The lead-up to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey officially began Wednesday as the eight participating teams revealed both their preliminary rosters and their tournament uniforms. Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk are part of Russia’s old guard from the past two Olympics, while Kuznetsov could provide a major spark after being left off the Olympic team in Sochi in 2014.
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Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, who’s a member of Canada’s management team, would love to see Subban added to the roster. “Jagr deserves a lot of respect from all of us”. But he also acknowledged that the position his player is vying for is one with plenty of options from which to choose. “It’s imperative that we get this right”.
Philadelphia Flyers teammates, forward Jakub Voracek and goalie Michal Neuvirth, are among the 16 players selected.
This edition of USA’s men’s national team is as notable for its inclusions as who didn’t make the cut. Some prominent Americans who have not been named include David Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis Blues), Phil Kessel (Pittsburgh Penguins), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes), plus Tyler Johnson and Ryan Callahan (Lightning).
“Obviously this is a big tournament for hockey”, Armstrong said, “but Carey Price is a huge piece for the Montreal Canadiens so we wanted to make sure that the Canadiens team and ownership was comfortable with the decision”. Out were names like Chelios and Modano; in were players like Patrick Kane and Zach Parise. Goaltending could be an issue (though John Gibson isn’t a bad option for a team with such a low age cap), but seeing McDavid and Eichel on the same roster is the real draw here.
Six countries and two combination clubs make up the class of the next edition of the World Cup, the first to be held since 2006.
The NHL has shutdown mid-season since the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, freeing players to represent their countries but recently owners have lost some enthusiasm for the Olympics because many players have returned injured or exhausted, thereby hurting their teams in the push towards the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Defining roles was a continuing thread in the conversation about Team USA.
“The logic defines itself”, Lombardi said. This leadership is not going to be defined by letters. “There will be a tough run for that seventh D spot, I think”. “Giving out letters is not what it’s all about”.
Team Canada: 6:05 p.m. Was USAH taking Canada into account as the team to beat in September? However, the strength of TeamUSA doesn’t need to be down the middle because they’ve got a plethora of skilled top-six wings on their team. “Canada has always been the watermark”. So much has been defined by Canada. It’s safe to say they are clearly the favorites. “You take the 16 you think you should name and you name them”.
“It’s a two-week, best-on-best global tournament that promises to be one of the best competitions in hockey history”, said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
“I think he’s worthy of it”, Ruff said.
Rangers forward Derek Stepan will play for Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey 2016 in Toronto. You may be a little more excited now that the ace goaltender of the New Jersey Devils, Cory Schneider, will be there.
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No centers are stuck in the middle at press time.
