Russia's Alexander Ovechkin sticks his tongue out during the team's first practice at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 10, 2014.BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters
With a broken foot, Alex Ovechkin once got on a plane the day after the Washington Capitals were eliminated from the playoffs to represent Russia at the world hockey championship.
It's something the three-time NHL MVP will gladly do again at the World Cup of Hockey after headlining Russia's 16-man roster for the tournament on Wednesday.
"Doesn't matter which tournament, it's huge honour," Ovechkin said. "It's nice to be in the list, and I'm proud to represent my country."
Ovechkin was joined on the roster by Capitals teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov, Pittsburgh Penguins centre Evgeni Malkin and Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk. Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk are part of Russia's old guard from the past two Olympics, while Kuznetsov could provide a major spark after being left off the Olympic team in Sochi in 2014.
Sweden's team is stacked with talent and a balanced mix of veterans and youth.
The group includes Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom, Ottawa's two-time Norris Trophy defenceman Erik Karlsson and 2012 Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Most notably, Sweden general manager Tommy Boustedt filled six of what is expected to be seven defensive slots before he's required to make the team's final seven selections by June 1.
One notable European-born NHL star not among the players selected was Czech Republic great Jaromir Jagr.
Czech Republic general manager Martin Rucinsky said the 44-year-old wants to focus solely on completing this season with the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers before determining whether he'll compete.
"I talked to him, and I'm not going to try to convince him," Rucinsky said during a conference call announcing the team's initial 16-player roster. "I think Jags deserves a lot of respect from all of us, for what he did for the national team. That's why we're going to give him some time to see how he feels after the season."
Jagr leads the Panthers with 46 points (21 goals, 25 assist) in 60 games. He's also a four-time Olympic team member and won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games.
Jagr's 743 career goals ranks third on the NHL list, and his 1,848 career points rank fourth — two shy of matching Gordie Howe.
Forward Jakub Voracek and goalie Michal Neuvirth, teammates on the Philadelphia Flyers, were among the players selected to the Czech Republic team.
Finland also announced a roster full of NHL players, with forwards Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild and Jussi Jokinen of the Florida Panthers joining Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask.
"They are a great mixture of experience, talent, and open-mindness," Finland coach Lauri Marjamaki said. "For the players the World Cup is a huge thing. Their motivation is high and they all want to be part of the team."
Team Europe, composed of players whose European nations aren't represented, will announce its roster later Wednesday.
Kuznetsov hasn't played for Russia in a men's best-on-best tournament yet in his career.
"He was playing for the national team in world championship, but I think it's kind of different level of the tournament," Ovechkin said of the World Cup. "I think it's kind of (like) Olympic Games because all the best players are going to be there and it's — it's kind of something close to Olympic Games."
With 20 goals and 45 assists, Kuznetsov is fifth in the NHL in scoring. He'll only be 24 when he suits up for Russia during the World Cup, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.
Ovechkin expects Kuznetsov to get better in time.
"Everybody knew he had like, talent to be one of the best players in the league," Ovechkin said. "He's still young, obviously. In the future, he's going to be more mature, have more experience, and I'm pretty sure 20 goals is just the beginning for him. He can score 40, you know, easily in this league if he's going to continue what he's doing, and he's going to be a top player."
Speaking after the Capitals' 3-2 victory against Malkin and the Penguins on Tuesday night, Ovechkin deferred to Russia coach Dmitry Kurbatov about how much representation the KHL might have at the World Cup. The first 16 players are all playing in the NHL, but there's room for more when the final seven are named by June 1.
Ovechkin will be playing in his second World Cup after dressing for two games in 2004, the last time the event was held. He was the youngest player in the tournament back then, but it gave him a taste of what this one might be like.
"I was a teenager then and I played in a couple games and it was an unbelievable experience for me just to see players from NHL," Ovechkin said. "You're just watching TV and reading the newspaper as a little guy and you play against them. It's a huge experience for young guys and a great time for experienced guys who represent their country. It's a big stage, so it's a big tournament."