RIO DE JANEIRO -- When Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden were hired to take over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the expectation within in the organization and around the NBA was that they were coming in to make significant changes to a franchise with the longest-running playoff drought in the league.Ricky Rubio heard his name floated in the constant trade rumor mill, never more than after the Wolves selected Providences Kris Dunn, another point guard, with the fifth overall pick in the June draft.Rubio remained quiet throughout the summer, putting all of his focus into grieving the loss of his mother and then joining his national team to prepare for the Olympics. Now that the Rio Games have concluded and Rubio has earned a bronze medal with Spain, he said he is looking forward to returning to Minnesota to work with Dunn and reiterated his desire to remain with the Timberwolves and help turn them into a winner.Really its a challenge. When a young guy like him who has a lot of potential comes, I think we can really play together, Rubio told The Associated Press. But if we dont (share the floor often), I can really help him.Rubio said he was pleased by Thibodeaus hiring and believes the new coaching staff will make a big difference on a young, impressionable roster.I think weve got all the pieces together to make something happen, he said. Im really excited about the new coach and the new staff. They have a lot of years in their backpack and really can teach us how to reach the next level. I think we have the tools. We just have to put all them together.Thibodeau has said he can see Dunn and Rubio playing together in certain lineups, and indications within the organization are that there are no current efforts to trade the veteran starter. One of the teams biggest weaknesses last season was the lack of a solid backup to Rubio at point guard, a setup that caused the Wolves to try to move Zach LaVine from his more natural shooting guard spot.With Dunn in the mix, the Wolves have more depth now. And Rubios presence assures the team doesnt have to force a rookie into a starting spot at one of the games most important positions.The 25-year-old Rubio is entering his sixth season and has yet to see the playoffs. He said that concerns him far more than his team investing a high lottery pick on a player at his position. Rubio believes he can serve as a mentor to Dunn and hopes the two can push each other to new heights.Its something that Ive said since Day One. Rubio said. I dont want to be in the newspaper. I just want to win. Thats my goal. If I have to sacrifice something, I will to make this team a winning team.That is the mentality he took on over the summer with Spain, a team filled with proud veterans who take lesser roles when they get together in the summer to compete in the Olympics.All we do (with Spain) when we click is put all the egos apart and really click as a team, Rubio said. The guy who really knows how to (play) defense, put him in on defense. The guy who is exceptional on offense, give him credit and give him the ball. Put everything apart and the team first.Rubio has had several conversations with Thibodeau since he was hired. But they havent had the time to really dig into the situation. Thibodeau was an assistant on Team USA in Rio, so now that the Olympics are over, the two expect to have more in-depth conversations.In my five years Ive been there, definitely its the best group, Rubio said. Players, coaches, you put it all together and its the best weve ever had. The excitement is real. 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DENVER -- The shock and surprise of Patrick Roys departure is wearing off.Now its time to get back to business for the Colorado Avalanche, who open training camp Friday under first-time NHL coach Jared Bednar after Roys stunning decision to walk away last month.Everybody in here liked [Patrick], said defenseman Francois Beauchemin, who signed with the Avalanche in July 2015 partly because of Roy. We were happy. But we didnt have the success we wanted to.The Avs are coming off a season in which they missed the playoffs for a second straight year. Their offseason moves basically consisted of bringing in center Joe Colborne and defenseman Fedor Tyutin, along with signing defenseman Tyson Barrie (four years, $22 million) and forward Nathan MacKinnon (seven years, $44.1 million).Of course, they also lost Roy, who cited disagreements within the organization as the reason he left as coach.I didnt see it coming at all, forward?Jarome Iginla said. But at the same time, if that was the way he felt, you just move forward. As players, were excited now to get the season going and learn some new things and get at it.Bednar led the Lake Erie Monsters, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, to the 2016 Calder Cup title. A former defenseman, he played nine seasons of professional hockey but never made it to the NHL until being hired to fill a surprise head-coaching vacancy.Bednars still learning about a roster that features a top-notch goaltender in Semyon Varlamov?and scoring threats such as Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and MacKinnon. Bednar will have to wait a little while longer to catch a glimpse of them in person, though, because theyre all playing at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.MacKinnon scored a nifty overtime goal to help Team North America win on Wednesday.You look at the way those guys are playing there, the way theyre competing, the prominent roles theyre playing, the ssuccess theyre having, Im excited for those guys and the opportunity they have there, Bednar said.dddddddddddd But well be equally as excited to get them back and join our team.Bednar has watched plenty of film of the Avalanche from last season -- enough to get a feel for the strengths, such as team speed, and weaknesses, which included another sluggish start to the season.If we put in the work and come prepared to work with the right habits and were doing the right things, paying attention to detail, then well get the results we want down the road -- early in the season and later on, Bednar said.Bednar said he still plans on having Landeskog keep the captains C on his sweater. But other leaders have yet to be determined.I expect everyone to take somewhat of a leadership role, Bednar said. We all have to lead whether were wearing a letter or not.The team brought in Rene Bourque on a professional tryout contract. He played 49 games with Columbus last season and had eight points.They like the type of player I am and they think I can be a good fit if I show them I can still play in the preseason, said Bourque, 34. I think I do have lots left.Colborne joins Colorado coming off his most productive NHL season. He scored 19 goals and had 25 assists for Calgary in 2015-16. Colborne said he knows his way around the Mile-High City after playing collegiately for the University of Denver. He was at the rink of his college the day he found out about Roys exit.Theres so much respect for him throughout this city and throughout the league, Colborne said. Sometimes you have to do things that are for personal reasons. Right now, though, just talking with our new coach, [Bednar] seems like hes already bought in and ready to go. Theres a lot of excitement among us guys to have him at the helm. ' ' '