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Viktor Stalberg believes the Nashville Predators have many of the elements in place to start winning again. Their chances of bouncing back from a disappointing season could depend on whether the 27-year-old forward can help solve his new teams scoring problems. Less than two weeks after winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, Stalberg signed a four-year, $12 million contract to join Nashville as part of the Predators uncharacteristic free-agent spending spree. The Predators are counting on Stalberg to boost an offence that scored just 2.27 goals per game this past season to match the Florida Panthers for the lowest average in the NHL. "Just from playing against them the last couple of years, I know theyre very well-built and well-coached," Stalberg said Monday during a conference call with Nashville media. "Hopefully, I can add some offence to that team as well." As the free-agent period opened Friday, the Predators signed five players to contracts totalling over $36 million. Stalberg joined forwards Matt Cullen, Matt Hendricks and Eric Nystrom and goaltender Carter Hutton in signing with Nashville. Stalberg is moving from the Stanley Cup champions to a Nashville team that finished last in the Central Division and 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference with a 16-23-9 record. The switch should allow Stalberg to have more of a chance to show what he can do. "I wanted to come to a team where I could have a bigger opportunity and play a little bit more," Stalberg said. "As you guys know, in Chicago we had superstars. ... Its tough to get the opportunity ahead of those guys, and theyre going to get the big minutes. I had a couple of good years there, but I think I can keep improving. I dont think Ive reached my potential." Stalberg had 22 goals and 21 assists in 2011-12 for the Blackhawks. Stalberg followed that up with nine goals and 14 assists in 47 games this past season, but he struggled to earn playing time during the Blackhawks playoff run. The presence of star forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa made it difficult for Stalberg to break through. "They had a lot of high-end forwards, so he never got a lot of opportunities in those situations," Predators coach Barry Trotz said Friday when Nashville announced all the new signings. "He ended up being on the third line, some fourth line, which is probably not his role. You dont get the same opportunities." Asked whether he got a fair shot at becoming a top-six forward in Chicago, Stalberg replied, "Yes and no." "Certainly you cant be mad at that, either," Stalberg said. "Look at that lineup. Thats just the way it is. Its probably the last couple of years the best team in hockey if you look at the roster. At the same time that you want to be on a good team - winning and all that - it might not be the opportunity to reach my potential." He should have that opportunity in Nashville, which traditionally has been known for its defence. The Predators have one of the leagues top goaltenders in Pekka Rinne and an elite defenceman in captain Shea Weber. They improved their defence even more by selecting highly touted Seth Jones with the fourth overall pick in the draft. "Looking at that, I think what they were missing was offensive players, but thats certainly what they went out and looked for in free agency," Stalberg said. "Thats why I decided to go there. I think theyve got a good thing going. Obviously getting back to the playoffs is the big thing next year."Mitch Wishnowsky Super Bowl Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Joe Montana Super Bowl Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. http://www.thesf49ersshoponline.com/Youth-Garrett-Celek-49ers-Jersey/ . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. KWaun Williams Super Bowl Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Jason Verrett Super Bowl Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies.For more than a decade, the NFL has been taking its game abroad looking to attract new fans and new markets to football.When the Oakland Raiders take on the Houston Texans on Monday night in Mexico City, the fans at Azteca Stadium will see something no foreign audience has ever gotten the chance to watch: two teams with winning records.Instead of watching the dregs of the league, the sold-out crowd at the renovated Azteca Stadium will see a game with playoff implications when the Raiders (7-2) take on the Texans (6-3) in a matchup of first-place teams.Despite the big stage, high stakes and international flair, it still is just one game.We know if you dont win, it doesnt mean anything. Its a cool thing to look back on someday, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. It doesnt change the game for me. It doesnt change my heart rate. It stays the same.The Raiders enter the game on a roll having won three straight games before a bye, capped by a 30-20 prime-time win over defending Super Bowl champion Denver on Nov. 6. That has Oakland off to its best start since 2001 as the team hopes to end a 13-year playoff drought .The Texans have won two straight and are in sole possession of first place in the AFC South, but have gotten much less publicity for their record than Oakland. In part, thats because Houston has been outscored by 27 points with lopsided losses to New England, Minnesota and Denver overshadowing the wins.A victory against a Raiders team that has been so impressive of late would be a big step forward for the TexansI think every single week is a statement game, Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler said. When you look across the National Football League, every single week is different. You see one team maybe blow out somebody one week and then the next week they get blown out, or a win and then the next week they lose. So, I think every single week you need to go out there and prove yourself.Here are some other things to watch:WRONG CARR: After David Carr failed to develop into a franchise quarterback when Houston drafted him with its first pick as an expansion team in 2002, the Texans twice passed on his little brother in 2014. Houston took pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall pick, then guard Xavier Sua-Filo at the top of the second round -- three picks before Derek went to Oakland. That move looks suspect now with Carr developing into one of thhe leagues top young quarterbacks.ddddddddddddWe chose who we chose and were happy with who we chose, coach Bill OBrien said. Dereks having a good year.MACK ATTACK: The Raiders were very happy with Houstons draft that year. They ended up with edge rusher Khalil Mack with the fifth pick and he has outperformed Clowney so far with 26 sacks to Clowneys 7 +. Then they got Carr in the second round.Mack has sacks in four straight games and is looking forward to a rematch with Osweiler after sacking him five times in one game last year in Denver.We are well aware of what Khalil Macks capable of doing -- obviously I experienced it firsthand last year -- and we will have answers for him, Osweiler said.HIGHER GROUND: Both teams will have to deal with the altitude for the game played at an elevation of 7,350 feet. The teams wont arrive in Mexico until Sunday in hopes of limiting the effects of the altitude, and they spent the week preparing for it.Just work hard, Mack said. You cant really control the elevation. Its like Denver and all those other places. Just get ready and expect you might have a hard time breathing.OAKLANDS ENGINE: The Raiders have invested heavily in the offensive line the past few years by signing free agents Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele, Donald Penn and Austin Howard and it is paying big dividends now. Oakland has allowed a league-low 11 sacks and has run the ball effectively of late, especially two weeks ago against Denver when the Raiders gained 218 yards on the ground. Carr attributes the success of the team to the play of the line.He calls us the engine, Penn said. Theres no car without an engine.PUNT PARTY: Marquette King had big shoes to fill in Oakland back in 2013 when he replaced six-time All-Pro Shane Lechler as Raiders punter. King has thrived and leads the NFL this season with 21 punts of at least 50 yards. He celebrates some of those punts with dance moves that have gone viral. While Lechler is impressed by his successors kicking leg, the dance moves are something else.Unfortunately, I have, Lechler said when asked whether he had seen any of the dances.---AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '