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TAMPA, Fla. -- Jameis Winston is embracing his role as the face of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.If there were any lingering questions about him unquestionably being the leader of the team, the young quarterback is putting them to rest as he prepares for his second NFL season.The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft threw for 4,042 yards and 22 touchdowns as a rookie, helping the Bucs triple their victory total from the previous year.It wasnt enough to save the job of former coach Lovie Smith, who was fired after a 6-10 finish, however the 22-year-olds success spawned optimism that an eight-year playoff drought could end soon.He sets the tone for our team, first-year head coach Dirk Koetter said. We have a lot of good football players on our team, but from a leadership standpoint Jameis sets the tone.With Winston and running back Doug Martin, who rushed for 1,402 yards, leading the way, the Bucs ranked a franchise best fifth in total offense year ago.Tampa Bay spent most of the past six seasons building around four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy in hopes of escaping the NFC South cellar.This offseason, McCoy said he quietly passed the torch to Winston during a private conversation.The face of the franchise came to me and said, `Hey listen, if were going to win we need you to do this. Our quarterback said this is what he needs, this is what Im going to do, McCoy said, declining to provide specific details about what the players discussed.If he feels like thats what our team needs in order for us to win, who am I to tell him, `No, Im not going to do that? I want to win too, McCoy added. Hes an intelligent guy, young or not. Very mature, very intelligent. He sits back and he watches and analyzes and hes seeing something that he feels like I can do to help this team be better. Its not hard to do, its a matter of me just doing it.Winston didnt shed much light on the conversation either, saying he simply encouraged McCoy to continue to step up, continue to be who you are -- an accomplished player with a strong voice, on and off the field.I just talked to him after the season, just to get his insight on how I was as a leader, the quarterback said. I believe Gerald is a great leader to this team, and hes not the only leader that weve got. I just know that he has a little bit more in him.Koetter is just excited that the Bucs, who went 2-14 two years ago and havent made the playoffs since 2007, are talking among themselves about leadership at all.The coach added its been fun watching Winstons mature and grow since entering the league.It jumps out at you, Koetter, Tampa Bays offensive coordinator a year ago, said of the quarterback asserting himself more this camp. Jameis is a special guy. I might have been one of the last people on board, but Im fully on board now and its nice. Its a great thing to have.Linebacker Lavonte David likes what hes seen, too.It was something I expected. ... From the first day he got here, he showed why he was that No. 1 pick, David said. Hes going to keep getting better and better.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Lance McCullers Astros Jersey . 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Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). If youre going to get a rash of injuries, I suppose you might as well get them early in the season and not at the end, when you need your players most. But yeesh, its as if a dark cloud has hovered over the Dallas Stars before the puck even dropped for the 2016-17 season.To wit:Captain and superstar forward Jamie Benn had offseason surgery to repair an injured core muscle. He played his first preseason game Tuesday night and is hoping to be up to speed in time for the regular season.Scoring sensation Tyler Seguin suffered a heel injury in Team Canadas first World Cup pre-tournament game Sept. 8. He started skating this week, and the Stars remain hopeful that he will return in time for the start of the season.Winger Ales Hemsky remains out with a groin injury he suffered while playing for the Czechs at the World Cup. The Stars are hoping hes back for the start of the season.Center Cody Eakin is out until early November because of a knee injury.Forward Mattias Janmark is out five or six months because of joint disorder in his knee.Forward Devin Shore (lower body) could be back around opening night.Forward Jason Dickinson had hip surgery in April and is out until December.For good measure, winger Valeri Nichushkin bolted to the KHL on a two-year deal last month.Uncle! However, if Benn and Seguin get in a full season or close to it, there is no reason the Stars cant contend for the Central Division title they won the past season. Still, it has been an inauspicious start, to be sure.Best new facesThe late August signing of Jiri Hudler to a one-year, $2 million deal might be one of best bargains of the summer, especially with Nichushkin gone to Russia. Pay attention, fantasy players, Hudler might very well start the season on a line with Benn and Seguin. The Czech veteran is just two years removed from a 76-point season in which he scored 31 goals. Playing with Benn and Seguin, he should certainly top the combined 46 points (16-30) he put up in 69 games with the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers?last season.Veteran defenseman Dan Hamhuis was a quality unrestricted free-agent addition. Whats funny is the Stars nearly acquired him at the trade deadline last season, but the deal with the Vancouver Canucks?fell through. Now the Stars have Hamhuis. He will be an important top-four presence and a character leader in the dressing room.Biggest unknownsHow will the blue line adjust to losing Alex Goligoski, Kris Russell and Jason Demers in the offseason? Hamhuis was added, but the Stars are banking on younger defensemen Patrik Nemeth, Jamie Oleksiak and Stephen Johns to be ready to take on bigger roles this season.dddddddddddd That might mean the first half of the season is spent with these guys figuring things out. But long-term, the Stars have been preparing for this. Young star defenseman John Klingberg continues his growth as well.The biggest unknown of all, of course, remains in goal, where the veteran Finnish duo of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi produced mixed results the past season. On one hand, the two combined for 50 wins en route to a Central Division title. On the other, they combined for a .906 save percentage, which isnt good enough. The lasting image of Lehtonen getting pounded by the St. Louis Blues?early in Game 7 wont soon be forgotten. Can they rebound? Is this goaltending good enough for the Stars to get to the Stanley Cup finals? I will say this: By the March trade deadline, there will be teams worried about losing a goalie they like in the June expansion draft to Las Vegas. That could present the Stars opportunities to upgrade in goal, if indeed GM Jim Nill feels that is warranted. Right now, I believe Nill thinks Lehtonen and Niemi can do the job.Sure thingsJamie Benn won the NHL scoring title in 2014-15, with 87 points (35-52) in 82 games, and followed that by finishing second to Patrick Kane last season, with 89 points (41-48) in 82 games. Benn does it all on both sides of the puck. He is a throwback in some ways, with his intimidating style, yet he is blessed with soft hands. OK, Ive got a man crush on Benn, I will admit it.Klingberg finished fifth among all NHL defensemen with 58 points (10-48) in 76 games last season, up from the 40 points (11-29) he put up in 65 games in his rookie season. Hes only 24, and hes still getting better. Hes fun to watch and keys the transition game for the Stars.PredictionThe Stars have had a tough training camp with injuries, but they will get through it and once again entertain us with some of the most up-tempo hockey in the NHL. Fans get their moneys worth watching this club play. But is the goaltending good enough to win come playoff time? I think the Stars will battle the Nashville Predators for the division title but fall short. Second in the Central. ' ' '