The United States bolstered its roster for the upcoming World Championship by three on Thursday, announcing that it has added collegiate star goaltender Thatcher Demko, as well as the New Jersey Devils' David Warsofsky and Miles Wood.
Demko, a Hobey Baker finalist for his dazzling junior season, will represent the United States for a fourth time. He won a silver medal at the 2013 U-18 tournament. Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey will also take part in the event.
Warsofsky, a defenseman, split time with the Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins organization this season, appearing in 22 NHL games.
Wood signed with the Devils after completing his freshman season at Boston College, making his NHL debut in the team's regular-season finale. He scored 10 goals and 35 points in 37 games at the Division I level.
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Auston Matthews has some company on USA's World Championship roster.
The consensus No. 1 draft prospect, the lone player initially named to the roster, now has 12 teammates, as announced Tuesday by USA Hockey.
Here's a look at the roster so far:
Forwards
Defense
Goalie
John Hynes will serve as head coach, with the tournament set to begin May 6 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson is going to take some time to enjoy the offseason.
Karlsson will not play for his native Sweden at the upcoming World Championship, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
The 25-year-old is coming off his first 80-point season and the first by a defenseman since Nicklas Lidstrom accomplished the feat in 2006.
He paced the NHL in points by a defenseman for the third consecutive season, clearly earning some time off.
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Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid will don the red and white for the second time in 16 months.
The 19-year-old was one of the first 18 players to be named to Canada's World Championship team Monday. McDavid will look to add another championship to his resume after capturing gold at the World Juniors in 2015.
Here is how the team stacks up so far:
| Player | NHL Team |
|---|---|
| Max Domi | Coyotes |
| Matt Duchene | Avalanche |
| Brendan Gallagher | Canadiens |
| Taylor Hall | Oilers |
| Boone Jenner | Blue Jackets |
| Brad Marchand | Bruins |
| Connor McDavid | Oilers |
| Ryan O'Reilly | Sabres |
| Sam Reinhart | Sabres |
| Mark Scheifele | Jets |
| Mark Stone | Senators |
| Player | NHL Team |
|---|---|
| Cody Ceci | Senators |
| Ben Hutton | Canucks |
| Ryan Murray | Blue Jackets |
| Morgan Rielly | Maple Leafs |
| Chris Tanev | Canucks |
| Player | NHL Team |
|---|---|
| Calvin Pickard | Avalanche |
| Cam Talbot | Oilers |
Canada will look to match the success of last year's contingent, one that captured gold in the Czech Republic.
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Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will not be suiting up for Canada at the World Championships next month.
The 22-year-old addressed the media at the team's end of year interviews, stating he is going to focus on getting healthy.
"I'm still not feeling 100 percent right now. As of right now, I'm not going to be going," Nugent-Hopkins said.
Nugent-Hopkins missed 23 games between Jan. 19 and Mar. 10 with a significant hand injury, an injury that he feels needs more rehab.
The Oilers forward also suffered a concussion in the final weeks of the season which caused him to miss three games.
He finished the year with 12 goals and 34 points in 55 games.
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It's been a long year for Jack Eichel.
Over the past 12 months, he's gone from the NCAA Frozen Four Final to the 2015 IIHF World Championship to the NHL Entry Draft, then through the rigors of his first NHL training camp and his first 81 regular-season pro games.
So as the Buffalo Sabres forward wrapped up his rookie season with exit meetings Sunday, he said he won't be representing the United States at the 2016 World Championship.
"I think it’s time for me to take a little break and unwind a little bit here, kind of take a deep breath for the first time in a while," Eichel told reporters.
"It’s important mentally, physically, emotionally to take some time, be with your family, collect yourself, put the hockey bag away, stay out of the gym. Just relax a little bit, rejuvenate your mind, rejuvenate your body and prepare for your offseason training the right way where you can get the maximum results to help you come back next season feeling better than ever and hopefully take that next step."
Eichel will, however, resume play prior to next season's training camp as a feature member of Team North America at the World Cup.
The 19-year-old recorded 24 goals and 32 assists with 238 shots as a rookie.
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Taylor Hall's trading in his Edmonton Oilers jersey for a Canadian one, again.
Hall will represent Canada at the upcoming World Ice Hockey Championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg, he confirmed Friday, according to Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.
Hall's season wraps up Saturday, and it's been a good one, personally. His 64 points are the second-highest of his career, and he needs one goal in the Oilers' final game to match his career high of 27. He's also been healthy, with Saturday's game set to be his 82nd. It'll be the first time in his career he'll hit the mark.
The trip to Russia will be Hall's third World Championship. The tournament runs May 6-22.
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