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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols and Mike Trout just completed their fifth season together in the heart of the Los Angeles Angels lineup. They still havent won a playoff game, and postseason success has never seemed farther away after the Angels worst season since 1999.Trout insisted the distance isnt as great as it appears after Los Angeles needed a September surge just to finish 74-88.Theres a lot of positive things we can take away from this year, said Trout, who got engaged and acquired a puppy during the season. It seemed like every other week, our lineup or our pitching staff took a big hit, but we played good for the last few weeks.Indeed, several key starting pitchers and three top relievers all missed large chunks of the Angels season with major injuries. Not many teams would have the depth to overcome so many losses, but in Orange County, they only highlighted the Angels painfully top-heavy payroll and alarmingly shallow development system.C.J. Wilson made $20 million without throwing a pitch due to shoulder problems, while opening day starter Garrett Richards missed the final five months with an injured elbow ligament. No. 2 starter Andrew Heaney and right-hander Andrew Tropeano probably wont return from Tommy John surgery until 2018. Matt Shoemakers recovery is likely but uncertain after a line drive to the head gave him a brain injury late in the season.Not even another MVP-caliber season from Trout prevented the Angels from sliding 11 games behind last seasons record and a whopping 24 games behind the 2014 team, which had the best record in baseball. Los Angeles had the worst season in manager Mike Scioscias 17 years.We know we need to get better, Scioscia said. Were really confident we will get better. There needs to be some talent added. We all recognize that, but I think the core in there is championship-caliber.Scioscia is expected to return for his 18th season as the longest-tenured manager in baseball, and he plans to keep his coaching staff intact. Owner Arte Moreno also remains publicly confident in first-year general manager Billy Epplers ability to rebuild the Angels foundation after departed GM Jerry Dipotos stormy tenure.Many of the Angels problems going forward are of Morenos making: They already have more than $100 million committed to just eight players next season -- and one of those is Josh Hamilton, the long-departed outfielder still being paid by Moreno for the final year of his embarrassing contract.Here are more things to watch in the offseason:FREE MONEY: The Angels spent to the luxury tax limit this season with the majors seventh-largest payroll, but the huge salaries of pitchers Jered Weaver and Wilson come off the books this winter. Eppler and Moreno likely must spend at least part of that money on new starting pitching, but the Angels finally have options after essentially sitting out of the free-agent market last year.RICHARDS RECOVERY: The Angels rotation plans hinge on the health of Richards, who decided to rest his arm while receiving stem cell therapy in an attempt to avoid Tommy John surgery. He is headed to instructional league play this week, and if he beats the odds and comes back strong, the Angels will have one fewer question mark. If not, Los Angeles has trouble before 2017 even begins.DREAM WEAVER: The Angels havent announced whether they will re-sign Weaver, the second-winningest pitcher in franchise history with 150 wins over the last 11 years. Weaver, who learned to eat innings with control and guile after his velocity declined in recent years, hopes to stay with his only big-league club -- and hey, the Angels clearly need starting pitching.MAYBE MVP: Trout has a strong case for his second AL MVP award after another superlative statistical season, but the Angels ineptitude could cost him the crown. The center fielder led the majors with 123 runs and 116 walks while batting .315 with a .991 OPS, 29 homers, 100 RBI and 30 stolen bases.EX MACHINA: The 36-year-old Pujols has hit the halfway point of his lavish free-agent contract, but still has five years and $140 million remaining. He made big contributions for his money this season: His 119 RBI were fourth-most in the majors and his best since 2009, while he climbed to ninth on baseballs career list with 591 homers. Pujols pursuit of homer milestones should provide entertainment in 2017, but the Angels must pray his production numbers at least remain stable. 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The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. SUNRISE, Fla. -- For Shawn Thornton, the moment will be bittersweet.The Florida Panthers will unveil their Atlantic Division championship banner on Thursday night, the last official piece of last seasons business before this new season opens at home against the New Jersey Devils.For fans, itll be a nice moment. For players, maybe not so much.Its cool that theres a banner going up, Thornton said. But in my opinion, theres only one banner that counts.Theres still no Stanley Cup in the Panthers collection, a void the team thinks it has a legitimate shot at filling this season. Boasting a mix of veterans -- Jaromir Jagr is 44 and led the team in scoring last season, Thornton is likely going into his last season at 39, goalie Roberto Luongo is 37 and still seeking his first touch of hockeys chalice -- and a talented young core, expectations are probably higher around Florida than ever.Luongo thinks even the division banner will serve as a motivator.I think more than anything its going to remind everybody of the work that you need to put in to be successful in the regular season, Luongo said. Its a long year. Its a grind. Its not something that just happens. You have to put in the work. You have to sacrifice.Luongo even being on the ice for opening night shows that he put in plenty of work.He had hip surgery in May and the Panthers were far from convinced this summer that their No. 1 goalie would be ready to go when the ggames started counting for real.dddddddddddd They even made certain deals this offseason with the belief that Luongo might be sidelined for the early portion of the regular season, doing so out of an abundance of caution.But Luongo went through an aggressive rehab program and got back on the ice in plenty of time for camp and the season.I wouldnt have known exactly what to expect, Luongo said, when asked if he would have guessed in May that he would be ready in October. But its here and were excited. I think as a group, we want to get it going and start off on the right foot. Its like a kid on Christmas Eve.Panthers coach Gerard Gallant wasnt surprised that Luongo was ready this soon.I know Louie works hard in the offseason and works hard with his therapy, Gallant said. So no, I was expecting him to be ready.Florida is coming off the best regular season in franchise history -- with club records for wins (47), points (103) and a 12-game winning streak in there as well.Even though the postseason ended in the first round, the Panthers know they arent looked upon as doormats any more.Everybody knows were a good team, Gallant said. Were not going to sneak up on anybody. The last two years results were positive results and anybody that comes in here knows that they have to play well to beat us. ' ' '