The calm before the storm is here as the 2016 World Cup of Hockey begins Saturday in Toronto. The tournament features eight teams and should be a lot of fun, although it’ll be hard not to watch it without considering the potential impact on the upcoming NHL season. In the meantime, here’s the latest from around the hockey world:
HAWKS
**Duncan Keith could miss start of season (SCH)
**Top 25 Under 25: Alex DeBrincat is No. 4 (SCH)
**Blackhawks player ratings in “NHL 17” (SCH)
**Blackhawks among favorites in early Stanley Cup odds (SCH)
**ISS Hockey ranked the top 30 freshmen in college hockey and Hawks prospect Chad Krys came in No. 11. (College Hockey Inc.)
**Lots of video from the World Cup media day (The Athletic)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**The Wild have cap space, but is that number deceiving? (Hockey Wilderness)
**The Avs added a pair of analytics consultants to their hockey staff. (BSN Denver)
**Blues announce training camp roster (St. Louis Game Time)
**Expectations for Antoine Roussel and Patrick Eaves for next season (Defending Big D)
NHL
**Some players in the World Cup are still restricted free agents in the NHL, but they’re not worried (Puck Daddy)
**Alex Ovechkin wants to play in the 2018 Olympics whether the NHL is there or not (Puck Daddy)
**Scott Powers talked analytics with Corsica Hockey founder Manny Elk (The Athletic)
**Marc Andre-Fleury wants to stick in Pittsburgh if he can (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
**Bill Daly says the NHL is adding more concussion spotters this season (NBC Sports)