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NHL goals leader Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets will not play for Canada at the world championships after having minor surgery for a severe throat infection.
The 19-year-old left wing was expected to make his debut for the Canadian national team. He helped Canada win a silver medal at the 2002 world junior championships.
The world championships begin Saturday in the Czech Republic and end May 9.
``I was really looking forward to playing in the tournament,'' Nash said in a statement released Thursday by the Blue Jackets and Hockey Canada. ``I want to wish my teammates all the best and hopefully they will be able to win the gold medal for Canada.''
Nash scored 41 goals this season, tying Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and Calgary's Jarome Iginla for the NHL lead.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Kim Johnsson will miss Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series against Toronto because of a broken bone in his right hand.
Johnsson, the Flyers' best defenseman, was injured late in last Saturday's 3-1 series-clinching victory over defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey. He was hit with the puck, and has a hairline fracture of the bone connecting the ring finger and wrist.
Johnsson practiced with the team this week but was ruled out after Thursday's morning skate. Forward Sami Kapanen will move to defense to replace Johnsson. The Flyers already are without defenseman Eric Desjardins for the playoffs because of a forearm injury.
Radovan Somik will take Kapanen's spot at forward.