Youth well represented across the World Cup initial rosters

As is customary when the rosters for any big sports tournament are announced, the composition of each roster is picked apart and analyzed to death. The preliminary rosters for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, which were announced on Wednesday, were no exception.

This makes sense given the magnitude of the tournament — not to mention the announcement that the next World Cup will come in 2020 — and all the familiar faces that promise to be part of the big event. Filip Forsberg, who was named to the Team Sweden roster, reportedly told Adam Vingan of The Tennessean that the World Cup is “probably going to be one of the best tournaments that’s ever been played in hockey history.”

It’s an understandable statement, given that the 21-year-old winger is on a team stacked with veterans named Lundqvist and Zetterberg. But Forsberg is part of a contingent of younger players — rookies and otherwise — peppering the WCH rosters. And we aren’t just talking about the loaded under-23 Team North America roster. The countries participating in the World Cup give a gander into the future of the sport.

Team Czech Republic lit up news feeds early Wednesday for its roster of young bucks. That news was of course manifested from the announcement that Jaromir Jagr and his mullet were not initially included on the list of participants. (Although there is still the possibility that he could be added at the June 1 deadline.)

Taking a look at the initial 16-man list, the Czech team is plenty stacked without him. Forwards Tomas Hertl (San Jose) and Ondrej Palat (Tampa Bay) and goaltender Petr Mrazek — who has burst on the scene this year for the Detroit Red Wings — highlight the predominantly under-25 roster. In fact, the only roster member over 30 is Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec.

But it doesn’t stop there. The younger generation has its feet — er, skates? — planted across the rosters. Sure, it might seem like that because of Team North America, composed solely of a combination of U.S. and Canadian players under the age of 23. And sure, veteran goaltending and defense are still at a premium. But there is no shortage of next-gen talent heading to Toronto next September.

It's no surprise that vet Alex Ovechkin is at the helm of the Team Russia ship, along with the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin — the usual suspects. But the Russian team does have some next-generation blood in the ranks, however, with rookie sensation Artemi Panarin making the 16-man preliminary roster.

Then there’s Team Finland, which is headlined by veteran goaltenders Pekka Rinne and Tuukka Rask, but includes 23-year-old Joonas Donskoi from San Jose and 21-year-old Esa Lindell from the Dallas Stars’ system.

This all before getting to the start of the Team North America roster. In addition to having sweaters worthy of a comic book action hero, the team boasts rookie phenoms Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel on the same roster, as well as last year’s Calder Trophy winner Aaron Ekblad and All-Star Weekend’s fastest skater Dylan Larkin, among others.

The representation of younger players could expand, as well, since there are still seven slots to be filled by June 1. Do rookie standouts Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Shayne Gostisbehere make the cut on Team North America? Are there more players like Team Finland’s Lindell who come aren’t on an NHL roster? (Heck, Team Czech Republic has two players on the initial roster from the KHL.)

There are a few months left to see how many more young players take over the rosters, but it's safe to say there will be no shortage of youth served at the World Cup of Hockey.