players.His new backup, Brandon Jennings, missed nearly a full year after an Achilles injury before returning last December. New center Joakim Noah, Roses former teammate with the Bulls

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. Air Max 270 White Volt . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Air Max 270 Grape . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. http://www.cheapairmax270react.com/air-max-270-flyknit-fake/air-max-270-flyknit-black-and-red.html . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Air Max 270 Ultramarine . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Air Max 270 Fuchsia . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Derrick Rose apparently isnt worried about a potential rape trial, and neither are the New York Knicks.President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson said Friday that the Knicks dont expect Roses season to be affected, but wont say if he might miss any games because of the trial that would begin in California exactly three weeks before the official Oct. 25 opener.Were just going to let the process work itself out, Jackson said during a news conference at the teams practice facility.Were not concerned. We understand this is a serious subject were talking about, but this has to be done outside of our control. Its something we cant control, Jackson said. So Derrick has expressed that hes not concerned about it. I mean hes quite aware of it, but its not keeping him up at night, so well leave it at that.A woman sued Rose last year, claiming the former MVP and two of his friends raped her in August 2013 while she was incapacitated after a night of drinking. Rose and the others deny her claims and contend they had consensual sex with her that night.Rose would not be required to attend the civil trial that is scheduled to begin Oct. 4, early in the NBA preseason. However, its expected he would be there for at least portions of it.We anticipate that it will not affect his season, hopefully, training camp or games, but were going to let the due process of the justice system work its way through in the next week and a half or so, Jackson said.The Knicks acquired Rose from the Chicago Bulls on the eve of the NBA draft in June. The point guard was the NBA MVP in 2011 but has battled injuries since, not appearing in more than 66 games in any seeason.ddddddddddddBut coach Jeff Hornacek said Rose is healthy and has looked quick in workouts.The one thing hes excited about going into this season playing-wise is that he feels hes been able to do a lot of things this summer to get himself ready for it, Hornacek said, mentioning yoga. Hes feeling that his body is good. Watching him play in some of the pickup games that theyve been playing, you see those spurts of quickness that he has.Rose was the biggest -- and likely riskiest -- move Jackson made this summer in trying to improve a team that went 32-50 last season and hasnt made the playoffs since Jackson was hired in March 2014. His injuries, mostly to his knees, have robbed him of some of the explosiveness that made him one of the leagues most dynamic players.His new backup, Brandon Jennings, missed nearly a full year after an Achilles injury before returning last December. New center Joakim Noah, Roses former teammate with the Bulls, managed just 4.3 points per game in 29 appearances last season because of a shoulder injury.But Jackson said the Knicks needed to take the risks, and general manager Steve Mills said no players will face any minute restrictions when training camp opens Tuesday.We see this as a team that has the potential of really being a good basketball club. The only thing thats going to compete with them being successful or not successful is the injury factor, Jackson said. The rest of it is pretty much, theyre going to be there.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney ' ' '