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Training camps are opening around the NHL with a little more elbow room than usual.Thanks to the World Cup of Hockey, more than 150 players and almost half the leagues head coaches werent on the ice with their NHL teams at the start of camp this week. The Chicago Blackhawks are barely recognizable without Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Corey Crawford, Marian Hossa and coach Joel Quenneville. The Washington Capitals dont have Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom or coach Barry Trotz and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.Really weird, Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner said Friday. I was looking out on the ice and something doesnt seem right. Were obviously light on numbers, so thats kind of strange. Youre used to having just swarms of guys everywhere and it just doesnt feel that way this year.This is the first time since 2004 that the NHL has held a preseason tournament, and that event happened on the eve of the lockout that canceled the entire season. Camps were already opening later than usual because of the World Cup, and the first preseason games begin Sunday when the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues have split-squad games in those cities. The real games begin Oct. 12.There isnt much time to get everyone on the same page. Perhaps thats why Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan raced back to be on the ice Friday.This is my responsibility to run this team and I love to do it, said Sullivan, who was an assistant for the U.S. team. Im excited to be a part of it. I didnt want to take any time off.Many World Cup players are being afforded a bit of time off before reporting to work. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan expects U.S. players T.J. Oshie, John Carlson and Matt Niskanen on the ice Monday.The 82-game season is a long enough grind that guys arent rushing back if they dont have to.I know a lot of the guys, at least the American guys, have talked about taking a few days off then going their teams, Kane said Thursday. Ill go back to Chicago and see whats in store and talk to (GM Stan Bowman) and Joel and kind of get a feel for what they want me to do, whats best for me.Players from whichever teams lose in the World Cup semifinals this weekend wont be far behind. In the meantime, their absences open the door for others.Its good for guys who typically wouldnt get a look in camp to show the coaches and scouts and staff what they can do for the future if something happens, San Jose Sharks defenseman Paul Martin said. For the most part, the guys that are gone are guys who can step right back in and be the players that they are for this team. Theres not anything that well be lacking as far as chemistry. It just gives other guys a chance to step up and see what theyve got.The same can be said for coaches. Torontos Mike Babcock was able to check in on the Maple Leafs when they reported for physicals Thursday and is in touch with assistant Jim Hiller every day, just like Capitals associate coach Todd Reirden is with Trotz, a Babcock assistant with Team Canada.Reirden was a finalist for Calgarys coaching vacancy, so running camp in Trotzs absence is more on-the-job training for a head gig.Todds done a great job, MacLellan said. Hes a good communicator. Hes at the point in his career that hes ready to take on more responsibility and hes getting interviewed for head-coaching jobs.However strange these first few days of camp are as coaches and players trickle in, Babcock doesnt think there are any disadvantages to this different year.When the guys are no longer in the tournament theyll take some days off and rejoin the guys, he said. I just think its a win-win situation for (everyone). Anyone that can be involved in the World Cup should be involved in the World Cup because your growth individually and for your team is positive. And then, you know a few days of those veterans in training camp without me, they probably cherish it.---AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Pittsburgh and Josh Dubow in San Jose, California, contributed to this report.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . Cheap Blazers Jerseys . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Custom Blazers T-shirts . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. http://www.customblazersjersey.com/ . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Authentic Custom Blazers Jersey . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Custom Blazers Jerseys . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Sean Diddy Combs wasnt about to let his pride get in the way of telling a good story.So when the hip-hop recording artist, producer and actor, known worldwide as Puff Daddy, was asked how his relationship with WWE first came to be, he didnt hold back. Combs recalled sitting down to watch WWE and seeing the same familiar face pop up on the screen as a celebrity guest.I want to tell you the truth, I called [WWE] after I saw Snoop Dogg, Combs said.Snoop Dogg, the iconic rapper and first cousin of current WWE womens champion Sasha Banks, has had such a memorable run on WWE telecasts in recent years that he was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in April. His success challenged Combs, a pro wrestling fan since his youth, to throw his own name into the ring.I had to put my ego down and make sure that [WWE] had my information because I did not understand why I hadnt been called yet, Combs told ESPN.com before letting out a hearty laugh. And that really did happen. Im not just saying that. I called Neil [Lawi, senior vice president and general manager of WWE Music Group] and was like, Yo, Neil, whats up?Combs went on to make a pair of singing performances under the bright lights of the WWE stage -- in a 2010 Tribute to the Troops show in Texas and, most prominently, at WrestleMania 29 in 2013 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. But the self-proclaimed Bad Boy made headlines this week when it was announced a new collaboration with WWE was in the cards.In addition to a brief appearance Monday on Raw -- trading one-liners with the WWE tag team champions, The New Day -- Combs was named as the soundtrack curator for the WWE 2K17 video game that hits stores on Oct. 11.An opportunity for a reunion with WWE was something he jumped at.[The McMahon family] are a great role model brand and, most importantly, a role model family, as far as building an empire and passing your legacy on to your kids, said Combs, a wildly successful entrepreneur in his own right. When you interact with the McMahons, its so professional and so positive.If theres a moment in pro wrestling history that affected Combs, 46, above the rest, without hesitation he points to Hulk Hogans victory over Andre The Giant in the main event of WrestleMania III in 1987. In fact, he said just talking about it brings back flashbacks and chills because of how positive the excitement was.You have to understand, there was no sports spectacle like it that Ive ever experienced, Combs said. That was my first sports spectacle. It was like the craziest thing in school and it was just like, Wow, man. These guys are actually living gods on earth.Combs, in fact, outright credits his time as a WWE fan during his formativee years with laying the groundwork for the swagger and confidence he would one day project to great success in the music and entertainment business.ddddddddddddYou have to be able to pump yourself up and create that character, Combs said. Growing up watching it as a kid, it subliminally starts to teach you these characters of confidence. In a day and age where so many people are insecure about different things, the positive impact of that power of belief at a young age, it powers you to really believe some really crazy things.In order to be successful as an entertainer, Combs says you have to be crazy -- but crazy in a good way. Not only does an irrational belief in yourself need to be present, its the way your imagination flows, allowing you to let go and be free, he says, that ultimately empowers you.Combs can remember many times being backstage before a show, staring into a mirror and pumping himself up like he was cutting a promo in the ring, saying, Im a black super hero. This is what Im going to do tonight. He refers to it as a type of audacity that could only have been instilled in him by watching WWE.His love affair of both wrestling and performing came full circle when he stood out in front of 80,000 people at WrestleMania 29, something he considers a badge of honor in his career. Combs says WWE fans get him out of his regular zone in ways thats unique to traditional concert goers.I think its just the energy level of the WWE fans -- they are one of a kind, Combs said. They are already so excited and it gets you excited. I can honestly say I get a little nervous before I come out and perform on a WWE stage because you can feel the energy and vibrations in the room. You know the crowd is ready to erupt. But its a good nervousness.I do a lot of TV performances, but when I perform on WWE, once I get off stage my phone is lit up. People from all over the world I havent spoken to and people that are so excited who just tuned in. I get more calls when I perform there than when I perform on the Grammys. People are so in-tune and excited about it.Combs is set to embark later this month on a Bad Boy 20th anniversary reunion tour, which he calls the Kobe [Bryant] victory lap of his career. But will that career be complete without one day taking part in a real WWE storyline?While Puff Daddy says he isnt ready to make an announcement of any kind just yet, he is plenty interested in the idea.I am coming, just so everybody knows, he said. In my dream, Im waiting for that call from Mr. McMahon. I believe and have faith that its going to happen soon. ' ' '