From Columbus to Montreal to Ottawa to Gothenburg to Helsinki, heres a lk behind the scenes as the worlds best hockey players prepare for the World Cup of Hockey, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.With tweets from Scott Burnside and Linda Cohn in Columbus, Ohio, with Team USA; Craig Custance in Montreal with Team North America; Pierre LeBrun in Ottawa with Team Canada; and Joe McDonald in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Team Sweden and Helsinki, Finland, with Team Finland.?Joe Allen Wales Jersey . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Gareth Bale Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/gareth-bale-wales-UEFA-EURO-jersey/ . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Ashley Williams Wales Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Aaron Ramsey Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras.With the NHLs free agency period just days away from opening, teams are making decisions on how to build their rosters for next season. Check out todays rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat, and follow TSN.ca each day until July 5 for all the updates. Be sure to tune in to TSN2 and visit TSN.ca on July 5 for Free Agent Frenzy, starting at Nn et/9am pt. Something Bruin? For Ottawas hockey fans it is downright unfathomable to consider Daniel Alfredsson wearing any other jersey than the Senators, but Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli isnt letting that get in the way of trying to make it a reality. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reported today that Chiarelli – a former Senators executive himself – reached out to Alfredssons camp and spoke with them “at great length” in hopes of luring the pending free agent to Boston for the coming season. Chiarelli was believed to be interested in acquiring Alfredsson at the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline, but the Senators – still in the playoff hunt at the time – did not opt to move their franchise face. The 2012-13 season marked the final one for the 40-year-old Alfredsson on a four-year deal he signed prior to 2009-10 worth an annual average value of $4.875 million. His 2012-13 salary was $1 million. The Nathan Horton Tour According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on Twitter, unrestricted free agent forward Nathan Horton is already visiting an NHL team in its respective city today. No one with the Jackets nor with his camp will confirm it, but LeBrun believes he was in Columbus. LeBrun believes hell end up in a quieter, non-traditional hockey market. Danny Boy With Vincent Lecavalier off the market, some of the focus will now be on unrestricted free agent Daniel Briere. The Canadiens, having lost out on Lecavalier, made contact with Brieres camp Tuesday night, a source confirmed to Pierre LeBrun. Sources also indicated that the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators are among the teams to show solid interest in Briere and have already spoken to the Briere camp, which is led by agent Pat Brisson. Other teams were expected to contact Brieres camp Tuesday night and Wednesday. Brieree is apparently no longer considering the New York Islanders, but the New Jersey Devils are one of the finalists, according to Newsdays Arthur Staple.dddddddddddd Briere told the Buffalo News earlier Wednesday he was down to eight teams, including his former team the Sabres. Other notes from Pierre LeBrun: - Rob Scuderis agent, Steve Bartlett, said he began to hear from other teams Wednesday regarding his client, but the Los Angeles Kings remain very much in the mix for the unrestricted free agent. - Patrice Bergeron and the Bruins are close to agreeing to an extension that LeBrun believes will pay him between $52-54 million. - Three teams have reached out to Bill Zito, the agent for Tim Thomas, on Wednesday morning to express their interest in signing the veteran netminder. Jacket Fitting Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is headed into his first free agent season in the NHL and he already knows what hell be lking for once the bell rings on July 5. Kekalainen told the Columbus Dispatch that a scoring forward is definitely on his shopping list, but that theyre more interested in skill over size. “If you ask anybody, theyd take a 6-5 guy who scores 30 goals over a 5-8 guy who scores 30 goals,” Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of the Dispatch. “But me personally, I prefer the small guys who play with big heart to the big guys who are less passionate.” The biggest names available are blends of size and skill, players like David Clarkson and Nathan Horton. However, if Kekalainen is true to his word it could open the dr for the Jackets to grab a talent like Danny Briere, Valtteri Filppula or Clarke MacArthur. Ring Ring The open market has lit up the phone lines for Los Angeles Kings defenceman Rob Scuderi. While the Kings are still very much in the mix, LeBrun confirmed that there remains interest from other teams on the 34-year-old. Scuderi just completed a four-year, $13.6 million deal he signed with the Kings prior to 2009-10. Off The Table As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger on Wednesday, the Canucks buyout of defenceman Keith Ballard means that Alexander Edler is off the market. ' ' '