The Chicago Blackhawks will have five players play in the World Championship, which starts Friday in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.
The Chicago contingent includes Michal Kempny (Czech Republic), Marcus Kruger (Sweden), Artemi Panarin (Russia) and Nick Schmaltz and Trevor van Riemsdyk (United States).
In Hawks prospect news, Alex DeBrincat and the Erie Otters host Mississauga in Game 1 of the Ontario Hockey League Final on Thursday.
HAWKS
**Hawks sign Kampf to 2-year ELC (SCH)
**Hawks need to pick a path despite limited options (SCH)
**Prospect Shalunov to stay in KHL for next 3 seasons (SCH)
**IceHogs 2016-17 team awards (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**How the Preds won Game 4 to take 3-1 series lead (On The Forecheck)
**Blues, Preds embrace mutual disdain (The Tennessean)
**Preds don’t care about underdog label (The Tennessean)
**Hochman: Time for Blues to take it up a notch (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Blues are getting shots but few goals (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Josh Kroenke retains faith in GM Sakic despite rough season for Avs (Denver Post)
**Wild’s Zucker to undergo sports hernia surgery (Star Tribune)
**Boudreau lived up to his potential (Hockey Wilderness)
**Folin impressed then regressed for Wild (Hockey Wilderness)
**Stars season grades: Jason Spezza (Defending Big D)
**Grading Stephen Johns: Hitting a Ruff patch (Defending Big D)
**Jets season review: Morrissey (Arctic Ice Hockey)
**Jets season review: Trouba (Arctic Ice Hockey)
**Jets season review: Thorburn (Arctic Ice Hockey)
NHL
**Stanley Cup playoff schedule, matchups (SBN)
**RECAP: Injury-riddled Penguins put Capitals on brink of elimination (Pensburgh)
**RECAP: Getzlaf dominates in Ducks OT win over Oilers in Game 3 (PHT)
**Sabres ‘close’ to hiring GM, and Botterill looks like the favorite (PHT)
**Sharks assistant Boughner reportedly joins Florida’s coaching candidate list (PHT)
**Coyotes COO Ari Segal leaves organization — less than a year after being hired (PHT)
**Canucks re-sign defenseman Pedan to one-year, two-way deal (PHT)
**Evander Kane’s trespassing, harassment charges dropped (Die By The Blade)
**Detroit signs Czech League standout goalie Machovsky (Winging It In Motown)
**Bruins ‘doing everything we possibly can’ to sign Notre Dame prospect Bjork (PHT)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Garbutt signs with KHL Sochi (PHT)
**OHL Final Preview: Otters edge Steelheads in experience in tight matchup (Sportsnet)
**Regina’s Sam Steel (Ducks prospect) named WHL player of the year (Sportsnet)