Five Flyers picked for World Cup teams - but not Giroux
Five Flyers were named Wednesday to teams that will compete in the World Cup of Hockey. But captain Claude Giroux, who has more points than any NHL player over the last five seasons, was not one of them.
Five Flyers were named Wednesday to teams that will compete in the World Cup of Hockey.
But captain Claude Giroux, who has more points than any NHL player over the last five seasons, was not one of them.
Giroux, a center who is one of the NHL's best in the faceoff circle, was bypassed by Team Canada, though he could still be named when seven other players are added on June 1.
"I'm not going to worry about it too much," Giroux said. ". . . It's something I can't really control. I can just control how I play."
The eight-team, two-week tournament will be held in Toronto starting Sept. 17.
The teams announced their initial 16 players Wednesday, and each team will add seven players on June 1. Each team will carry 20 skaters and three goalies.
As expected, three Flyers - right winger Jake Voracek, goalie Michal Neuvirth, and defenseman Radko Gudas - were selected to Team Czech Republic.
"That was one of my goals," Neuvirth said. "But it's pretty far away, and right now I'm focusing on winning games with the Flyers."
Flyers center Sean Couturier earned a spot on Team North America, composed of players 23 and under as of Oct. 1. Rookie standout Shayne Gostisbehere was not one of the four defensemen chosen, but it would be surprising if he was not added when the roster is finalized.
South Jersey's Johnny Gaudreau, a Calgary left winger from Carneys Point, was among the players on the North American team. North American players 23 and under can play only for that team. Gostisbehere and Gaudreau, for instance, were not eligible for Team USA.
Flyers defenseman Mark Streit, from Switzerland, was named to Team Europe, which cannot include players from Finland, Sweden, Russia, and the Czech Republic.