The hockey world championships have been overshadowed by the Olympic tournament since the 1998 Nagano Games  Bart Starr Jersey , the first to feature NHL players.

Not this year.

The NHL's decision to skip the Pyeongchang Olympics had an impact. Amid tepid interest in South Korea, the games were often played in half-empty arenas. It will be a different story in Denmark.

The organizers say ticket sales have reached their planned target of 300,000 even before the tournament opens in Copenhagen and Herning on Friday. And there's no need to worry about a lack of stars. Although Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are busy with their bid for a Stanley Cup three-peat, some of the sport's biggest names will be on the ice in Denmark.

Canada will be led by NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid after his Edmonton Oilers didn't make the playoffs, teammate Leon Draisaitl has joined Germany, and the United States will be captained by Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane.

Here's a look at the annual tournament that will be played in Denmark for the first time:

—

THE TOURNAMENT

The event has 16 nations playing in two groups of eight, with the top four in each group advancing to the playoffs.

Olympic champion Russia, defending champion Sweden, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belarus  Geoff Swaim Jersey , Slovakia, France and Austria are in Group A. Matches will be played at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen.

Canada, Finland, the United States, Germany, Norway, Latvia, Denmark and South Korea are in Group B. They will play at the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning.

In Friday's opening games, Canada will take on the United States while Russia faces France.

The final is scheduled for May 20.

—

THE FAVORITES

Captained by McDavid, who just clinched his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer with 108 points, Canada is the team to beat at the worlds.

McDavid and Wayne Gretzky are the only two players in NHL history to win the scoring race more than once at 22 years of age or younger.

McDavid will be joined by veteran Buffalo forward Ryan O'Reilly. Both were on the team that won the world title in Russia two years ago.

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal  Reggie Wayne Jersey , who is among the finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy for the NHL's rookie of the year, was also named in the squad.

"We have a mix of youth, experience and strong leadership qualities among these players as they have represented Canada on the international stage previously from the world juniors up to last year's championship," Canada co-general manager Sean Burke said. "Their previous success and experience can only help us in our ultimate goal of bringing home a gold medal."

The Canadians, who will again be led by Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters, won the title in 2015 and 2016 after finishing second last year.

—

RUSSIAN COACH SWAP

In a surprise move less than a month before the worlds, Oleg Znarok stepped down as coach of Russia's hockey team after leading the country to the Olympic title – its first in 26 years.

Playing as "Olympic Athletes from Russia" because of the country's punishment for doping, Znarok's team beat Germany 4-3 in overtime in the final.

Znarok became coach in March 2014, taking over a team that lost in the quarterfinals on home ice at the Sochi Olympics. The Russians went on to win the world championship gold that year.

He was replaced by Ilya Vorobyov, one of his assistant coaches, but will still work with the team as a consultant.

Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin  Mason Foster Jersey , who is in a tight Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, won't be available. But Vorobyov can rely on a mixture of NHL-based players and the home talents from the Russia-based KHL, widely considered the strongest league outside the NHL.

Florida Panthers right winger Evgenii Dadonov and SKA St. Petersburg veteran Pavel Datsyuk are among those to make sure Russia remains a contender for gold, even though a lack of the NHL-experienced defensemen and goaltenders could harm the team's ambitions.

—

OTHERS TO WATCH

The United States hopes to improve on last year's fifth-place finish and has a team strong enough to make it happen.

Kane's presence will no doubt improve the quality of play. He last played at the world championships in 2008, his first season in the NHL and the last time the Blackhawks missed the playoffs, and was in the U.S. team at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

Buffalo Sabres rookie and world junior MVP Casey Mittelstadt was prevented from playing by a groin injury, but some others will be there, including a trio who claimed bronze at the 2015 worlds in the Czech Republic. They include Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, New York Islanders forward Anders Lee and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy.

The Thunder might be without starting shooting guard Corey Brewer for their first-round playoff series opener Sunday against Utah.

Brewer sprained his right knee during Oklahoma City's regular-season finale against Memphis. He did light work Friday and didn't practice.

Another Thunder shooting guard, Alex Abrines, is in concussion protocol. He was injured during a win over the Miami Heat on Monday and didn't play against Memphis. The reserve averages 4.7 points per game and has made 84 3-pointers this season.

Coach Billy Donovan said he's not sure if either will be ready for the opener.

"I don't know that yet  http://www.officialbluejackets.com/authentic-adidas-david-savard-jersey ," he said. "We'll have to get closer to that. I don't want to speculate either way. Every day, we'll find out a little more."

The Thunder added the 32-year-old Brewer after the All-Star break to fill the void left when Andre Roberson was knocked out for the season with a ruptured left patellar tendon. Brewer started 16 of 18 games with the Thunder and posted averages of 10.1 points and 2.1 steals per game. Oklahoma City is 11-5 with him as a starter.

The injuries could force 19-year-old rookie Terrance Ferguson into a more significant role. Ferguson has 12 starts this season and averages 3.1 points for the season. He's an explosive dunker and an improving 3-point shooter.

"Eighty-two games, I think, has helped him," Donovan said. "He's obviously been able to be in the rotation. I think that was really important during the year."

Donovan didn't say how he would adjust if Brewer and Abrines are unavailable. He said Ferguson's mental approach will help him if he is given more responsibility.

"He's done a really good job of keeping himself ready and focused," Donovan said. "Obviously, the playoffs are new for him. This is the first time he's going through it. I've got a lot of confidence in Terrance just because of his competitiveness and how hard he works, and he's a bright guy and will put forth a great effort getting himself prepared and ready to play."

—

  Oakland Raiders Customized Jerseys