Max Pacioretty could return for playoffs

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TORONTO -- David Nonis, Rob Blake and Bob Murray will run Team Canada's entry at the men's world hockey championships this spring in Slovakia, Hockey Canada announced Thursday.Nonis, who will be general manager of Team Canada, is the senior vice president of hockey operations with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blake and Murray will be assistants to Nonis on the management team, along with Hockey Canada executive Brad Pascall.Blake, who retired last summer after an All-Star playing career,MLB Jerseys, recently was hired by the NHL's hockey operations department. 2010 Winter Olympic Team USA #88 Patrick Kane White on-field Ice
The former defenseman played in three Olympics for Team Canada. Murray is the GM of the Anaheim Ducks.Team USA is expected to announce its management team next week for the men's world championship, and a source told ESPN.com USA Hockey will use the men's national team advisory group to select and run the team. The group consists of Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke; Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell; Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi; Nashville Predators GM David Poile; Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon; Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren; and Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero.
The world championships start April 29 and run through May 15. Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Martin said Max Pacioretty might be able to return from his neck injury in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs.Team doctors told Martin that Pacioretty can resume training, with contact, in three to five weeks. NHL Jerseys After another week of rest, he will begin rehab. The playoffs begin April 13.It's "good news that he'll be able to practice," especially because it looked as if "his career was in danger," Martin said Thursday.Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and a non-displaced fracture of the fourth vertebra in his neck when his head slammed into a stanchion at Bell Centre because of a hit from Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara on March 8.The NHL did not suspend Chara for the hit.