are just two black managers: Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals and Dave Roberts of the

At this time last season, the talk throughout the hockey world was whether pending unrestricted free agent?Steven Stamkos would sign an extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning or test the market and sign elsewhere.The process lasted through the season and into the playoffs, and only two days before the official start of free agency, on July 1, did the Lightning captain finally agree to an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million annually. The 26-year-old forward could have earned more on the open market, but he wanted to stay and help the Lightning finally win a Stanley Cup under his watch.Not much has changed for Tampa Bay entering this season -- and thats a good thing for the Lightning, who finished second in the division last season with 97 points. Probably the only question this season is the future status of goaltender Ben Bishop, who has one year remaining on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Best new facesAfter the saga that played out last season, lets consider Jonathan Drouin a new face for the franchise. The 21-year-old forward, a former first-round pick (third overall) in the 2013 draft, suffered through some bad decisions and growing pains the past two years. Early last season, he asked for a trade, but Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman never relented and instead sent Drouin to the AHL.After a tumultuous start in the minors, he finally cleaned up his act and was summoned back to Tampa at the end of the regular season. During the playoffs, Drouin was outstanding. He registered five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 17 games as the Lightning reached the Eastern Conference finals. Despite a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was a promising end to what seemed like a bad relationship that could be headed for a divorce. Drouin enters this season with more responsibility and should produce.Biggest unknownsEverything is pretty much status quo for the Lightning. There arent any surprises entering the season. The only matter on the docket is whether Bishop remains beyond this season. Yzerman inked backup goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, 22, to a three-year contract extension worth $3.5 million per season last July.After Bishop, 30, suffered a leg injury during the Eastern Conference finals, Vasilevskiy proved he could handle the challenge and played well for the Lightning. Depending how the goaltending duties are divided this season, its possible Bishop could be moved at the trade deadline. Yzerman and coach Jon Cooper realize, however, that to win the Stanley Cup, a team needs to rely on two quality goaltenders. It would take a massive trade offer to convince Yzerman to move Bishop at the deadline.Sure thingsNow that theres no contract pressure on Stamkos, whos healthy after dealing with a blood clot near his collarbone last March that forced him to miss every playoff game with the exception of Game 7 of the conference finals, he should be ready to have a productive season. He had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points in 77 games during the regular season and proved during the World Cup of Hockey that hes healthy after helping Team Canada to a championship.Defenseman Victor Hedman, 25, was a Norris Trophy candidate last season, and had the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in either of the past two postseasons, Hedman would have been considered for the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. Along with defensive partner Anton Stralman, Hedman should have another strong season. Both played for Team Sweden during the World Cup of Hockey.If Cooper decides to keep The Triplets line of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat together again, expect plenty of offensive punch from that threesome.PredictionAfter losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Cup finals two seasons ago, and then missing out on a return trip to the finals by losing to the Penguins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last spring, the Lightning are poised for another championship run. This could be the season for Tampa. First in the Atlantic. Fake Nike Air Max 270 . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. 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The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. SAN DIEGO -- The firing of Fredi Gonzalez by the Atlanta Braves in May has left Major League Baseball sensitive to the lack of Latino managers.The absence of a Latino manager is glaring, Commissioner Rob Manfred told the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday. There are 30 jobs and there are 30 high-turnover jobs when youre talking about field managers, and youre going to have an ebb and flow in terms of diversity, given that there is no central authority sitting above the 30 clubs saying, look, we want to have this makeup among these employees.MLB often celebrates its diversity. Among 864 players on opening day rosters, disabled lists and the restricted list, 82 were born in the Dominican Republic, 63 in Venezuela, 23 in Cuba and 17 in Puerto Rico.I firmly believe that having as diverse a system as possible from top to bottom is beneficial to the industry, so not just on the field, off it as well, union head Tony Clark said. And to be in a position where we dont have those that reflect our membership in positions of leadership is disappointing.Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera, a two-time AL MVP, was surprised when the lack of Latin managers wass pointed out to him Monday.ddddddddddddHow can it be possible? he said. It appears strange to me that there are so many Latino players and not a single manager. Maybe something needs to be done in order to give them more opportunities.In addition, there are just two black managers: Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals and Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose father is African-American and whose mother is Japanese. There were 10 minority managers as recently as 2009, according to Richard Lapchick of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida.Manfred said engaging the African-American community is a priority for MLB, both for developing players and fans.Its not just we want to do the right thing because of Jackie Robinsons legacy, he said. It is an economic imperative for us because our country is becoming more and more diverse, and we have to put a playing complement on the field that reflects the United States.---Associated Press writer Luis Ruiz contributed to this report. ' ' '