Hextall says Flyers in World Cup will 'elevate their games'

Though he acknowledged there is some concern about his players getting injured, general manager Ron Hextall said the positives outweigh the negatives in having seven Flyers compete in the World Cup.

The tournament, held for the first time since 2004, will begin Saturday in Toronto and could run through Oct. 1.

The Flyers don't start their veteran camp until next Friday, so their players competing in the World Cup will have a head start on their teammates back home.

"For a guy to be playing games that early, they're going to be sharper than they would be if they just came to training camp," Hextall said earlier this week after observing an informal workout at the team's Voorhees practice facility. "That's the positive. God forbid if someone gets injured -- that's the negative.

"You do owe it to the game, in my opinion. You owe it to the league, you owe it to the game, you owe it to the fans, but again, if there's any gray [area] where you think it's going to affect his season, that's where I draw the line."

That's why Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas, who has an injured right wrist, was pulled off the Czech Republic team.

Flyers captain Claude Giroux received some bumps and bruises in a Team Canada exhibition, but is ready to go.

Europe, whose team includes alternate captain Mark Streit and Pierre-Edouard  Bellemare of the Flyers, will face Team USA on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with the Czech Republic (Jake Voracek, Michal Neuvirth) opposing Giroux and Canada at 8.

On Sunday, Sweden will face Russia at 3 p.m., followed by the matchup between North America (alternate captain Sean Couturier, Shayne Gostisbehere) and Finland at 8 p.m.

Each of the eight teams will play a minimum of three games.

Group A is composed of Canada (the overall favorite), the Unites States, Europe and the Czech Republic, while North America, Russia, Sweden, and Finland are in Group B.

Two teams from each group will advance to the next round. When they reach the finals, it will be a best-of-three series.

North America, made up of players 23 and younger, is the most intriguing team in the field. Led by Connor McDavid, the team has speed, talent and hunger -- and is short only on experience.

Hextall thinks that playing in high-level World Cup games will prepare his players for the season and that they will come into camp extra sharp.

"To play on that big of a stage," he said, "it can really elevate their game."

As long as they stay healthy.

Breakaways. Gostisbehere will be a big weapon on North America's power-play unit, and Couturier will be a key penalty-killer. ... ESPN will televise the World Cup. ... Phantoms center Cole Bardreau skated at the Flyers' practice facility Friday but will miss rookie camp because he is still recovering from abdominal surgery. "Just a little bump in the road," said Bardreau, who has overcome a broken neck. ... Rookie camp will begin Monday in Voorhees. .... Some of the Flyers' vets went through timed testing drills Friday. ... Because of his injured wrist, Gudas was able to shoot the puck only gingerly during an informal practice session Friday.