Predicting Colorado Avalanche Players at 2016 World Cup of Hockey
Team USA
Jan 2, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) during the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche are an American team — so why don’t we just start with what everybody will be most interested in? Well, here’s the thing: there won’t be any surprises.
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Even though the Avalanche is an American team, the roster currently features no more than three Americans. Those three are blue liners Erik Johnson, Nate Guenin and Zach Redmond.
By the time the World Cup rolls around, Guenin will likely/hopefully not be on the NHL roster anymore — so he’s out. Zach Redmond represented his country at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, but when all NHL players are ready to go, he won’t stand a chance.
But that’s not everything. There is still the Avalanche’s No. 1 defenseman Erik Johnson, who participated in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but was a rather surprising omission from the American roster for Sochi in 2014. However, he has continuously improved since then and should almost be a lock for the 2016 roster.
Colorado Avalanche players who will make the roster: Erik Johnson
Colorado Avalanche players on the roster bubble: —
Next: Team Canada