Team USA announced its initial roster for the World Cup of Hockey on Wednesday. Patrick Kane, Ryan McDonagh, Jonathan Quick and Max Pacioretty are among the notable names on the roster, while Phil Kessel of the Pittsburgh Penguins is one of the glaring omissions.
The United States team is made up of a number of Olympic veterans, including 12 players who participated in the Sochi games. The roster includes nine forwards with Kane, Pacioretty, Ryan Kesler, Zach Parise, Derek Stepan, Justin Abdelkader, T.J. Oshie, Joe Pavelski and Blake Wheeler. The team has strong depth up front, and that is one reason why Kessel was not named to the roster despite his strong performance for the Penguins this season.
Kessel previously played for the United States on the Sochi Olympic team, and he also participated in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Kessel was the most notable name missing from the Team USA roster, but there is a chance he could be added in June when the rest of the roster spots are filled. Kessel has 40 points in 62 games played this season, including 19 goals and 21 assists between the Penguins and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Team USA general manager Dean Lombardi said that the team still has "some tough choices to make" in filling out the roster. Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders and Bobby Ryan of the Ottawa Senators could be potential candidates to get spots along with Kessel when the rosters fill out. The United States is set at the goalie position with some strong depth with Ben Bishop, Jonathan Quick and Cory Schneider named to the roster.
Quick was the starter for Team USA in the Sochi Olympics, and he will be the number one goalie for this tournament. The defense for Team USA has Dustin Byfuglien, John Carlson, Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Suter on the roster. Carlson, McDonagh and Suter all played for the team in Sochi, and they will give the blue line some veteran leadership and experience.
The World Cup of Hockey tournament is scheduled to start on Sept. 17 and will last until Oct. 1. The games will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and the tournament will be comprised of eight teams. Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Finland, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team USA, Team Europe and Team North America will be competing in the tournament, which will be held for the first time since 2004.
