven points in nine games with Binghamton at seasons end. A fifth-round pick in 2008, Mark Borowiecki is a tough, stay-at-home defenceman, and while hes made it into 21 NHL games over the past three seasons, hes effectively been passed by Gryba in that role. Drafted in the second round in 2011, Shane Prince has some skill, though hes in a depth chart battle with a bunch of other forward prospects in the organization. If Prince had a big productive season in 2013-2014, then he might be closer, but he is still just 21. Picked in the third round in 2012, Chris Driedger has been solid in two WHL seasons since, putting up a .916 save percentage in 104 games. Goaltenders are unpredictable and take time, so theres no urgency, but Driedger is worth keeping on the radar. Defenceman Fredrik Claesson plays a steady game and showed improvement in his second season in North America. He was a fifth-round pick in 2011. Senators advanced stats and player usage chart from Extra Skater DRAFTNo first-round pick FREE AGENCYAccording to www.capgeek.com, the Senators have approximately $37.1M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 13 players. Check out my possible Senators lineup for next season on Cap Geek here. Needs: One top six forward, two top nine forwards, one top four defenceman.What I said the Senators needed last year: One top six forward, one top four defenceman.They added: Bobby Ryan, Clarke MacArthur. TRADE MARKETJason Spezza, Bobby Ryan, Colin Greening, Jared Cowen, Patrick Wiercioch. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Custom Minnesota Vikings Jerseys .com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers made it official Tuesday and signed pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a four-year contract. Pat Elflein Jersey . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. http://www.officialminnesotavikingsfootball.com/authentic-chris-doleman-jersey-womens .com) - Guard Greivis Vasquez and forward Patrick Patterson, two key pieces to the Toronto Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying offers by the team on Saturday. John Randle Jersey . It is unclear how long Kallstrom, who was brought in to alleviate the teams midfield problems, will be sidelined. Arsenals communications director, Mark Gonnella, says the club decided to proceed with Kallstroms signing despite the injury. Rashod Hill Jersey . Olsen, who is 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, can play either centre or guard. The 25-year-old Olsen played 16 games and made four starts in 2012 with the New Orleans Saints.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - OUTLOOK: Just two seasons ago, the Pac-12 Conference sent only two teams to the NCAA Tournament. Things got back to normal recently however, with five squads receiving invites in 2013, and six last March. There should be another large crop this season, although some of the teams may be different, and somewhat surprising. There is no surprise that Arizona is easily the most talented team in the conference, and thats with the losses of 2014 Pac-12 Player of the Year Nick Marshall and freshmen phenom Aaron Gordon. Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis- Jefferson, T.J. McConnell and Kaleb Tarczewski already made for an enviable core, but the addition of highly-touted recruit Stanley Johnson only further enhances the Wildcats chances. Another No. 1 overall seed and deep run in the NCAA Tournament are all but guaranteed, especially with the team fueled by the disappointment of falling to Wisconsin in last seasons Elite Eight. So who are the top contenders to knock the Wildcats off their lofty perch? Why none other than Utah and Colorado. You read that right. The Utes are getting the band back together after picking up 21 wins last season, albeit thanks to a weak non-conference schedule. Delon Wright leads five returning starters and is one of the top contenders for Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. Colorado may have been blasted away by Pittsburgh in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, but with Josh Scott and Askia Booker leading the charge, the Buffaloes appear to be set for a shot at redemption. Although six teams made it to the NCAA Tournament last season, Stanford was one of the few to actually make a run, topping New Mexico and Kansas to get to the Sweet 16. Chasson Randle, another conference Player of the Year candidate, carries more responsibility this season, with frontcourt enforcers Dwight Powell and Josh Huestis cashing checks in the NBA now. UCLA also got to the Sweet 16 in its first season under Steve Alford. The Bruins are replacing a number of key parts, but will get back this season and could go even further if well-regarded freshman Kevon Looney develops quickly. There is hope in abundance, but questions remain at some of the other stops on the Pac-12 tour. Washington has an excellent point guard in Nigel Williams- Goss and two other returning starters. However, the Huskies went 17-15 last season and need help up front. Tyrone Wallace and David Kravish have consistently improved for California, which needs to find replacements for Justin Cobbs and Jabari Bird to live up to the hype. Meanwhile, Oregons prospects were dashed by an ugly offseason incident, although potent scorer Joseph Young will continue to keep the Ducks competitive. Arizona State doesnt have Jahii Carson anymore. That alone makes for an expected slide out of the field of 68. There is a lot less to like about USC, Washington State and Oregon State. The Trojans really struggled after making the splashy hire of Andy Enfield in 2013, finishing 11-21 overall. They are hitting the reset button yet again with a roster filled with unproven commodities. The Cougars and Beavers are each in for growing pains with new head coaches at the helm. CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Arizona PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Arizona 2. Utah 3. Colorado 4. Stanford 5. UCLA 6. Washington 7. California 8. Oregon 9. Arizona State 10. USC 11. Washington State 12. Oregon State. TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS: ARIZONA: Just a single point separated Arizona from its first Final Four appearance since 2001, as the Wildcats fell, 64-63, to Wisconsin in the West Regional Final last March. Getting over the Elite Eight hump will be priority No. 1 this season. Most teams wouldnt have such high expectations when losing players like Johnson and Gordon, but Sean Miller did an excellent job of reloading rather than rebuilding. Miller brought in Johnson to highlight one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Johnson, a 6-foot-6 swingman, will become a top offensive option immediately. T.J. McConnell (8.4 ppg, 5.3 apg) ranked third in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0) last season, and will continue to be the steady hand that runs the Arizona offense. Gabe York (6.7 ppg) can shoot from the outside and will work into the backcourt rotation. In the frontcourt, Arizona has a wealth of versatile options. Ashley (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) plays all over and was a key player before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Hollis-Jefferson (9.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) was part of last seasons recruiting class and Tarczewski (9.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1 bpg) is a 7-foot behemoth, who will eat up space on the interior. The depth up front should allow the Wildcats to maintain their spot at the top of the Pac-12 in rebounds (38.1 ppg) as well as scoring defense (58.6 ppg), where they ranked sixth nationally. UTAH: In a world where most teams deal with constant roster turnover due to the one-and-done culture permeating the college game, the 2014-15 Utes are a refreshing change of pace. Wright easily could have gone to the NBA after stuffing the stat sheet all last season for the Utes, but he decided to return. Head coach Larry Krystkowiak will reap the benefits, but not just because Wright is back. Brandon Taylor, Dakarai Tucker and Jordan Loveridge are all returning starters, each of whom helped the Utes post a 21-12 record. Wright is obviously the most important piece. He led the Utes in scoring (15.5 ppg), assists (5.3 apg), steals (2.5 spg) and blocks (1.3 bpg), while ranking second in rebounds (6.8 rpg). Wright also fights for good looks at the basket, as he shot at a 56.1 percent clip. Efficient shooting was a key for the Utes overall, as they ranked 11th nationally in field goal percentage (.488). Loveridge (14.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.3 apg) is a 6-foot-6 post player, who can score from most places on the floor, although he could use work on his shooting from long distance. Taylor (10.6 ppg, 3.5 apg) teams with Wright in the backcourt, filling in the gaps in terms of scoring and distributing. Tucker (6.8 ppg) started 22 games last season and, at 6-foot-5, presents matchup problems for opposing backcourts. Dallin Bachynski (6.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) will round out the starting lineup as a more traditional center. COLORADO: Tad Boyle has really transformed Colorado basketball. In his four years at the helm, three of which have been in the Pac-12, Boyle has yet to log fewer than 21 wins, while pushing his squad to the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons. Last years performance in the Big Dance is one Boyle and his team would probably like to forget, unless they want to use it for motivation purposes. The eighth-seed Buffaloes were routed, 77-58, by Pittsburgh. Still, the season was a success considering the Buffs lost leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie (14.7 ppg) to a torn ACL halfway through. It gave the squad a chance to discover its identity without Dinwiddie, which will be important now that he is playing professionally. Booker (13.7 ppg, 3.3 apg) has never met a shot he didnt like. He still needs to be a more efficient shooter (.389), but he is a proven scorer. Scott (14.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg) is the more exciting player and a constant double-double threat. He is an all- conference candidate this season. Xavier Johnson (12 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Wesley Gordon (5.9 ppg, 6 rpg) are both athletic swingmen, who can play multiple positions. Xavier Talon (4.9 ppg) is another experienced player, while there is a lot of hype surrounding freshman Dominique Collier. STANFORD: As the adage goes, its not about how you start, but how you finish. For the Cardinal those words certainly held true, as a surge at the end of last season thrust them into the national spotlight and kept Johnny Dawkins employed. Although there was no guarantee Stanfords head coach would be fired without a NCAA Tournament appearance, the Cardinals run to the Sweet 16 certainly put a stop to swirling rumors about his job security. With renewed confidence, Dawkins now needs to prove last season was no fluke. Doing so without Powell (14 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Huestis (11.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) will be difficult. In recent years, Stanford has been at its best with strong play from the frontcourt, and now Stefan Nastic (7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg) is the most proven player down low. Nastic did a good job of instilling hope down the stretch, scoring in double figures in all three NCAA Tournament games. Freshman Reid Travis is also expected to be a contributor right away. However, Nastic and Travis impact on Stanfords season will not be as profound as that of Randle. The 6-foot-2 guard was one of the best scorers in the Pac-12 last season (18.8 ppg), and he constantly had the ball in his hands. He also shot a career-high 47.4 percent from the floor as a junior, bouncing back from an inconsistent sophomore campaign. Anthony Brown (12.3 ppg, 5 rpg) started 35 of 36 games last season and provided plenty of additional firepower. UCLA: All Alford did in his first season in the Golden State was lead UCLA to its most wins since 2008, which was also the last time the Bruins made it to the Final Four. They didnt match that success, but a Sweet 16 run and a Pac-12 Tournament title certainly made believers of any doubters of Alfords hiring. Of course, Alford had a lot of talent to work with. Do-it-all swingman Kyle Anderson, potent scorer Jordan Adams, athletic specimen Zach LaVine and David and Travis Wear provided a nice foundation. None of those five are back, with Anderson, Adams and LaVine all taking off for the professional ranks. Norman Powell (11.4 ppg) is the top returning scorer for the Bruins, who were once again one of the best offensive teams in the country last season. They ranked 12th nationally in scoring (81.2 ppg), ffifth in assists (17.dddddddddddd2 apg) and 10th in field goal percentage (.489). Powell was a 53.3 percent shooter, but he was not asked to carry the offense very often. He might not have to do so again this season, that is if Looney makes a smooth transition to the college ranks. The 6-foot-9 forward will likely be on the all-conference freshmen team at seasons end, with other honors possible as well. Bryce Alford (8 ppg) and Tony Parker (6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) were complementary pieces last season, but will have added responsibilities. WASHINGTON: From 2008-12, Washington was a mainstay at the top of the Pac-12 and in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies won the leagues regular-season crown for the 2008-09 and 2011-12 campaigns, while fitting two tournament titles in the middle. Lorenzo Romars program slid backward the last two seasons, finishing with records of 18-16 and 17-15, respectively. Part of the problem last season was a lack of power up front. The Huskies ranked ninth in the Pac-12 in rebounds (34.5 rpg), and that was with Perris Blackwell (10.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) still around. Shawn Kemp Jr. (4.4 ppg) was diagnosed with Graves Disease early last season and was slowed because of it. His role remains unclear. Other options include 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jernard Jarreau, who played a mere two minutes all of last season, and Fresno State transfer Robert Upshaw. The backcourt has much less uncertainty, even with the departure of C.J. Wilcox (18.3 ppg), especially with Williams-Goss running the point. In his first season, the 6-foot-3 guard showed a ton of composure, dishing out 4.4 assists per game to go with 13.4 ppg. He is the top returning scorer and will be relied on even more so this time around. Andrew Andrews (12.3 ppg) figures to be a partner for Williams-Goss in the backcourt, while Mike Anderson (5.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) rebounds well for a guard. CALIFORNIA: There is a new head coach in town, as Mike Montgomery decided to retire following a 21-14 finish last season. Cuonzo Martin cashed in his success with Tennessee, which made it to the Sweet 16 last season, and now takes over a California squad that has made four NCAA Tournament appearances in the previous six years. If Martin hopes to make a big splash in his first season, there are a few things he needs to do. The first, is figure out a solution to the problem at point guard. Now that Cobbs is gone, the Golden Bears, who ranked 29th in the country in assists (15.3 apg) in 2013-14, have no true player for the position. Sam Singer, who logged 9.3 minutes per game last season, freshman Brandon Chauca and even Tyrone Wallace (11.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg) are the top candidates to take the job. Perhaps Martin will go with a mixture rather than choosing one consistent point guard. Even if he isnt the main guy at the point, Wallace is going to be a fixture in the backcourt, as one of two returning double-digit scorers. The backcourt could get a real boost if highly-touted 2013 recruit Jabari Bird shakes off an underwhelming freshman season (8.3 ppg). David Kravish (11.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.1 bpg) led the team in blocks last season, but he will be without frontcourt battery mate Richard Solomon (11 ppg, 10.2 rpg), who was the first Cal player since Leon Powe in 2005-06 to average a double-double. OREGON: The Ducks made a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season, and appeared poised to make it three in a row this season. However, the dismissals, justified as they were, of Damyean Dotson, Dominic Artis and Brandon Austin, leaves a rather scant roster for Dana Altman to work with. There are currently only 10 players listed on the Oregon roster according to the schools official athletic site. One of the 10 is Young, who was a sensational addition last season after he transferred to Eugene from Houston. Young ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring (18.9 ppg). He didnt just score a lot, he did so with efficiency, shooting 48 percent from the floor, 41.5 percent from the field and 88.1 percent from the free-throw line. His scoring is the only sure thing for the Ducks, who led the Pac-12 and ranked eighth nationally in points per game (81.9). All the empty roster spots, made more apparent by the traditional departures of Mike Moser (13.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Johnathan Loyd (7 ppg) and Jason Calliste (12.7 ppg), make for a lot of opportunities for some relatively-inexperienced players. Elgin Cook (6.7 ppg) could develop into a strong secondary scorer behind Young. Cook, at 6-foot-6, is long and has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Jalil Abdul-Bassit and junior college transfers Dwayne Benjamin and Michael Chandler have to be ready to go right away. ARIZONA STATE: Too often last season, one in which Arizona State made it to the NCAA Tournament, Carson appeared to be the only player on the floor, particularly on offense. Without him, as well as shot-blocker Jordan Bachynski and dynamic guard Jermaine Marshall, Herb Sendek will need more players on the roster to step up. Shaquille McKissic and Jonathan Gilling are both returning starters. McKissic, a 6-foot-5 forward, is the teams best returning scorer (9 ppg) and rebounder (5.4 rpg). The ball will be thrust into his hands frequently, especially early in the season as the Sun Devils develop their identity on offense. McKissic is a strong defender and the Sun Devils should still be tough to score on, after they limited teams to 69.4 points per game and 41.9 percent shooting last season. Gilling (7.7 ppg) worked best as a complementary player, who could knock down shots from 3-point range. He connected on 43.4 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. It remains to be seen if he can become a go-to scorer with opponents no longer keying in on Carson and Marshall. Replacing Bachynski, who led the country in blocked shots, and his ability to protect the rim will be a tough challenge as well. Eric Jacobsen and Cameron Gilbert are both 6-foot-10, so they certainly have the size. Roosevelt Scott leads a group of junior college transfers who will play immediately. USC: While Alford was enjoying an excellent debut season across town, Enfield and his Trojans were suffering through a disastrous campaign, which ended with an 11-21 record and a miserable 2-16 conference mark. The Trojans ranked next- to-last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (75.3 ppg), 10th in both scoring offense (70.6 ppg) and field goal percentage (.439), while turning the ball over more than any of the other 11 teams (14 pg). It definitely wasnt the type of exciting style USC fans expected when Enfield was lured away from high-flying Florida Gulf Coast. Enfields job isnt about to get easier this season. Byron Wesley, last seasons leading scorer (17.8 ppg), decided to transfer to Gonzaga, and PeShon Howard (10.8 ppg), Omar Oraby (8.2 ppg, 6 rpg) and J.T. Terrell (9.7 ppg) are all gone as well. Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic are now the leaders of the squad. Both appeared in all 32 games last season -- the only players besides Oraby to do so. Jacobs, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 assists per game last season. He will be expected to improve in both areas. Jovanovic (8 ppg, 4.4 rpg) has excellent size (6-foot-11) and will be a force in the frontcourt. Several new faces, including freshman guard Jordan McLaughlin, will get tested early on. WASHINGTON STATE: Ernie Kent, who coached Oregon from 1997-2010, makes his return to the Pac-12 this season, filling the spot left by Ken Bone, who was fired after back-to-back years of underachievement. The Cougars had winning records in Bones first three years on the job, but they went a combined 23-40 the last two. That included a miserable 10-21 finish last season, which was accompanied by a 3-15 record against the rest of the Pac-12. They ranked last in the conference in scoring (62.4 ppg), assists (10.5 apg), rebounds (32.8 rpg) and field goal percentage (.400). The roster is also without D.J. Shelton (10.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and Royce Woolridge (7.3 ppg), who transferred to Grand Canyon University. Obviously, Kent has his work cut out for him. He will at least be able to rely on DaVonte Lacy (19.4 ppg) to put points on the board. Lacy played in only 23 games last season, but was a scoring machine when he was on the floor. Que Johnson (9.5 ppg) is the second option in the backcourt. He needs to be a more effective shooter, after falling below 40 percent efficiency last season. Jordan Railey (3 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Josh Hawkinson (1.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg) have the difficult responsibility of picking up the slack in Sheltons absence. OREGON STATE: Corvallis is also the home of a new coach this season, as Wayne Tinkle comes over from Montana to replace the departed Craig Robinson. In Robinsons six years in charge the Beavers had a winning record only once. Last season, they fought to an even 16-16 finish, with losses in eight of their last 11 games, including a 96-92 setback against Radford in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational. Tinkle had a down year at Montana last season, leading the Grizzlies to a 17-13 finish, but they had won 25 games and made it to the NCAA Tournament in the two previous years. It may be a while before Tinkle guides the Beavers to the Big Dance, especially if he cant get them to defend better. Last season, OSU ranked last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (75.6 ppg). Tinkle also is working from scratch essentially, with all five starters gone, including Roberto Nelson, the Pac-12s leading scorer last season (20.7 ppg). That leaves Langston Morris-Walker (4 ppg), Victor Robbins 2.9 ppg), Olaf Schaftenaar (2.2 ppg) and Cheikh Ndiaye (0.8 ppg) as the most experienced returning players. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '