It's been four years since Team U.S.A. settled for the silver medal after a loss in the Gold Medal Game to Team Canada, and the roster for the 2014 group that will look to bring home the gold during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia was revealed Wednesday following the NHL's annual New Year's Day Winter Classic.
13 players will return from the 2010 team and the group will hope that the defensive depth on the new roster will lead the team to the gold medal While there were a few snubs along the way, including Ottawa Senators winger Bobby Ryan, New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, the team still consists of 25 of the NHL's most skilled players.
"We did not pick the 25 best players," general manager David Poile said via ESPN. "We picked the 25 players we thought gave us a chance to win the gold medal."
In the crease, Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick and 2010 MVP of the tournament Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres will battle it out for the top spot between the pipes while Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings will likely be the third netminder.
The only two blueliners that will return on defense this year from the 2010 team are Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild's Ryan Suter.
Newcomers to the team on defense include Ryan McDonagh of the New York Rangers, Justin Faulk of the Carolina Hurricanes, Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues, John Carlson of the Washington Capitals and Orpik's teammate Paul Martin from the Pens.
Returning forwards from the 2010 group include Dustin Brown (Kings), Ryan Callahan (Rangers), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), David Backes (Blues), Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs), Zach Parise (Wild), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche) and Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks).
New to the roster are James van Riemsdyk (Maple Leafs), Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens), T.J. Oshie (Blues), Derek Stepan (Rangers) and Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets).
The Blues and Rangers lead the way with three representatives each.
Team U.S.A. will strive for the gold starting with their first game on Feb. 13 against Slovakia.
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