Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara and Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar will lead a team of Europe's finest at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Team Europe announced its initial 16-player roster Wednesday. With players coming from European countries outsides of the power-houses of Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Czech Republic, general manager Miroslav Satan had his hands full, but his initial 16 looks to be steady.

Forwards

F Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche (Denmark)
F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (Germany)
F Jannik Hansen, Vancouver Canucks (Denmark)
F Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks (Slovakia)
F Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings (Slovenia)
F Frans Nielsen, New York Islanders (Denmark)
F Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings (Slovakia)
F Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild (Austria)
F Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers (Norway)

Defensemen

D Chara, Boston Bruins (Slovakia)
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators (Switzerland)
D Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins (Germany)
D Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers (Slovakia)
D Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers (Switzerland)

Goaltenders

G Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks (Denmark)
G Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders (Slovakia)

Related: World Cup of Hockey roster announcements schedule

The only glaring omission appears to be Kopitar's teammate in Los Angeles, forward Marian Gaborik. The 34-year-old has suited up for his native Slovakia on more than a dozen occasions most recently at the 2011 World Championships.

Gaborik is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season as he nurses a knee injury.

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WASHINGTON - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman hopes hockey fans are just as excited to see the 16-man World Cup of Hockey rosters as he was. Bettman said after an event at the U.S. Capitol that his reaction to the rosters released Wednesday was ...

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will truly be unlike anything we've ever seen.

While clubs began to announce their initial 16-man rosters Wednesday, leaked logos for the teams also began surfacing online Wednesday through Icethetics, with each established team appearing to offer slight variations on looks we've come to expect - and others having to start from scratch.

Team USA appears to have found a new take on its simple logos of the past.

Keeping it rolling with a look at the new #WCH2016 Team USA crest. pic.twitter.com/sbmxFQK03D

— Icethetics (@icethetics) March 2, 2016

Canada has seemingly overhauled the classic maple leaf, with changes including chopping off the stem.

Closer look at the new #WCH2016 Team Canada crest. pic.twitter.com/Y3sKEGTAOM

— Icethetics (@icethetics) March 2, 2016

Things get interesting with Team Europe, which reportedly has a slick blue-and-teal crest with the letter E and what looks to be a hockey stick, resembling the Vancouver Canucks' current third jersey.

Better look at the #WCH2016 Team Europe logo right here. pic.twitter.com/HrXJWEB6Qj

— Icethetics (@icethetics) March 2, 2016

Things get intriguing with the under-23 North American team, whose logo apparently includes an interlocking "NA" hanging over the Roman numerals for 23.

Here's a better look at the #WCH2016 Team North America logo. pic.twitter.com/J1B7WiGcGZ

— Icethetics (@icethetics) March 2, 2016

Here is a look at all the logos:

@icethetics pic.twitter.com/4bJ81yDYCG

— Puckstop.com (@PuckStopUK) March 2, 2016

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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Forward Nicklas Backstrom, two-time Norris Trophy defenceman Erik Karlsson and 2012 Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Henrik Lundqvist are among the first 16 players selected to Sweden's World Cup of Hockey roster. Also selected w...

Sweden is in a position to avenge its disappointing loss to Canada in the gold medal game at the Sochi Olympics, naming an impressive preliminary roster Wednesday for the World Cup of Hockey.

The Swedish Ice Hockey Association named its first 16 players, consisting of eight forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies.

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist will lead Sweden behind a formidable blue line headlined by Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson. Up front, youngsters Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators and Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche will complement a solid veteran core.

Here's the initial 16-man roster:

Forwards

F Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
F Loui Eriksson, Boston Bruins
F Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
F Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
F Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
F Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
F Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues
F Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings

Defensemen

D Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
D Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago Blackhawks
D Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
D Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings
D Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay Lightning

Goaltenders

G Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
G Jacob Markstrom, Vancouver Canucks

Related: World Cup of Hockey roster announcements schedule

Notable omissions include Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg and Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner.

The tournament begins on Sept. 17, and final 23-man rosters must be announced no later than June 1.

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PRAGUE - Veteran star Jaromir Jagr has not been included in the first 16 players selected to the Czech Republic's World Cup of Hockey roster. The 44-year-old forward's future has been in question beyond this season, his second with the Florid...

The NHL's fourth all-time leading scorer, Jaromir Jagr, was an obvious omission from the Czech Republic's roster for the World Cup of Hockey, named Wednesday.

The Florida Panthers forward was expected to be left off, but he may still be included when the remaining roster spots are announced no later than June 1 - as could his new Panthers teammate Jiri Hudler.

Jagr has already retired from the Czech national team, notes Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, and has been "coy" regarding his involvement in the World Cup.

Jaromir Jagr not on First 16 Czech roster for World Cup. Allows federation and 44-year-old to decide by June 1.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) March 2, 2016

Forwards

F Michael Frolik, Calgary Flames
F Martin Hanzal, Arizona Coyotes
F Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks
F David Krejci, Boston Bruins
F Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning
F David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
F Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens
F Vladimir Sobotka, Avangard Omsk (KHL)
F Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers

Defensemen

D Radko Gudas, Philadelphia Flyers
D Michal Kempny, Avangard Omsk (KHL)
D Roman Polak, San Jose Sharks
D Andrej Sustr, Tampa Bay Lightning

Goaltenders

G Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings
G Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers
G Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets

Related: World Cup of Hockey roster announcements schedule

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TORONTO - An unbeatable juggernaut at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Canada is lining up to be equally potent at the World Cup this fall. Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Mike Babcock have an embarrassment of riches to choose fro...

Finland's initial World Cup of Hockey roster announced Wednesday features 10 forwards, four defensemen, and two goalies.

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask - who shut out the U.S. in the bronze-medal game at the Sochi Olympics, making 27 saves in a 5-0 win - will be back in the crease. Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne was also named to the team. Up front, Leo Komarov will represent the Maple Leafs at the tournament in Toronto.

Forwards

Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Joonas Donskoi, San Jose Sharks
Valtteri Filppula, Tampa Bay Lightning
Mikael Granlund, Minnesota Wild
Jussi Jokinen, Florida Panthers
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
Leo Komarov, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lauri Korpikoski, Edmonton Oilers
Jori Lehtera, St. Louis Blues
Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks

Defensemen

Esa Lindell, Texas Stars (AHL) – Dallas Stars hold NHL rights
Olli Maatta, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres
Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks

Goalies

Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

Related: World Cup of Hockey roster announcements schedule

Finland was the runner-up at the last World Cup, held in 2004.

The tournament begins on Sept. 17. Final 23-man rosters must be announced no later than June 1.

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The World Cup of hockey will become more of a reality Wednesday, as initial 16-man rosters for the eight participating teams will be announced.

Canada's roster drops at 6:05 p.m. ET (Sporstnet) and the Unites States' at 6:45 p.m. ET (Sportscenter).

Schedule

• Russia, 3 a.m.
• Finland, 4 a.m.
• Czech Republic, 11 a.m.
• Sweden, 1 p.m.
• Europe, 4:30 p.m.
• North America, 5:15 p.m.
• Canada: 6:05 p.m.
• USA: 6:45 p.m.

Roster Projections

• Canada
• USA
• North America
• Czech Republic, Europe, Finland, Russia, Sweden

The World Cup runs Sept. 17 through Oct. 1 in Toronto.

Canada, the U.S., Czech Republic, and Team Europe comprise Group A, while Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Team North America make up Group B. The final will be a best-of-three.

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