Saturday Night Hockey: World Cup of...NHL?

Oh, there are so many things I could talk about this week

• Phil Kessel blows off media after a tough loss (it's justified, will say - overall that is - he probably should speak a bit more, no matter how little he actually says).
• Actually, anything Leafs-related this week is hilarious and a non-story.
• Jack Johnson filing for bankruptcy (horrible parents, hope Jack is able to sort out the mess he was dragged in to).
• NHL responding to the concussion lawsuit against them (errr, maybe not the best reply there, NHL).
• Gordie Howe's condition getting worse (keep hanging in there Gordie).
• NHL expanding to Las Vegas (this I wouldn't mind talking about another time)
• Voynov having charges pressed against him (what he allegedly did was wrong)

But the one thing that stuck with me this week and yes, something I've tackled before*), the NHL (is about to) bring back the World Cup!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

So, whose going to be all in it? The Top Six (Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, USA) area given. I suspect Slovakia and Switzerland will get some love. Maybe a random country like Netherlands. I mean, they did have a nice Olympic qualifying run, and there is a guy with the nickname "Dutch Gretzky" in the NHL. From Chris Johnston:

The eight-team event is now expected to include two all-star entries along with the top six hockey nations — Canada, U.S., Sweden, Finland, Russia and Czech Republic — when it returns in September 2016, according to multiple sources.

The first all-star team is expected to feature the best players from the remaining European countries: Slovakia, Switzerland, Latvia, Germany and Slovenia, among them.

The makeup of the other mixed squad is still to be determined, although one idea being considered is bringing together all of the top young stars in the sport.

Hmmm, so we get a Rest of World team and a team of young rejects...I mean stars. Another idea is a North American B Team, which basically means the eighth team doesn't have an age limit for its rejects...sorry, stars.

I'm fine with the Rest of World team as the eighth team. The NHL really needs an actual country for the seventh though. Having a team of players (North American I might add) defeats the purpose of having "World" in "World Cup" (and as a side note, Future Swiss Superstar™ Joe Thornton gets snubbed either way).

Just a simple plea to the NHL. Do the right thing, have eight actual (or at least seven actual and one RoW) countries participate in this tournament.

*Sorry for the tables in that post, it was from when this site had a black background.

Lineup Notables

St. Louis Blues vs. Ottawa Senators

St. Louis: The Blues are healthy. Brain Elliot might start.
Ottawa: Marc Methot (back) is out. Robin Lehner starts this afternoon.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

Montreal: Michael Bournival (shoulder) is out. Carey Price is in net.
Boston: Marc Savard (concussion), Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara (knee), Adam McQuaid (thumb), David Warsofsky (groin) are out. Tuukka Rask is expected to start.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Detroit: Pavel Datsyuk (groin), Brendan Smith (hand), and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) are out. Jimmy Howard starts.
"Get away from me": Joffrey Lupul (hand), David Booth (foot), and Brandon Kozun (ankle) are out. Jonathan Bernier might be in net.

New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames

The Cory Schneiders: Ryane Clowe (concussion), Bryce Salvador (lower body), and Jon Merrill (arm) are out. At this point, it would be a shock if Cory Schneider didn't start.
Calgary: Mikael Backlund (abdomen), Joe Colborne (upper body), Matt Stajan (knee), Mason Raymond (upper body), and Sam Bennett (shoulder) are out while Kris Russell (lower body) is questionable. Karri Ramo starts tonight.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers

Chicago: Patrick Sharp (lower body), Andrew Shaw (upper body), Trevor van Riemsdyk (leg) are out. AAnnttii RRaannttaa is in net.
Edmonton: The Oilers are healthy. Ben Scrivens might start.