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TORONTO -- On the first day of training camp in his new job as a Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach, Steve Spott was trying to put an off-season disagreement with Phil Kessel behind him. After the Toronto Star reported Kessel telling Spott he wouldnt follow the teams new plan on how to break out of its defensive zone -- and Spott relaying that at a coaches clinic over the summer -- the dispute became one of the hottest topics on the day players reported for physicals. While Kessel denied such a conversation even took place, Spott only expressed regret that the star winger had to deal with questions about the situation. "Its our job as assistant coaches to get to know what these guys want to do and areas they think we can improve on," Spott said Thursday at the teams practice facility. "Phil and I talked about a number of things with regard to power play and where he wants to be. But those are things, thats my job. "To think we dont have conversations about golf and some simple things about the power play, thats what were paid to do. At the same time, its a very light-hearted conversation that I had some fun with in a coaches clinic." The Star quoted three anonymous minor-league coaches who attended that clinic and re-told what Spott said. Spott, promoted to join Randy Carlyles staff after being head coach of the AHLs Toronto Marlies, didnt refute the report. "I think we had a very general conversation that took place, talking about his drive, and also talking about different things on the ice, and thats part of my job," he said. "Get to know these guys, things they like to do on the ice, things that they think we can improve on, and just getting to know them." Kessel said he didnt read the article but insisted the conversation in question didnt happen. "Ive obviously talked to Spotter a couple times, but its not about that," Kessel said. "Its more about golf and stuff. I dont really talk about hockey in the summer, to be honest, if you really want to know the truth." Kessel was all smiles as he talked about the 11-foot, 450-pound shark he and teammate Tyler Bozak caught while in Florida and appeared to be in a jovial mood at the beginning of training camp. He laughed off a question about whether he hated his coach and deferred to Carlyle about whether the reverse was true. When Kessel got serious about coaching techniques, he said he believed deviating from team structure was "how you lose games." But he added that he doesnt get any input. "I have opinions, but I have nothing to do with how this team is run, coached or any of the systems, no matter what you guys think," Kessel said. General manager Dave Nonis said the disagreement was "not an issue in the dressing room at all." Carlyle sought to emphasize Spotts "tongue-in-cheek" tenor but move on from the entire discussion. Carlyle, however, conceded that Kessel gets coached in a different way than other players. "I think there is a double-standard in sports that talented people have to be given a bit more of a rope," Carlyle said. "Talented people have to have some freedom to take their artistic values and go paint the picture. He is that type of player. Hes a very talented player." Kessel, who last season matched a career high with 37 goals to finish fifth in the NHL in that category, agreed. "I think Randy lets me get away with stuff that other guys might not get away with," he said. "Obviously I play different than someone else on the team. I think me and Randy have a pretty good relationship in that, and we get along real well in that sense." When it comes to what Carlyle likes to refer to as the "white noise" around the Leafs in hockey-mad Toronto, Kessel passed up an opportunity to say extra scrutiny bothered him. In the first season of a US$64-million, eight-year contract, the 26-year-old said theres nowhere hed rather play. For Spott, who previously coached the OHLs Kitchener Rangers before the Marlies, this was a "Welcome to the Leafs" moment. "People had asked me earlier what I thought the biggest adjustment would be going from the head coach of the Toronto Marlies to an assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs," he said. "I just found that out real quick." Terrell Davis Jersey . -- Andrew Wiggins is from Canada, Wayne Selden from Massachusetts and Joel Embiid from the African nation of Cameroon. Phillip Lindsay Youth Jersey . On Thursday theyll learn even more. Despite the cloud of uncertainty that has followed them around from the moment general manager Masai Ujiri was brought in to put his stamp on the franchise, the Raptors have surpassed all pre-season expectations. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Dennis-Smith-Broncos-Jerseys/ . - Connor McDavid scored twice and added two assists as the Erie Otters beat the Sarnia Sting 7-3 on Saturday night in Ontario Hockey League action. Joe Flacco Jersey . Better still, its in the same team and there are 13 races left for it to develop. Von Miller Broncos Jersey . He had even more fun Friday. Coming off a sensational rookie season, Spieth opened the new year by never coming close to bogey and making a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 7-under 66.With the NHL regular season right around the corner, TSN.ca profiles each team leading up to puck drop. Next up are the Dallas Stars, who are locked and loaded for the new season with former Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky. Catch up on their summer moves and the issues they face this season, as well as Craig Buttons analysis of their top prospect and an analytical breakdown by TSNs Scott Cullen. Division: Central GM: Jim Nill Head Coach: Lindy Ruff 2013-14: 40-31-11 (5th in Central) Playoffs: Lost in First Round Goals For: 231 (10th) Goals Against: 223 (17th) PP: 15.9% (23rd) PK: 81.4% (21st) That Was Then: The Stars flourished under new bench boss Lindy Ruff last season, while netminder Kari Lehtonen stood tall and stayed healthy and Tyler Seguin delivered on the promise that prompted the Stars to pay a big price to acquire him out of Boston. Lehtonen played more games than he had since 2010-11 and posted his second-best single-season marks for both goals-against average (2.41) and save percentage (.919). Add in the bronze medal he won with Finland at the Sochi Olympics and it was a pretty great year for the 30-year-old. Seguin made a huge leap. Providing the perfect complement for Stars captain Jamie Benn, Seguin established himself as a top player and set career-highs in goals (37) and assists (47), finishing in the NHLs top five in goals and points. All that said, it took until February for the Stars to get hold of a wild card spot and that came on the heels of a Vancouver Canucks free-fall. The team spent most of March fighting off the Coyotes for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They played near-.500 hockey down the stretch but held onto the second wild card thanks to a seven-game losing streak the Coyotes put up in April. The Stars put up a fight, pushing the Anaheim Ducks to six games in the opening round, but had their hearts broken on home ice with Nick Boninos overtime winner to seal the series. Scott Cullens Analytics Ducks 2013-14 Stats by Quarter Games GPG GAA SH% SV% SAF% PTS% 1-20 2.70 2.45 9.3% .925 50.1% .600 21-41 3.00 3.05 8.2% .909 51.8% .548 42-62 2.38 2.43 6.3% .920 53.8% .500 63-82 3.10 2.55 9.5% .927 49.2% .575 NHL AVG 2.67 2.67 7.8 .922 50.0% .562 Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points. Analysis: Games 1-20: Season started with middling possession numbers, but above average percentages led to a favourable record. Games 21-41: Possession numbers improved, scoring increased, but goaltending slumped. Games 42-62: Best possession segment stymied by poor shooting. Games 63-82: Even as possession dippeed, the seasons best percentages kept the Stars in a playoff position.dddddddddddd Key 2014 Additions: RW Patrick Eaves, RW Ales Hemsky, G Anders Lindback, C Jason Spezza Key 2014 Subtractions: RW Alex Chiasson, C Dustin Jeffrey, C Chris Mueller This Is Now: With Seguin centering the first line, hell get plenty of support from Jason Spezza on the second. Acquired from Ottawa over the summer, Spezza brings leadership and a heap of offensive vision to the Stars second line. He could play alongside fellow Ottawa-to-Dallas-defector Ales Hemsky or between younger talents like Valeri Nichushkin and Brett Ritchie. Were last years early-season struggles an acclimation period under Ruff? If they were, the addition of Spezza could thrust the Stars into contention in a tough Central Division. DEPTH CHART Forwards Left Wing Centre Right Wing Jamie Benn Tyler Seguin Ales Hemsky Erik Cole Jason Spezza Valeri Nichushkin Antoine Roussel Cody Eakin Ryan Garbutt Vernon Fiddler Shawn Horcoff Colton Sceviour Curtis McKenzie Rich Peverley Patrick Eaves Brendan Ranford Radek Faksa Brett Ritchie Defence Left Right Alex Goligoski Trevor Daley Brenden Dillon Jordie Benn Kevin Connauton Sergei Gonchar Jamie Oleksiak Patrik Nemeth Cameron Gaunce John Klingberg Goaltenders Kari Lehtonen Anders Lindback Jack Campbell Craigs List TSN Director of Scouting Craig Buttons Top Prospect: Brett Ritchie Two elements that teams will always covet in players are size and scoring. Brett Ritchie possesses both as a strong winger who can wear down opponents with a heavy frame and make them pay with quick scoring hands. He will be a formidable player for the Stars. He is unique in that he can carve out his own space and then take full advantage with his skill and smarts. These are the types of players that help a team win in the playoffs and the Stars are looking to do more of that. Fantasy - Cullens Player to Watch - Ales Hemsky In his later years with the Edmonton Oilers, Hemsky was getting buried on the depth chart and last had a 50-point season in 2008-2009. However, after a trade to the Ottawa Senators last year, Hemsky finished the season with 17 points in 20 games. Moving to Dallas, Hemsky could have an opportunity to play setup man to snipers Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin on the Stars top line, the kind of situation that should boost Hemskys productivity. If not, continuing on the wing with Spezza is a pretty strong secondary option. ' ' '