GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Coyotes, like every other NHL team, went into the 2015-16 season filled with optimism.Realistically, they -- and nearly everyone else -- knew it would be a rebuilding year, even after the team got off to a fast start.The Coyotes again have that optimistic slant heading into this season. This time, with a core of talented young players and some veteran additions, they expect to live up to it.Just walking in the rink, you feel it, Coyotes goalie Mike Smith said. You feel a different vibe. You feel like this team can do some damage.Arizonas talented core remains intact, headlined by All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with forwards Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Tobias Rieder. Captain Shane Doan returns for his 21st season and goalie Mike Smith is back after being sidelined with an abdominal injury most of last season.The Coyotes also were active during the offseason under first-year general manager John Chayka, adding defensemen Alex Goligoski, Anthony DeAngelo and Luke Schenn, along with forwards Jamie McGinn, Radim Vrbata and Ryan White.Whether the group can end a four-year playoff-less run remains to be seen, but theres no reason to think the Coyotes wont improve upon their 35-win 2015-16 season.Youve got to be careful with optimism because theres 29 other teams that have a lot of optimism, too, but I think ours is genuine, Chayka said. I told the guys the other day were not looking to be a mediocre team. Were trying to be the best and we certainly feel we have the skilled players to get there, but its going to take some time to get there.A few more things to look for from the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016-17 season:DOMI AND DUCLAIR: Arizonas two young forwards burst upon the scene last season, giving the franchise the jolt of youth and speed it had been missing. Domi, son of former NHL tough guy Tie, was second on the Coyotes with 52 points and had 18 goals. Duclair, who arrived in a trade with the New York Rangers prior to last season, added 20 goals and 24 assists. Both players are 21 and work well together, so theres no reason to think they wont get better after that dynamic first season together.DOANER RETURNS: Doan took part of the summer to decide whether to return for another season in the desert. It didnt seem like much of a decision after the season he had in 2015-16. Coming off a couple of disappointing, injury-plagued seasons, Arizonas captain was at the top of his game a year ago. Doan seemed to be rejuvenated by the influx of young players on Arizonas roster, leading the Coyotes with 28 goals while chipping in 19 assists. Doan turns 40 next week, but he still has game and is one of top captains in the NHL.SMITHS RETURN: Smith was the key to Arizonas run to the 2012 Western Conference finals, often stealing games for the Coyotes with his stellar play. The past few seasons have been filled with injuries and inconsistency. Smith was limited to 34 games in 2012-13 due to injury and played 32 last season due to abdominal surgery. If he can stay healthy and play well, the Coyotes could make a strong playoff push.OEL RISES: Ekman-Larsson was considered one of the NHLs top up-and-coming defensemen his first few years in the league and has lived up to that hype the past few. The 25-year-old from Sweden has been an All-Star each of the past four seasons and last year led the Coyotes with 55 points, including 21 goals. If the Coyotes make the playoffs, expect him to be a strong contender for the Norris Trophy.IN THE SYSTEM: Chayka, who took over after Don Maloney was fired after last season, has been praised for building up Arizonas minor league system, turning it into one of the best in the NHL. The Coyotes are loaded with top prospects, including centers Dylan Strome, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, and Christian Dvorak, who had 121 points for London of the OHL last season. The talent pool is deep in Arizona, setting up the Coyotes to be good for a while once they turn the corner. Cheap Stitched Lions Jerseys . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Cheap Lions Jerseys Online . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. 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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Less than eight months after finishing third in voting for the AL Cy Young award, Athletics ace Sonny Gray is mired in the longest slump of his career.There is little indication that things are going to get better any time soon, either.Gray lost his sixth consecutive decision after blowing an early three-run lead and the Athletics offense was held to one hit over the final seven innings of a 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.This hasnt been his best year and hell figure it out and hell get better as the year goes on, As manager Bob Melvin said. Theres always going to be a year thats as not good as other years. So far this is the one for him. Hes been good for us.Gray was coming off two fairly decent starts before blowing up against Pittsburgh in the Pirates first trip to the Oakland Coliseum since June 27, 2010.Gray (3-7) gave up seven runs, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches in six innings while losing his sixth consecutive decision. The right-hander, third in the 2015 AL Cy Young voting, is winless since April 22.Once I got to two outs, I just wasnt able to get them out, Gray said. There were times, like in the sixth where I got two quick outs, I have to be able to shut that inning down and get back out there for the seventh . and not hit a guy and walk another. It just escalated from there.Jody Mercer homered and had an RBI single to help Pittsburgh rally from three runs down to beat. Matt Joyce added two hits, Josh Harrison drove in two runs while Andrew McCutcheon doubled and scored on a wild pitch to help the Pirates to their first win in their history at the Coliseum and just their second in 13 games between the two franchises.They did it by taking advantage of another shaky outing by Gray (3-7).We just stayed the course, Harrison said. We just put together some good at-bats as a team and it wasnt easy on him.Marcus Semien hit his 17th home run of the season for Oakland.ddddddddddddPirates starter Jeff Locke (8-5) also struggled early but retired the final nine batters he faced to win his third straight. He gave up three runs over five innings with three walks and three strikeouts.Three relievers combined to retire the final 12 batters and complete the four-hitter.Mercer homered in the third and added an RBI single as part of a two-run fifth.Harrisons two-out, two-run double in the sixth put the Pirates up 7-3.ALL-STAR PUSHSemiens home run was his fifth in nine games, padding his AL-leading total among shortstops. Melvin thinks Semiens offensive surge should be good enough to earn the young shortstop a trip to the All-Star game in San Diego later this month. Hopefully that merits some consideration going forward, Melvin said. You cant ignore the numbers. Not only is he doing it all offensively, he doing defensively too. He just maturing.LINEUP SHUFFLEJed Lowrie had decent results while batting leadoff for the first time this season. He drew a walk from Locke in the first before Semien homered on a 3-2 pitch. Oaklands second baseman added an RBI double in the second to make it 3-0.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Infielder Tyler Ladendorf was recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game. Left-hander Dillion Overton, the losing pitcher against San Francisco on Thursday, was optioned down. Overton went 1-1 with an 11.42 ERA in two starts.UP NEXTPirates: Right-hander Chad Kuhl (1-0) pitches against Oakland on Saturday in his second career start in the majors after beating Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers in his debut.Athletics: Rich Hill is expected to come off the disabled list to start against Pittsburgh. The left-hander had been out since May 30 with a strained groin. 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