Olympic roster update: Lundqvist, Hagelin, Zuccarello, and Nash all in, Staal out
A number of New York Rangers were named to the Olympic teams for their respective countries on Tuesday.
We already knew that Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh, and Derek Stepan would all be representing Team USA in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi. On Tuesday, we learned a number of other Rangers would also represent their respective countries in the upcoming games.
Henrik Lundqvist will once again be Team Sweden's goaltender, as he's making his third Olympic appearance. Despite an inconsistent NHL season, there was never any doubt Lundqvist would be named an Olympian. He'll be joined by his teammate and countryman Carl Hagelin, who is making his first Olympic appearance. On a bigger sheet of ice, selecting a player with Hagelin's speed makes a lot of sense.
Mats Zuccarello was also very much a lock for an Olympic spot for his home country of Norway. A former MVP of the Swedish Elite League, Zuccarello was noticed by the NHL for his play on Team Norway in the 2010 Olympics, before signing a contract with the Rangers.
For Team Canada, there were two interesting decisions to make on New York Rangers. Rick Nash was announced as one of the squad's forwards, despite missing time this season due to a concussion. Nash of course skated on a line in the 2010 Olympics alongside Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla that produced the tournament's winning goal. Not making Team Canada was Rangers' defenseman Marc Staal, who was named to the country's orientation roster this past summer. Staal is coming back this season after a serious eye injury had some questioning his future in hockey.
The Olympic hockey tournament begins on Wednesday, Feb. 12, when Lundqvist and Hagelin's Team Sweden opens up play against the Czech Republic.
