ckey today is quite like the captain of the Ottawa Senators

Some of the players to watch on the eight teams competing at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, which begins Saturday:Patrick Kane, U.S.The reigning NHL MVP and three-time Stanley Cup winner gets another showcase stage in international play after not producing up to expectations at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Kane wont have usual Chicago Blackhawks teammate Jonathan Toews, but hell likely have either 30-goal scorer Joe Pavelski or Derek Stepan as his center. They will benefit from Kane at right wing, where the Americans also have Sochi shootout hero T.J. Oshie.Connor McDavid, North AmericaMcDavid, 19, is already a real threat to win the Art Ross Trophy next season as the leagues top scorer after posting 48 points in 45 games as a rookie. The tournament in Toronto will allow the Oilers star to show off his considerable skills against hockeys elite. Teaming up with other top youngsters like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Nathan MacKinnon and Johnny Gaudreau makes North America a team to watch.Vladimir Tarasenko, RussiaTarasenko hasnt quite reached the Alex Ovechkin stratosphere of goal-scoring, but hes rapidly moving in that direction for the St. Louis Blues. The 24-year-old hit a career-high with 40 goals last season and his 77 goals over the past two campaigns trail only Ovechkin (103) and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (79). Like Ovechkin, hes an explosive scorer capable of creating something from nothing. Almost unnoticed as a member of Russias disappointing 2014 Olympic squad (zero goals), Tarasenko is unlikely to go quietly on the big stage in Toronto.Patrik Laine, FinlandLaine thought that he and not Matthews shouldve been the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft, and at the World Cup hell get his first chance to demonstrate why. Laine is coming off an unbelievable year that saw him thrive everywhere: from a championship-winning squad in the Finnish league, where he was playoff MVP, to a gold-medal win on home soil at the world junior championships, to the world championship in Russia, where Finland won silver. Laine turned 18 in April, but hes already exceptionally confident and an especially enticing figure to watch.Erik Karlsson, SwedenNo other defenseman in hockey today is quite like the captain of the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson can be mesmerizing to watch for his ability to dish the puck. Over the past five NHL seasons Karlsson has 314 points, 76 more than the next closest defender, Nashvilles P.K. Subban. Karlsson put up eight points in six games for Sweden at the 2014 Olympics. When good things are happening for the Swedes its likely Karlsson is involved.Leon Draisaitl, EuropeOne of only a handful of German players in the NHL, Draisaitl is easily the brightest young star suiting up for a veteran-laden Europe squad. His first full season for the Oilers was promising, as the 20-year-old former No. 3 overall pick rung up 19 goals and 51 points. Skilled with a sturdy six-foot-one frame, Draisaitl and has been compared to Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar and the two will get a chance to play alongside one another at the World Cup. The Europeans are rich with veterans like Kopitar, Zdeno Chara and Marian Hossa, but short on excitable young talent. Draisaitl brings that element.Jakub Voracek, Czech RepublicThe Czechs could struggle without injured center David Krejci, so their tournament hinges on goaltending and Voracek leading the offense. Going into the first season of a $66 million, eight-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, the talented winger has plenty of pressure on him.Carey Price, CanadaWhen healthy, Price is without a doubt the best goaltender in the world. After missing almost an entire NHL season with a knee injury, the star of the Montreal Canadiens is Canadas backbone. If he plays like he did in Sochi, the rest of the teams may be fighting for second place. Cheap Shoes From China . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Cheap Shoes From China Free Shipping .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. http://www.shoescheap.us/ . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Cheap Shoes From China Wholesale . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Cheap Shoes Wholesale Free Shipping . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. What do you need to know about last nights big stories? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best. This is where we say, Morning, Joe.McDavid is just getting started: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary might have stolen the show with his two goals in the teams 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. But make no mistake:?Connor McDavid proved once again that he can play with the best in the world -- as in, the Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby -- and also stand out as an all-around talent. McDavid, 19, had three assists in his first matchup against Crosby. Although Crosby, 29, is still in his prime, the league and its fans should be thrilled that once the torch is passed, McDavid will be a great ambassador for the game. His incredible speed, sense and hockey IQ are already at an elite level. He has three or more points in seven of his 59 career games. Theres plenty more coming from McDavid, so sit back and enjoy because its going to be a pleasure watching him develop into one of the games greats.Laine keeps scoring: During a World Cup of Hockey practice for Team Finland, goalie Tuukka Rask was repeatedly scored on by phenom Patrik Laine. At one point, Laine scored a goal at point-blank range that Rask later admitted he never saw. There was an image of the goalie just looking at the puck in the net in total disbelief. It was at that moment Rask realized just how talented Laine is as an 18-yyear-old forward.dddddddddddd. On Tuesday, Laine scored his second career hat trick in only his 14th NHL game. It was also a career-high four points as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Dallas Stars 8-2. Laine now has 11 goals and four assists for 15 points. Its fitting that he becomes the first player to score 11 goals in his first 14 career games since fellow Finn Teemu Selanne accomplished the feat in 1992-93. Selanne was an incredible player. Laine is going to be better.Where does Nash fit it?: Its hard to figure out the legacy of the New York Rangers Rick Nash. The forward scored his 400th career goal -- the 92nd player in NHL history to do so -- during Tuesdays 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The Rangers are off to a strong start (10-4-0), and Nash, 32, is one of the reasons the Rangers are poised for a solid season. But its still difficult to define his career. He is one of three NHL players to score at least 400 goals since 2002-03, the start of his rookie season, joining Alex Ovechkin and Jarome Iginla. Strangely enough, all three have yet to win a Stanley Cup. And all three players are in a class of their own because in order to achieve that elite status, they must win a championship. Ovechkin and Iginla are no doubt future Hall of Famers, but Nash is borderline. ' ' '