Jarome Iginla won't crack Canada's Olympic roster solely on merit.

If the 40-year-old wants to play at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea, he'll need to hit the ice sooner rather than later, according to Hockey Canada president Tom Renney.

"As good a player as Jarome has been, as good a man as he is, if he’s not playing, it’s hard to give yourself opportunity for a fair evaluation, quite honestly, of what he might be able to do in the Olympic Games," Renney said Wednesday, per Luke Fox of Sportsnet.

Related: Team Canada 2018 Olympic hockey jerseys unveiled

Iginla went unsigned as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason and is believed to have recently undergone a procedure on his hip.

Canada is set to play at a pre-tournament later this month in Finland, with another set for mid-December in Russia. If Iginla does want to play, one would assume he'd need to make that trip.

Iginla appeared in 80 games last season with Colorado and Los Angeles, recording 14 goals and 13 assists. He last played for Canada at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

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Boston Bruins forward David Backes will miss eight weeks following an upcoming surgery to remove a portion of his colon, the club announced Wednesday.

Backes missed time in October due to diverticulitis, and his upcoming procedure, scheduled for Thursday, was advised by team doctors to avoid recurrences in the future.

The 33-year-old is currently in the second season of a five-year deal signed with the Bruins in 2016. He's only appeared in five games this campaign, registering one assist.

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The NHL is kicking off this year's Hockey Fights Cancer campaign by naming Nicholle Anderson as official ambassador.

Last November, Anderson - wife of Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson - was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, a rare form of cancer that effects the nose and throat.

After several months of treatment wherein Craig took an extended leave of absence from the Senators, she was declared cancer-free.

In her role as ambassador, "Anderson will be sharing inspirational stories of those impacted by various forms of cancer who are currently undergoing treatment at American Cancer Society and Canadian Cancer Society lodges. These stories and videos will be available on NHL.com, NHL Social, and NHLPA Social platforms."

The campaign will feature ceremonies, observances, and fundraising efforts throughout the month of November, and each of the 31 teams will designate one home game to help further raise cancer awareness.

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USA Hockey unveiled three Nike jerseys Wednesday that its 2018 Olympic and Paralympic teams will wear during the upcoming games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Here we see a white "home" jersey, a blue "away" jersey and an old royal third jersey.

The jerseys are being touted as "the fastest looking and brightest jerseys ever during (America's) quest to win gold in the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

As described by USA Hockey, jersey highlights include:

• The inspirational slogan of Land of the Free - Home of the Brave hidden in the back neck of the jersey
• Injected silicone molds make the trim pop
• Graphic on the sleeve was inspired by bald eagle feathers and represents the theme of fluid force
• The flicker film (rather than heavy twill) base for the crest and numbers increases vibrancy and sparkles under arena lights.

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Team Canada will have a fresh look for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Three jerseys for the upcoming games were revealed Wednesday, all featuring a unique maple leaf and an interesting arm pattern:

Proceeds from jersey sales will go to grassroots development of hockey and other winter sports organizations, according to Hockey Canada president Tom Renney, per Yahoo Canada.

The Olympics are set to begin in 100 days.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning aren't the only team being carried by their top line to begin this season.

Sure the trio of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Vladislav Namestnikov have been other-worldly, but in Philadelphia, their top line of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Sean Couturier have been doing some damage of their own.

The Flyers are off to a cavalier start with a 6-5-1 record, but things could be going much worse if not for the contributions of their big three, who through 12 games have combined for 15 goals and 45 points.

The hot start by the three should be largely contributed to head coach Dave Hakstol. The biggest glaring change - which is paying dividends - is that Giroux has been moved from his native at center to the left wing. Couturier has manned the center ice position and Voracek has been slotted at his usual spot on the right side.

While the change might be a surprise, Giroux said he spent the majority of his life playing on the wing before he became a professional, according to John Boruk of NBC Sports Philadelphia. He could be more comfortable with his new assignment than one might expect.

The move appears to be working in spades and both Giroux and Couturier look like they should easily surpass their offensive totals from a season ago.

Last year, Giroux endured his lowest goal total of his career over a full 82-game season, bagging just 14 goals while playing in every game. With six already on the board through the first month of the season, topping that mark should be no problem.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

As for Couturier, he looks to be in the midst of a career year. Last season he - like Giroux - scored 14 goals in 66 games, just one short of his career-high of 15, which came during the 2014-15 season. With nine already in the bank, Couturier would have to go on a streak of epic proportions to not match his previous best.

Now, Voracek's two goals don't scream record-breaking, but with 16 points in 12 games, he ranks third in league scoring and - at least for the time being - is on pace to smash last year's total of 61 points and potentially his career mark of 81.

The Flyers are clinging to a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as they look to reach the playoffs after missing out last season. If they are to return to exercise the demons of last year, there's no question their elite trio will have to continue to flex their muscles as they have this October.

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CHICAGO -- Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville apparently saw enough. With Chicago in the midst of a three-game losing streak, he commanded a longer-than-usual practice on Tuesday and cursed at his players afterward because he thought their effort was lacking.

The Blackhawks will try to bounce back Wednesday when they face off against the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center.

Chicago (5-5-2) started the season on a high note but has been outscored 12-6 during the past week while dropping games against the Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. The Blackhawks are 1-5-0 in their past six contests.

"I didn't like the last part of our practice," Quenneville said to the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday. "The intensity and the pace went down to a tough-to-watch (level). It was just, let's go."

Philadelphia (6-5-1) also is searching for more consistency after an up-and-down start to the season. The Flyers are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the previously winless Arizona Coyotes, and they are 1-2-1 in their past four.

Injuries to defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald have placed the Flyers in a difficult spot. Four of the team's seven active blue-liners are rookies.

"I've played with a few of them as a partner (in the AHL), so the familiarity certainly makes it easier," said defenseman Will O'Neill, who joined the team on Tuesday.

Philadelphia has been forced to turn to its depth on offense, as well. Rookie forward Nolan Patrick has a head injury, and he did not make the road trip.

Chicago likely will turn to goaltender Corey Crawford for his 11th start of the season. The 32-year-old is 5-4-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in his first 10 contests.

The Flyers have had Crawford's number. In four career games against Philadelphia, Crawford is 1-3-0 with a 3.51 GAA and an uncharacteristically low .855 save percentage.

Veteran goaltender Brian Elliott is expected to start for Philadelphia. Also 32 years old, Elliott has posted a 5-2-1 record with a 3.23 GAA and a .884 save percentage in his first season with the Flyers.

Elliott is familiar with the Blackhawks from his tenure with the St. Louis Blues. In 18 career games against Chicago, he is 7-8-1 with a 2.50 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

Patrick Kane leads Chicago with 13 career points (four goals, nine assists) in 11 games against Philadelphia. Artem Anisimov scored two goals in two games against the Flyers last season.

One of the Flyers' hottest players is Sean Couturier, who scored two goals in the most recent game against the Coyotes. He leads the team with nine goals this season and is on pace to top his season high of 15, which he set during the 2014-15 campaign with Philadelphia.

Blackhawks players hope to post a win against the Flyers -- and put punishing practices behind them.

"Those are never fun," Chicago defenseman Cody Franson said to the Sun-Times. "But you know what, it's great. Losing is not acceptable here.

"It's amazing to me how calm and level-headed our room has stayed through adversity like this. This is kind of the first time I've experienced something like that. Usually, there's a ton of panic."

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The New York Rangers honored the victims of Tuesday's terror attack with a moment of silence prior to puck drop against the Vegas Golden Knights.

"We stand united in the face of those who threaten our freedom in New York, Las Vegas, and throughout the world," said the in-arena announcer.

The moment of silence was in response to an act of terror that occurred Tuesday in Lower Manhattan when a suspect drove a vehicle along a bike path and killed eight people.

Earlier this season, the Golden Knights held a pregame ceremony honoring the 59 people killed in the tragic shooting in Vegas on Oct. 1.

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