With Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins sitting out, the Canadians could regret not locking up a spot when they blew a late lead against Venezuela in last years

BUFFALO, N. Air Max 97 China Wholesale .Y. -- Encouraging as it might appear, Sabres general manager Tim Murray isnt overly impressed by the big jump Buffalo made in the standings last year.Going from rock bottom to respectability isnt considered a mean feat when taking into account Buffalo still finished 23rd despite a 12-win and 27-point improvement. Its not as if the Sabres could have been much worse after finishing last in each of the previous two seasons.We should be getting better, Murray told The Associated Press. When we stop getting better, then weve done something wrong.The hard part now is for the Sabres to evolve another step and start resembling contenders to end a five-season playoff drought -- the longest in franchise history.It doesnt happen overnight, Murray said. We think were much improved from last season. But we have to prove that on the ice. Well see.After spending his first 18 months gutting Buffalos high-priced, aging roster to rebuild the team from scratch, Murray is placing his faith in the young lineup that began showing signs of promise last season.Forward Ryan OReilly emerged as an on- and off-ice leader in his first season after being acquired in a trade from Colorado. And the Sabres young crop of draft picks made an immediate impact with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart combining for 47 goals 98 points.Murray raised expectations by making two significant offseason additions by signing forward Kyle Okposo to a seven-year, $42 million contract, and acquired defenseman Dmitry Kulikov in a trade with Florida.That gives you a boost of energy, excitement with some of the high-quality players that we brought in, defenseman Josh Gorges said. We expect a lot of big things out of our group.The Sabres confidence is bolstered by how the team began jelling in the second half last season, its first under coach Dan Bylsma. After opening 19-26-4, Buffalo closed 16-10-7.Kulikov had no reservations being traded to Buffalo after seeing the team improve last year.I feel like all the pieces are in place right now said Kulikov, who went through a few rebuilding phases during his first seven seasons in Florida. When youre talking rebuild, I dont think its about our team. I think our team has already passed that point. And we need to show it and get off to a good start.A number of things to watch out for as the Sabres prepare to open the season hosting Montreal on Oct. 13:ROCKIN ROBINGoalie Robin Lehner is ready to establish himself as a bona fide starter now that hes healthy after two injury-shortened seasons. Acquired for a first-round draft pick from Ottawa in June 2015, Lehners first year in Buffalo was sidetracked 30 minutes into the season opener when he hurt his left ankle.He went 5-9-5 in 21 games, and his previous season in Ottawa was shortened because of a concussion.Lehner spent the summer working out and was notably slimmer upon reporting for training camp.It doesnt matter how good of a summer Ive had, Ive got to go out and perform, Lehner said. I know what I can do. Im not eager to prove anyone wrong or right.ENNIS RETURNSTyler Ennis is eager to return after missing the final four months of the season sidelined by a concussion. Entering his eighth season in Buffalo, the speedy, diminutive forward is the teams longest serving active player. Hes a three-time 20-goal-scorer who is being counted upon to fill a top-six role.AT AN IMPASSEDefenseman Rasmus Ristolainen remains unsigned . Hes a restricted free agent and coming off a season in which he led Buffalo in averaging more than 25 minutes of ice time, and led the teams defensemen with 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists).In a sign of good faith, Ristolainen reported to training camp last week after representing Finland at the World Cup of Hockey. Though pleased to have Ristolainen on the ice practicing, Murray doubted his presence in Buffalo would speed up contract talks.KANE WATCHForward Evander Kane is coming off a tumultuous offseason. He faces numerous charges for allegedly grabbing three women by the hair and neck in separate instances during an altercation at a downtown Buffalo bar in June. The 25-year-old is also being sued by a 21-year-old woman claiming he seriously injured her during an attack in his hotel room in December.ROOMIESEichel and Reinhart have decided to move in together after establishing an on- and off-ice bond last year.We room together on the road as well, so were pretty familiar with each other, Reinhart said. Eichel spent his rookie season living with forward Matt Moulson and his family. Vapormax Sale Outlet . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Jordan 1 Wholesale .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.nikeshoesoutletwholesale.com/air-max-97-sale.html . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Serbia and France are good enough to win mens basketball medals at the Olympics. First, they have to get there.The final three places in the 12-team field are on the line in the three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments next week. Serbia and France, who won silver and bronze two years ago in the Basketball World Cup, will be among the favorites to earn berths after falling short last summer.The new format to fill out the Olympics has 18 countries still in the running for spots in Rio. Six teams will be in each tournament, and the three winners will be Brazil bound.Some teams still trying to get there are better than a few who have already qualified. Four of the worlds top 10 will be competing, including France (5th), Serbia (6th), Turkey (8th) and Greece (10th).The Serbs have a powerful team and home-court advantage as they try to lock up a spot that eluded them in last years EuroBasket.We still need to fine-tune our teamwork but thats normal at this stage of preparations. We are going through this process together so that we will still be playing until the end of the OQT, and hopefully after that too, coach Aleksandar Djordjevic told FIBA.com after his team won its three tuneup games.Serbia hosts one tournament in Belgrade that also includes Angola and Puerto Rico in Group A. The Czech Republic, Japan and Latvia are in Group B.In Manila, Philippines, its: Turkey, Canada and Senegal in Group A; with France, New Zealand and the hosts in Group B.The Turin, Italy field: Greece, Mexico and Iran in Group A; Italy, Croatia and Tunisia in Group B.Each team will play the others in its group, with the top two finishers in each advancing to the semifinals. The tournament champions will then be drawn into the Olympic field, with two slated to end up in a group with the U.S.A look at some top contenders:BELGRADE, SERBIASERBIA: The hosts swept a home-and-home with France and beat Greece, another top contender, in their warmup play. Serbia has one of Europes top poiint guards in Milos Teodosic and a top young prospect in Denver Nuggets All-Rookie selection Nikola Jokic, but will miss injured Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica and Spurs center Boban Marjanovic, who is a free agent. Air Force 1 Mid Cheap. PUERTO RICO: Longtime guards J.J. Barea of the Dallas Mavericks and Carlos Arroyo should again provide the strength for the Puerto Ricans.MANILA, PHILIPPINESFRANCE: Tony Parker wants to cap his international career with an Olympic medal. The French failed to earn their chance playing on home soil last summer when Spain beat them in the Eurobasket semifinals, but stand a good chance now if they can hold on until the arrival of Nicolas Batum, who is an NBA free agent and wont be available until after he signs a contract on July 7.TURKEY: Their tough defense, anchored by NBA center Omer Asik in the middle, always gives the Turks a chance to stay in games. They gave the U.S. its toughest test in the 2014 Basketball World Cup.CANADA: With Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins sitting out, the Canadians could regret not locking up a spot when they blew a late lead against Venezuela in last years FIBA Americas semifinals.TURIN, ITALYGREECE: Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is a do-everything star and Sacramentos Kostas Koufos a solid center for a Greek team that scored a pair of victories over Turkey during its pre-tournament schedule.ITALY: The Italians havent reached the Olympics since winning silver in 2004. But they have plenty of shooting behind NBA players Danilo Gallinari and Marco Belinelli and former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani, a top coach in Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, and the backing of a home crowd to get them there this time.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney---This story has been corrected to show that the Italy tournament is in Turin. ' ' '