World Cup of Hockey 2016 Team Europe Roster Prediction

World Cup of Hockey – Team Europe 16-Player Roster Prediction

Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey will consist of any player whose countries nationality is not being represented (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, etc).

There are a few wild-cards with players such as Oliver Bjorkstrand, Marko Dano, and Kevin Fiala that could make a late impression before roster deadlines.

With the plethora of players to choose from, Team Europe should be very competitive in group A.

Coaching Staff:

Franz Reindl, President/Team Leader
Miroslav Satan, General Manager
Ralph Krueger, Head Coach

Rules and Format:

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2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey will feature eight teams (Team Canada, Team USA, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team Czech Republic, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Europe). The tournament will be held in September 2016, and is a group effort with the NHL and NHLPA, in association with International Ice Hockey Federation.

The rules differ from that of IIHF held tournaments, and will follow NHL rules, with games being played on NHL-sized ice surfaces. Because of the league’s involvement, fans can expect to see far less European players than we’re used to seeing at World Championships or Olympics in the 2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey.

Previous World Cup of Hockey roster predictions and more in-depth information can be found here.

16-Player Roster Predictions:

2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey – Rosters and Groupings:

23 players, 20 skaters, 3 goalies

Group A: Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team USA
Group B: Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden

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2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey – Team Europe 16-Player Roster Projection:

Jan 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) skates with the puck as St. Louis Blues right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23) chases in the second period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

G Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders
G Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
D Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
D Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers
D Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins
D Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers
F Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
F Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings
F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
F Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
F Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers
F Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche
F Antoine Roussel, Dallas Stars
F Nino Niederreiter, Minnesota Wild
F Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild

Jaroslav Halak and Frederik Andersen will be heavily depended on for the World Cup of Hockey. The third is debatable, and only there for injury insurance purposes. Jonas Hiller, Reto Berra, Thomas Greiss are just a few names bantered about for the last spot.

The first four names listed on the blueline are closest to virtual locks with both NHL and International experience. There’s a drop off in defensive talent beyond Andrej Sekera, with players such as Luca Sbisa, Christian Ehrhoff, and Yannick Weber.

Next: Top 20 Goalies Under 25 Years Old

If Team Europe is going to succeed, it will likely be due to a high-octane, potent offense on the shoulders of Hossa, Kopitar, Gaborik, and Draisaitl. Among the bubble players fighting for roster spots: Michael Grabner, Frans Nielsen, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jannik Hansen, Lars Eller, Zemgus Girgenson, Daniel Sprong, Mark Dano, Tomas Jurco, Kevin Fiala, Sven Andrighetto, Mikhail Grabovski, Sven Baertschi, P.E. Bellemare, Richard Panik, and Andreas Martinsen.

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