Quasselstube » slugger underwent an MRI before the game, though

Every team wants to start its season on the right foot, but general manager Bryan Murray says training camp this season is vitally important for the Ottawa Senators. "Maybe, we were too comfortable," he told TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "It looked to me that - the year before we had a lot of injuries and a number of the key guys didnt play very much - we came to camp with a full group, maybe we thought we were going to be better than we were going to be and, certainly, we didnt compete at the same level. Theres no question. Maybe there was a comfort that the stars were back, so the other guys didnt have to work so hard." Murray, heading into his eighth year at the helm of the club, insists that things will be different this season. "At the end of last year, we had a long, intense meeting with all of management and coaching staff," he explained. "This year, a week ago, we had a sit-down again to review what we had talked about, but also have some objectives going forward starting with training camp and the first visit we have with our players. Theres no question that we have a plan that we think its going to allow our players to be more productive." That plan, he added, begins with a commitment to defence, something that he believes was the source of the teams biggest failings last year that saw the Senators finish fifth in the Atlantic Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference and five points outside the final playoff spot. "I dont think we played defence at all last year," he said. "A lot of people blamed our goaltending, but I dont think our defensive corps were any good. I think each and every one of them took a step backwards. I dont think we were focused at all on preventing or that type of thing and we werent disciplined. I thought our penalties were far too high. Our goals against were far too high. Shots against in every game were far too high. The focus has got to be getting back to the team game and the team game starts at playing defence." For Murray, defence will start from the back out, with the team signing goaltender Craig Anderson to a three-year extension late last month worth $12.6 million. Anderson, 33, is coming off of a season where he went 25-16-8 in 53 games, posting a save percentage of .911 and a goal against average of 3.00. Despite the emergence of Robin Lehner, a player Murray says "is ready to be a No. 1 goaltender," Murray is a strong believer in the importance of having two NHL-calibre keepers. "To get a deal done in the league at this time, you just cant ask a guy to sign a one-year deal and then go away," said Murray. "We didnt wanna do that. Craig Anderson is a good goaltender. He might be in the top half of the league in goaltending, certainly, at this point in time. I like the fact that he have two. I think Paul is going to give opportunity to the guy who plays the best to play the most and thats all we can ask for. I think that the two of them appear to get along very well at this point in time and, if we have to make a move later on, then well do it. But we didnt want to walk a away from a good person and a good goaltender." One player the team walked away from in the offseason was captain Jason Spezza. After 11 seasons in the nations capital, Spezza, the teams leader and best player, was traded to the Dallas Stars for Alex Chiasson, a pair of prospects and a second-round pick next summer. Murray believes that the time was right for Spezza to move on. "Jason Spezza hasnt been happy, really, for a couple of years in Ottawa," he said. "I think the finger-pointing at him, sometimes, was a little harsh. We all thought Jason was a quality player, a big point-getting for us, but maybe it was time for him and maybe it was time for us to make the next step and try to get another player in that role or a variety of players to play that role. I think well find the solution and we think Jason will do well with Dallas. We think well do well with the group weve got." In Spezzas absence, Kyle Turris will be looked upon to jump into the No. 1 slot and match up with opposing teams top defensive pairings and checking lines. Murray thinks that Turris is ready, but also is of the opinion that the other pivots around Turris will help provide needed insulation, namely Mika Zibanejad and free agent signing David Legwand. "I think Kyle will handle it, but I think he will have a more difficult time when they play the No. 1 pair of defence against him on a regular basis or the number-one checking centre," he acknowledged. "We think Zibanejad is going to make a huge step this year. He looks big and strong coming into the little bit Ive seen of him so far in the skates that weve had. Getting David Legwand, a veteran guy who probably hasnt scored the points that Nashville thought he was going to get, but has been a good, honest player in the league. We have a couple of other kids that we think can step up. We think Zack Smith can play a more prominent role than hes played. We lost the big guy in the middle and were not discounting it. Thats a big loss for us. We think we have a couple of guys that can handle it and, if its Kyle who has to face the No. 1 guy, then its Zibanejad wholl face the No. 2 guys. I think it will work out, maybe not as quickly as we want, but I think it will work out." With Spezza gone, the Senators, like it was last summer when Daniel Alfredsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings, are without a captain. But Murray doesnt think the team will rush to fill the vacancy. "We have to make the right decision, if we make a decision in that area," said Murray. "It may well be that we go with three As this year and appoint one of them as sort of the senior guy. I think a captain is really important, but I also think that having a core of four or five guys, at least, that relate to the coach and help with the players is just as important." What about superstar defenceman Erik Karlsson for the captaincy? "Hes a guy whos taken leadership as a very important thing for him," he said. "Weve had talks at the end of last year and we didnt like some of the games that a lot of our defencemen played. I think Erik is going to back and hes going to be our star, no doubt." If somebody were to be made captain this season, Karlsson looks to be the frontrunner. "Hes a forceful guy, hes an opinionated guy and hes a talented guy," said Murray. "Hes respected by all of the players in the room. I think we just have to see now, can he take the step that we think hell get back to and I dont think theres a big hurry to put a young guy in a pressure spot at this time. But we may well decide at the end of training camp that there is a need to do that and if we have to, we will." What the team does have to do, says Murray, is return to the post-season and the general manager believes his team is a playoff club. "We work hard, we play right and play more conscious of defence," said Murray of what it will take to direct the team back to success. The Ottawa Senators open training camp on Thursday. Dede Westbrook Jersey .com) - Rakeem Christmas scored 21 points, B. Andrew Norwell Jersey . Paire broke Giraldo twice and lost his serve once in both sets to wrap up the win in 1 hour, 10 minutes. He will next face Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, who advanced when Jurgen Zopp of Estonia retired with an injury at 5-5 in the first set. http://www.thejaguarsfansshop.com/Jaguar...f-Draft-Jersey/. The trade deadline is Monday, Mar. 2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. TRADES COMPLETED SINCE OCT. 1, 2014: Feb. 15, 2015 Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: F Olli Jokinen, F Brendan Leipsic, 1st Round Pick (2015) Nashville Predators acquire: D Cody Franson, F Mike Santorelli Feb. Leonard Fournette Jersey . Prado stuck his glove down with Colorados Charlie Blackmon sliding into the bag, and quickly jumped back in pain after applying the tag. Prado held his left wrist as trainers came out of the Diamondbacks dugout to check him. Corey Grant Jersey .J. -- Patrick Sharp is on one of those streaks. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jeff Samardzija arrived at the ballpark nearly five hours before making his first start with his new ballclub. The right-hander left having secured a four-game sweep for Oakland with a performance that showed exactly why the Athletics were so eager to get him in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Samardzija pitched seven strong innings to win his Oakland debut and the As beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Sunday. "First impressions are always important," said Samardzija after lowering his overall ERA to 2.74. "Like I said yesterday, they didnt need me here. They were doing just fine without me. I dont want to come in and change anything and change the atmosphere. I just want to come in and add and do my part," he said. He did just that, giving up four hits and one run with five strikeouts and one walk while earning his first win since June 7. With the Cubs, Samardzija was 2-7 despite a 2.83 ERA. He was voted to the NL All-Star team but wont pitch and will spend the game in the AL dugout. "He was excited as you could be," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "It was great to get him off to a good start like that. Terrific performance." Samardzija, acquired a day earlier, received several standing ovations. He was cheered during pregame warmups and again after striking out the side in the seventh. The veteran pitcher was equally excited after receiving some early run support, something that was scarce in Chicago. The Cubs scored two runs or fewer in 11 of his 17 starts in the NL this season. Oakland had no such issue. Jed Lowrie had two hits and scored twice, and leadoff hitter John Jaso added a pair of hits and an RBI for the As, who won their fourth straight after getting swept in three games at Detroit. Stephen Vogt singled and tripled to help the As complete their first series sweep of the Blue Jays since taking a three-game series in 2000. Oakland hadnt swept a four-game series from Toronto since May 22-24, 1981. "It was beautiful, man, that was awesome," Samardzija said. "Just getting one early run as a pitcher is the best thing ever. You can go out and pound the zone and understand if a guy gets on base so be it. And the way (the As) take at-bats is outstanding." Nate Freiman and Craig Gentry also drove in runs for the As. Lowrie doubled and scored in the second, then Oakland added two more in the fourth to extend their majors-leading record to 55-33. Pinnch-hitter Derek Norris added an RBI double in the eighth for Oakland.dddddddddddd. Steve Tolleson had a pinch-hit home run off As closer Sean Doolittle in the ninth for the Blue Jays, who have lost six straight on the road. Doolittle got his 13th save. Toronto got a stellar outing from starter Drew Hutchison but for the fourth straight game had little success offensively. The Blue Jays went 0 for 18 with runners in scoring position during the series. They didnt have many opportunities against Samardzija and two relievers. Toronto managed just four baserunners over the final eight innings and had only two get past first base. "We got shut down big time," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons after his club was outscored 14-4 in the four-game sweep. "Were just not very good right now. Were just not producing." Oakland general manager Billy Beane got Samardzija and pitcher Jason Hammel for a package of prospects that included the two most recent first-round draft picks by the As. Samardzija pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the first by getting cleanup hitter Jose Bautista to ground into an inning-ending double play. "That was probably one of the biggest pitches of the game for me," Samardzija said. "It allowed me to relax and then to come out and put a few on the board. I was able to relax and pound the zone." Samardzija retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced until Jose Reyes singled with one out in the sixth. Munenori Kawasaki followed with a double and Melky Cabreras groundout scored Reyes. Hutchison (6-7) struck out four and walked two in his first career start against the As. The punchless Blue Jays went into the game shorthanded. Edwin Encarnacion strained his right quad legging out an infield grounder on Saturday and was held out of the lineup. The Toronto slugger underwent an MRI before the game, though the results were not disclosed. NOTES: Cole Gillespie went hitless in three at-bats for Toronto after being claimed off waivers. ... Oakland OF Brandon Moss underwent an MRI on his injured left ankle. Results were not immediately known. ... Toronto OF Brad Glenn was designated for assignment. The Blue Jays also claimed OF/DH Nolan Reimould off waivers from Baltimore. ... As RHP Jesse Chavez will pitch the series opener against San Francisco on Monday. ... Blue Jays LHP JA Happ (7-4) takes the hill in the opener against the Angels. 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