Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Niederreiter, Gaborik added to Team Europe roster

Minnesota Wild v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 23: Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild skates prior to playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 23, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

This might be the ultimate underdog group, but Team Europe isn’t short on talent. Compromised of players outside of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden, this squad features players from nations that don’t typically excel in international tournaments, but will attempt to upset the hockey powerhouses with their combined talents.

The original 16 players named featured representatives from Denmark, Slovakia, Switzlerland, Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Norway. Today’s additions included Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Luca Sbisa from France and Italy respectively, bringing the number of nations represented to nine.

Two of the biggest names added today, though, were Nino Niederreiter and Marian Gaborik. Niederreiter, 23, hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, but the 23-year-old has established himself as a meaningful part of the Minnesota Wild after he struggled in the early years of his pro career with the New York Islanders. Gaborik is coming off of a rough campaign, but he has three 40-plus goal seasons on his resume.

Team Europe also added a veteran blueliner in Christian Ehrhoff in addition to Sbisa.

In goal they now have Thomas Greiss to work with his Islanders teammate Jaroslav Halak. Greiss has spent most of his NHL career serving as a backup goaltender, but when given the chance he stepped up with the Islanders this season and had an impressive showing against Florida in the first round of the playoffs.

Here is Team Europe’s roster in full:

G Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks (Denmark)
G Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders (Slovakia)
G Thomas Greiss, New York Islanders (Germany) *

D Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins (Slovakia)
D Christian Ehrhoff, Chicago Blackhawks (Germany) *
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators (Switzerland)
D Luca Sbisa, Vancouver Canucks (Italy) *
D Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins (Germany)
D Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers (Slovakia)
D Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers (Switzerland)

F Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Philadelphia Flyers (France) *
F Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche (Denmark)
F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (Germany)
F Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings (Slovakia) *
F Jannik Hansen, Vancouver Canucks (Denmark)
F Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks (Slovakia)
F Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings (Slovenia)
F Nino Niederreiter, New York Islanders (Switzerland) *
F Frans Nielsen, New York Islanders (Denmark)
F Tobias Rieder, Arizona Coyotes (Germany) *
F Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings (Slovakia)
F Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild (Austria)
F Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers (Norway)

* named to roster today