National Hockey League roundup

"Our goal -- the NHL and the NHLPA -- is to create the most complete, entertaining and comprehensive tournament possible," Bettman said. "We want to make this tournament as great as it can be. This is just the first step."

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will be held at Toronto's Air Canada Center, beginning on Sept. 17 and running as late as Oct. 1.

It will involve eight 23-player teams. Six nations will field teams: Canada, the United States, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden.

The two other teams will be put together by patchwork. One will feature the best European players from countries not otherwise invited, and the other will be comprised by the best North American players 23 and under.

Bettman said the plan is to play the World Cup every four years.

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The NHL set its outdoor calendar for the 2015-16 season.

The Boston Bruins will host the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, playing the Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Gillette Stadium is 68,756-seat home of the New England Patriots.

There also will be two 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Games. On Feb. 21, the Wild will host the Chicago Blackhawks at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. On Feb. 27, the Colorado Avalanche will host to the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies.

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A day after announcing star center Sidney Crosby would miss the NHL All-Star Game due to a lower-body injury, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent out an update clarifying his situation.

Crosby received an injection to treat the injury suffered Jan. 10 against Montreal, according to the release.

He is expected to resume skating Tuesday and could return to the lineup Wednesday at Washington or Friday at New Jersey.