USA Hockey: A look at the preliminary roster?

As the summer moves forward, team USA has selected Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma to lead Team USA for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Personally, I think that Bylsma is a very good selection. Bylsma is a very good hockey coach and in 2009 he added a Stanley Cup on his coaching resume.

As soon as the announcement for the head coach was made, I am sure that many USA hockey fans were already dreaming up their preliminary Olympic teams rosters in their heads. Here are some of the players that "I" think will have a chance to make team USA preliminary camp roster. Feel free to add or delete your list of players. It will be interesting to see how close my list it to the actual roster that comes out next winter.

Also, feel free to defend why a player should or shouldn't be added to the preliminary roster. Also feel free to add your own roster. This is meant to be fun and provoke thought and discussion.

Forwards

*T.J. Oshie, UND, St. Louis Blues, Mount Vernon, Washington

*David Backes, MSU, St. Louis Blues, Minneapolis, Minnesota

*Zach Parise, UND, Minnesota Wild, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dustin Brown, Guelph OHL, L.A. Kings, Ithaca, New York

Patrick Kane, London OHL, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo, New York

#Jason Pominville, Shawinigan QMJHL, Minnesota Wild, Repentigny, Quebec

David Booth, MSU, Florida Panthers, Detroit, Michigan

Brian Gionta, B.C., Montreal Canadiens, Rochester, New York

Phil Kessel, UMN, Toronto Maple Leafs, Madison, Wisconsin

Ryan Kesler, OSU, Vancouver Canucks, Livonia, Michigan

Joe Pavelski, UW, San Jose Sharks, Plover, Wisconsin

Bobby Ryan, Owen Sound OHL, Anaheim Ducks, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Ryan Callahan, Guelph OHL, New York Rangers, Rochester, New York

*Derek Stepan, UW, New York Rangers, Hastings, Minnesota

Drew Stafford, UND, Buffalo Sabres, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

#Paul Stastny, DU, Colorado Avalanche, Quebec City, Quebec

*/**Kyle Okposo, UMN, New York Islanders, St. Paul, Minnesota

**Nate Gerbe, B.C., Buffalo Sabres, Oxford, Michigan

**Erik Cole, Clarkson, Dallas Stars, Oswego, New York

Defense

Ryan Suter, UW, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin

Brooks Orpik, Boston College, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Francisco, California

Jack Johnson, Michigan, Columbus Blue Jackets, Indianapolis, Indiana

Matt Carle, DU, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anchorage Alaska

*Ryan McDonagh, UW, New York Rangers, St. Paul, Minnesota
John Carlson, London OHL, Washington Capitals, Natick, Massachusetts

Kevin Shattenkirk, Boston U, St. Louis Blues, Greenwich, Connecticut

Keith Yandle, Moncton QMJHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Milton, Massachusetts

*Paul Martin, UMN, Pittsburgh Penguins, Elk River, Minnesota

*/**Jordan Leopold, UMN, St. Louis Blues, Golden Valley, Minnesota

*/**Erik Johnson, UMN, Colorado Avalanche, Bloomington, Minnesota

*/**Dustin Byfuglien, Brandon WHL, Winnipeg Jets, Minneapolis, Minnesota

**Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks WHL, Arlington, Texas (draft eligible)

**Justin Falk, UMD, Carolina Hurricanes, South St. Paul, Minnesota

**/#Cam Fowler, Windsor OHL, Anaheim Ducks, Windsor, Ontario

**Danny DeKeyser, WMU, Detroit Red Wings, Macomb Michigan

**Tyler Myers, Kelowna WHL, Buffalo Sabres, Houston, Texas

**Matt Greene, UND, L.A. Kings, Grand Ledge, Michigan

Goalies

Jonathan Quick, UMass, L.A. Kings, Milford, Connecticut

Ryan Miller, MSU, Buffalo Sabres, East Lansing, Michigan

Craig Anderson, Guelph OHL, Ottawa Senators, Park Ridge, IL

**Jimmy Howard, Maine, Detroit Red Wings, Syracuse, New York

*State of Hockey member

**Wild Cards

# Dual Citizen