ctional players.And Mourinho will not overlook Uniteds famed a

For a good part of the first quarter of last season, it seemed as though the future of the Philadelphia Flyers was still somewhere off in the distance. A rebuild with an emphasis on the build part under rookie head coach Dave Hakstol seemed to be about as good as it was going to get for Flyers fans.But a funny thing happened to all of those dire predictions of being a lottery team: The Flyers scratched and clawed their way into a most unlikely of playoff berths and then managed somehow to stretch the powerful Washington Capitals to six games in the first round.Theres already healthy skepticism that last season was a blip on the rebuilding radar and the Flyers will be back outside the playoff bubble. But Im not so sure, especially watching rookie of the year nominee Shayne Gostisbehere playing so well at the World Cup of Hockey and veteran Mark Streit helping Team Europe to an unexpected berth in the tournament finals.Certainly GM Ron Hextall isnt letting the players feel its a given theyll get back to where they were last season. Essentially were starting fresh here, Hextall said in a recent interview.Best new facesA tinkering summer for Hextall brought in a couple of veterans to help augment the youth movement that is fully in place in Philadelphia. Veteran center and defensive specialist Boyd Gordon will be looking for fourth-line minutes, while Dale Weise will be expected to be a kind of everyman, even bringing unexpected offensive upside. Ivan Provorov is another young defenseman with a big top-end skill set. The left-handed seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft is just 19, and at one point during training camp was paired with Gostisbehere. A glimpse of the future or is the future here?Biggest unknownsCan the Flyers continue their upward arc in terms of evolution while weve seen so many teams (the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets come to mind) take one step forward and then regress for a season or two? Specifically, can they find enough offense to help take the pressure off the defense and goaltending? Last season, the Flyers were 22nd in scoring. Only one team with a worse offense made the playoffs (Detroit Red Wings). The penalty kill, tied for 20th, needs to improve.Can the unlikely goaltending tandem of Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth continue to provide the high level of netminding we saw down the stretch and into the playoffs? And who is the No. 1? Neuvirth had an eye-popping .981 save percentage in three starts in the playoffs against the Capitals. Hextall has said hes looking for more from younger players Scott Laughton -- who is expected to miss three to four weeks with a lower-body injury -- Jordan Weal and Nick Cousins, who all have strong pedigrees but need to prove they are NHL-ready. And NHLers in the fold need to give more, such as Jakub Voracek, who struggled for much of last season after signing a monster contract extension last summer.Sure thingsNot sure how Dave Hakstol didnt end up on the ballot for coach of the year, but thats a moot point. What isnt moot is that Hakstol, who came to the NHL after a long, successful stint with the University of North Dakota, should be even better in his sophomore season in terms of how to schedule practices and his familiarity with his own group and with the opposition. He showed he was a quick study a season ago and his skill set behind the bench should be even more evident this season.Up front, you have to figure captain Claude Giroux is motivated after making Team Canadas World Cup of Hockey roster and then not playing. He rebounded after being left off the 2014 Olympic roster with a place on the Hart Trophy ballot a few months later, so expect a similar response this time around.Is there anyone steadier -- and maybe more underappreciated -- than Wayne Simmonds? Hes coming off a career-best 32-goal campaign and has become one of the on-ice leaders, having averaged a hair less than 30 goals a season over the past three.PredictionThe bottom of the Metropolitan Division is a dogs breakfast. But Im liking what is going on with the Flyers, even if they finish just outside the playoff picture. Fifth in the Metropolitan. MLB Jerseys From China . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. 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Jose Mourinho set out his vision for Manchester United on Tuesday, focusing on returning the sleeping giants to the top of the Premier League rather than feuding with Pep Guardiola.United is in need of both a quick-fix and long-term stability after David Moyes and Louis van Gaal struggled as successors to Alex Ferguson, whose 26-year reign ended in 2013.I was never very good at playing with words, hiding behind words or hiding behind philosophies, Mourinho said at Old Trafford where Van Gaal spent the last two years talking up a philosophy that produced only one trophy.I was always much more aggressive in my approach, even with the risks that can bring.A seemingly mellowed Mourinho was presented to the media for the first time as United manager seven months after being fired by Chelsea for the second time.And he immediately took the opportunity to show that his conviction in United captain Wayne Rooney remains strong.Having previously tried to take Rooney to Chelsea, Mourinho still sees the 30-year-old striker as a goal threat rather than needing to see out his career in midfield.It is normal that a player of his age changes, but something that will never change is the natural appetite to put the ball in the net, Mourinho said. Maybe he is not a striker anymore, or a nine, but he will never be a six playing 50 meters from the goal. He will be a nine, a 10, a nine and a half, but not a six or eight.The 53-year-old Portuguese was quick to insist he is far from damaged goods, having lifted the Premier League trophy in May 2015 before his Chelsea reign imploded amid in-fighting at Stamford Bridge.There are some managers that the last time they won a title was 10 years ago, Mourinho said, without naming Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who last won the Premier League in 2004.Some of them the last time they won a title was never. The last time I won a title was one year ago, not 10 years ago or 15 years ago so if I have a lot to prove, imagine the others.The only major trophy secured by United in the post-Ferguson era was the FA Cup in May, which was not enough to keep Van Gaal in a job. The Dutchman was fired after United failed to qualify for the Champions League, only managing fifth in the Premier League.For Mourinho, targeting a return to the top four is not ambitious enough.Manchester United for many years, success was just routine, and in this moment the last three years are to forget, Mourinho said at a packed Old Trafford news conference. I dont want the pllayers to think we have to do better and finish fourth.dddddddddddd Finishing fourth is not the aim.Not when he has a crosstown duel with Guardiola, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach also starting out at Manchester City. Mourinho crossed swords domestically with Guardiola while he was the Real Madrid coach.To speak about one manager, one club and, I dont like the word, but one enemy, is not right, Mourinho said. One thing is that you are in a competition like I was in Spain when it is a two-horse race. In Italy, it was three teams. But in the Premier League it doesnt make sense at all.If you focus on one team or one opponent then the other ones will be laughing so I wont be a part of it. I am Manchester United manager with respect for all the other clubs in the country.Last season demonstrated just how tough the Premier League has become, with Leicester stunning world soccer by dethroning Chelsea to win the title for the first time. With television rights now worth 8.3 billion dollars ($11 billion), theres more cash flowing through clubs in the 20-team league, raising the competitiveness.Mourinho has already signed defender Eric Bailly and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan is on the verge of joining.A fourth target is being worked on.We made a nucleus of four priorities, four positions, to give a certain balance to the squad and a certain push in terms of quality, Mourinho said. I am a manager that likes specialists and not so much the multi-functional players.And Mourinho will not overlook Uniteds famed academy.Ryan Giggs, Uniteds most successful academy graduate, was overlooked for the managers job after two years assisting Van Gaal. British footballs most decorated player ended a 29-year association as a result and stressed in his departure statement last week that giving youth a chance is in the clubs DNA.Mourinhos record of utilizing players developed by the club was questioned during two spells at Chelsea.I have promoted 49 youth players from academies, Mourinho said. Sometimes you promote because you dont have another chance or so many injuries, you have to bring them in. The second factor is when you are not playing for big targets then it is easier to bring them up.My record of injuries is very, very low. I never promote players because of a need -- I do it because of conviction. ' ' '