COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The World Cup of Hockey, dormant since 2004 and in desperate need of an identity as it prepares for a relaunch in Toronto in less than two weeks, is already facing a crisis of confidence.Or at least those are the optics facing the NHL and the NHLPA, partners in this venture that hope to rekindle the magic of the long-ago Canada Cup and the first World Cup of Hockey tournaments, as a slew of key players have abandoned the tournament because of injuries.If it were just one or two players opting out of playing in the eight-team tournament because of lingering injuries or fresh aches and pains coming out of a shortened summer, that would be one thing.But Team Canada, for instance, has already had to replace two-time Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, former league scoring champ Jamie Benn and two-time Stanley Cup champ Jeff Carter. No boo-hoos for Canada of course, as the host country is deep and replaced those players with a former Hart Trophy winner, Corey Perry, and last years leading point producer in the playoffs, Logan Couture, along with former Olympian Jay Bouwmeester.But many teams have been scrambling to fill in their rosters as players, many of whom had been working out in preparation for the tournament, have suddenly dropped out.The Swedes lost?Alexander Steen, captain Henrik Zetterberg, veteran defender Niklas Kronwall and backup goalie Robin Lehner.Sean Monahan wont be available to Team North America.The Euros will be without potential No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen.The Czechs, already the weakest of the eight teams, have lost key personnel David Krejci, Radko Gudas and Tomas Hertl.Most telling -- or at the very least, most curious -- was the comment by San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson in a press release that praised Hertls choice of preparing for the Sharks season ahead of competing for the Czech Republic.After speaking with Tomas, were pleased that he has chosen to put his commitment to the Sharks and his teammates first, Wilson said in a statement, adding that Hertl is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. Hertl hinted at the possibility on June 30: I just want to be 100 percent ready for [the] season and I dont want to go to World Cup at just 80 percent health.Could Hertl, who had been skating in the San Jose area, have played in the tournament? And who ultimately made the decision that he should not join his countrymen in Toronto?Maybe Wilson and other executives and players didnt get the memo that this is an NHL-NHLPA collaborative event.And not just any event, but a key moment for the NHL and its players as they navigate the uncertain waters of further Olympic participation and hope to build a vibrant, lucrative international schedule for years to come.This isnt to suggest that players are making up injuries to avoid the tournament. League officials said they, along with the NHLPA, vet all of the injury replacements to ensure the injury claims are valid. Some are easy to confirm. So far, Ryan Callahan is the lone member of Team USA to opt out -- offseason hip surgery will keep him out of action until November.But many of those not taking part in the World Cup of Hockey have been working out and might not miss a beat when regular NHL training camps open, or are expected to play when the regular season opens in early October, making for bad optics.The World Cup might yet turn into the dynamic set piece that organizers on both sides of the table believe it can be.One NHL GM with international experience said enthusiasm for the tournament has already been blunted by the flood of injuries. But another NHL GM with significant experience in international competition said the injury issue might be something that people are focusing on now, but it will soon be an afterthought and wont influence the success of the tournament.Once the puck drops, the players and fans wont care or give it a second thought, the longtime executive said.And lets be clear: An abundance of talent will be on display in the coming days, including defending MVP and scoring champ Patrick Kane of the U.S., a powerful Russian team led by Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, a star-stacked Team Sweden led by two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson and former Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and the dynamic young stars of Team North America, led by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and No. 1 draft pick Auston Matthews.But the pressure has increased on those players to deliver a compelling product on the ice to erase the initial perception that players dont really care about the World Cup of Hockey. Or at the very least, care less than we thought they would. And the harsh bottom line is that if the players are perceived as not caring about the new World Cup of Hockey, why should the fans who are being asked to pay top dollar for tickets?Lundqvist, who took a hard shot to the ribs during practice but is committed to playing in the tournament, said injuries are part of the game and each player has to decide what is best for him.It doesnt matter if its World Cup or the start of the NHL season, Lundqvist told reporters as Team Sweden opened camp in Gothenburg, Sweden. This is a tough sport, and people think you just snap your fingers and youre ready to play. No, thats not how it works. You put a lot of pressure on your body physically and mentally and injuries are a part of it. If you cant be there giving it your all, I think its better not to play. Youve got to be honest with yourself, but injuries are always going to happen. Its a physical sport.What this tournament might mean, or maybe should mean, to NHL executives and players comes from U.S. coach John Tortorella. Always a heart-on-his-sleeve guy, Tortorella is especially sensitive when it comes to issues of national pride, a point he has discussed with his team. His son, Nick, is deployed for a third time to Afghanistan as a member of a U.S. special forces unit.In todays world, with whats going on and what our troops are doing over there in all facets, unconventionally, its just nuts, he said. This is about your country. This is a platform for us, for our country. If youre not ready and youre not ready to give, I just dont know how youll ever live that down as you go through this, and thats how were presenting it. Its hockey, but this is about your country first and foremost.Well said by a man who understands better than most the nature of national pride. 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LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. LAS VEGAS -- Two people who were appointed to the Nevada Legislature on Friday will play a significant role in whether a nearly $2 billion NFL stadium, and potentially the Raiders, comes to Las Vegas.But the Clark County commissioners who nominated the candidates to fill two vacant seats said they were more concerned about whether their appointees would properly vet a plan to put $750 million in public money toward the 65,000-seat venue. Critics worry that in case of a downturn, taxpayers could be left holding the bag for the project thats partially funded by billionaire casino owner and Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson.Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said she and her recommended candidate, Democratic former Assemblywoman Stephanie Smith, didnt really have to talk about Smiths opinion of the stadium.That really wasnt my concern as much as could she ask the hard questions, did she understand government, said Kirkpatrick, who previously held the Assembly seat that Smith was named to on Friday. I think she will ask the hard questions that I would.The commissions move, which fills the final two seats out of five that were vacant, clears the way for Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval to call Nevadas 63-member Legislature into a special session. At least two-thirds of a full Legislature would need to be on board to pass a proposed hotel tax hike, which would fund the stadium, a convention center expansion and more police.dddddddddddd.Critics dont want to give public funds to a project backed by Adelson, one of the richest men in the world, rather than to education in a state with one of the countrys worst-performing school systems. They also point to experts who say stadium deals rarely yield the economic benefits they promise.Commissioner Susan Brager, who nominated Republican Kyle Stephens to fill the second vacancy, said she asked him whether hed simply go along with party leadership or whether hed be an independent voice on the deal. She said she got the right answers from Stephens, whos a longtime account representative for a janitorial supply company and has worked on Republican political campaigns.I wasnt looking for a `yes person, said Brager. 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