Goaltenders David Leggio and Brandon Maxwell have been named the final two members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, USA Hockey announced Thursday.
The two join Ryan Zapolski, who was the lone goalie called up when the first 23 members were named on Jan. 1.
Maxwell is currently playing in the Czech league for Mlada Boleslav BK where he's posted a 10-18-0 record with a .921 save percentage and 2.37 goals-against average.
Leggio, who currently plays for Munich EHC of the DEL in Germany, might ring a bell as he's made headlines in recent years for pushing nets off their pegs to halt opposition rushes.
Leggio has gone 13-7-0 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average.
The Americans will kick off their march toward Olympic gold on Feb. 14 when they face Slovenia.
There are certainly some names you'll recognize up front and in goal on Canada's Olympic men's hockey team, but the defense is another story.
Sure, Derek Roy, Mason Raymond, Wojtek Wolski, and Ben Scrivens were among the players named by Hockey Canada to its 2018 Olympic squad Thursday, but most of the Canadian blue-liners are relative no-names.
Here's a quick rundown of who the defensemen are and where they came from:
Stefan Elliott
Fans of the Colorado Avalanche - and to a lesser extent, the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators - might remember this 26-year-old, who the Avalanche drafted in the second round back in 2009, but we'd forgive them if he didn't ring a bell.
Elliott played 63 games over four seasons with Colorado, collecting 18 points, and left for the KHL in 2016 after shorter stints with the Coyotes and Predators. He's playing with HV71 (Jonkoping) in the Swedish Hockey League this season.
Chay Genoway
If we told you Genoway was a point-per-game player in his NHL career, you'd be impressed, right?
That's true, but the 31-year-old Manitoban has played just one game in the league, as he notched an assist in his only NHL appearance with the Minnesota Wild in 2011-12.
Genoway has spent the last four years in the KHL, suiting up for four different teams.
Cody Goloubef
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Goloubef might be the most experienced member of the D-corps as far as NHL experience is concerned, with 129 career games played.
The 28-year-old spent parts of seven seasons in the Columbus Blue Jackets' organization after that club picked him 37th overall in 2008, but couldn't carve out a regular NHL role before being traded to the Avalanche in November 2016.
Goloubef managed only five points in 33 contests with Colorado last season, and he's collected a respectable 14 points in 27 games with the AHL's Stockton Heat in 2017-18.
Marc-Andre Gragnani
The Buffalo Sabres had high hopes for this now-30-year-old when they made him a third-round pick in 2005, but he didn't pan out as an NHL prospect.
He played for the KHL squad in Prague before jumping to Switzerland's National League with SC Bern, then back to the Russian-based league, in which he's played for Dinamo Minsk for the last two seasons, posting 38 points in 56 games in 2016-17.
Chris Lee
While Goloubef has the most NHL experience in the group, Lee has the most life experience.
The 37-year-old is the definition of a journeyman, having never played a game in the NHL but having spent years toiling in the ECHL, AHL, and overseas.
Lee has played in Europe for the last eight campaigns, and he's been a member of the KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk for the last five, piling up an impressive 65 points in 60 games one season ago.
Maxim Noreau
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Much like Lee, Noreau went undrafted and has since bounced around in the AHL, ECHL, and Europe.
He does have six NHL games under his belt, playing a single contest with the Wild in 2009-10, and then five more with them the following season, but he doesn't have any points to show for it.
Noreau has played in Switzerland for five of the last seven years, most recently with SC Bern, where he has 21 points in 25 games this season.
Mat Robinson
Robinson is certainly one of the more obscure names on the roster. He's never appeared in the NHL, and he's played in Europe for the last seven years, plying his trade in the KHL for the past five and racking up 20 points in 37 games for CSKA Moscow this season.
Karl Stollery
This 30-year-old Albertan was never drafted by an NHL club, but he did play seven games for the Avalanche, five for the San Jose Sharks, and 11 for the Devils.
He's in the midst of his first KHL season with Dinamo Riga, with whom he's chipped in 14 points in 46 contests.
After a lengthy recovery, the former Colorado Avalanche forward returned with a bang this season, scoring nine goals and 33 points in 40 games with Magnitogorsk Metallurg and Kunlun Red Star.
On Thursday, he was named to Canada's Olympic roster a year removed from sitting in a hospital bed following neck surgery, he noted on Instagram.
The NHL trade deadline is just over a month away, but after Anthony Duclair was shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, it appears general managers have already started burning up the phones.
Many clubs remain on the cusp of a playoff position, meaning the next few weeks could be the tipping point in determining who will look to sell and who will look to load up ahead of the final stretch.
Here are the top 10 players who could very well be dealt ahead of the Feb. 26 deadline:
1. Evander Kane, F, Sabres
Teams that could be interested: Sharks, Blues, Kings
Kane's name has been among the most prevalent in trade rumors. It appears to be a given he'll be dealt, and rightfully so, as he's producing despite playing on the league's second-worst team.
Given he's tallied 35 points in 43 games in Buffalo, it would be interesting to see what he can do with a contender.
2. Mike Green, D, Red Wings
Teams that could be interested: Maple Leafs, Lightning, Capitals
The number of dependable, right-shooting veteran defensemen is slim, and Green is the best of that group.
Green, who earned an All-Star nod after tallying 24 points in 41 games, can slot in on the power play and be a huge boost to a club looking to fill out its D core.
3. Mike Hoffman, F, Senators
Teams that could be interested: Blues, Hurricanes, Sharks
Hoffman has one of the most lethal shots in the league.
His production hasn't been great, but considering the tailspin the Senators have been in, his 11 goals and 29 points are decent totals. Placed on the wing of a setup man like Joe Thornton or in a solid power-play unit, he could be the perfect trigger man.
4. Max Pacioretty, F, Canadiens
Teams that could be interested: Sharks, Blues, Kings
Team captains are rarely traded at the deadline. However, with the Canadiens set to miss the postseason for just the second time in the last six years, rumors about Pacioretty being shopped have already surfaced.
A smaller role and less responsibility on a contender could be just what Pacioretty needs to rekindle his scoring prowess.
5. Robin Lehner, G, Sabres
Teams that could be interested: Islanders, Penguins
Few goalies are available and even fewer teams are in need of one heading into the final stretch, but there could be a marriage between Robin Lehner and the New York Islanders.
Goaltending has clearly been the Islanders' Achilles' heel, and Lehner has been one of the better Sabres this season, putting up the sixth-best home save percentage in the NHL.
6. Thomas Vanek, F, Canucks
Teams that could be interested: Blues, Kings, Penguins
It seems teams looking to find offensive depth heading into the playoffs always look to Vanek for a cheap fill. The 29-year-old has recorded a respectable 12 goals and 29 points, including 11 power-play points, on a lowly Canucks squad.
The Canadiens forward has faced criticism for his play, been shifted from center to wing, and moved up and down the lineup. He's just two years removed from a 30-goal campaign, and, at 23 years of age, has more to give.
He still has two years remaining on his deal after this season, so this would be more than your average rental.
8. Erik Gudbranson, D, Canucks
Teams that could be interested: Maple Leafs, Rangers, Islanders
Teams bidding for Gudbranson won't get much offense, but they'll add a dependable two-way defender who can slot nicely into a bottom pairing.
Gudbranson ranks third on the Canucks in both blocks and hits per game, while averaging 2:15 of shorthanded ice time per night.
9. Patrick Maroon, F, Oilers
Teams that could be interested: Capitals, Penguins, Sharks
Things haven't gone according to plan for Maroon this season after he showed glimpses of promise playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl last year.
After erupting for 27 goals in 2016-17, he's on pace to finish with 10 fewer this time around. That being said, he's your quintessential sandpaper-type player with the ability to finish - ideal for playoff hockey.
10. Petr Mrazek, G, Red Wings
Teams that could be interested: Islanders, Penguins
After Lehner, Mrazek is the best goalie likely to be made available.
The Red Wings netminder will be a restricted free agent at season's end, and while he has served largely as a backup this year, he has experience as a starter. He's still only 25, and could serve as a depth option on a team like the Penguins.
Here is the men's hockey roster Canada will be icing at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, as revealed by Hockey Canada on Thursday:
Forwards
Rene Bourque
Gilbert Brule
Andrew Ebbett
Quinton Howden
Chris Kelly
Rob Klinkhammer
Brandon Kozun
Maxim Lapierre
Eric O'Dell
Mason Raymond
Derek Roy
Christian Thomas
Linden Vey
Wojtek Wolski
Defensemen
Stefan Elliott
Chay Genoway
Cody Goloubef
Marc-Andre Gragnani
Chris Lee
Maxim Noreau
Mat Robinson
Karl Stollery
Goaltenders
Justin Peters
Kevin Poulin
Ben Scrivens
Former Vancouver Canucks bench boss Willie Desjardins will serve as Canada's head coach for the tournament, and his team is made up of players from seven different leagues across North America and Europe.
Former NHL goaltender and executive Sean Burke is Canada's general manager.
The U.S. Army is renewing its battle with the Vegas Golden Knights over their team name, but the club insists it's done nothing wrong.
On Wednesday, the Department of the Army filed a notice of opposition against Black Knight Sports and Entertainment - the company that owns and operates the NHL expansion franchise - with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office over the use of the club's moniker, as obtained by SportsLogos.net's Chris Creamer.
The team fired back Thursday.
"We strongly dispute the Army's allegations that confusion is likely between the Army Golden Knights parachute team and the Vegas Golden Knights major-league hockey team," the NHL squad said in a statement, via Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt.
"Indeed, the two entities have been coexisting without any issues for over a year (along with several other Golden Knights trademark owners) and we are not aware of a single complaint from anyone attending our games that they were expecting to see the parachute team and not a professional hockey game," the Golden Knights added.
"That said, in light of the pending trademark opposition proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time and will address the Army's opposition in the relevant legal forums."
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, a U.S. Military Academy graduate, said in the past that he initially wanted to call the team the Black Knights, the name used by Army's athletic program, but settled on Golden Knights because that's the name of the school's parachute team.
The NHL club has until Feb. 19 to respond to the notice of opposition.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers came into the season listed among the favorites in their respective conferences to reach the Stanley Cup Final - quite a laurel, considering where both teams were a few seasons ago.
Fast-forward to the second week of January, and only one of these teams remains in the hunt for a championship berth - while the other might soon be getting ready for yet another plum seat at the draft lottery.
While Maple Leafs fans continue to enjoy seeing their team jockey for position at the top of the Eastern Conference table, Oilers supporters are deciding which guy they want to see fired this week. It's an incredible divergence between two franchise that entered 2017-18 full of hope and promise following stronger-than-expected playoff showings last season.
So, what exactly went wrong for the Oilers? And what can they learn from a Maple Leafs team that has mastered its rebuilding process to the point where it finds itself a Stanley Cup contender just two seasons after stumbling to the worst record in the NHL?
Plenty, as it turns out. And while there's a tongue-in-cheek element to this post, it's fair to say nearly everything that has gone right for Toronto this season has gone horribly wrong for Edmonton.
Your star center can't do it all
Connor McDavid might be a better overall player than Auston Matthews, but that hasn't made a lick of difference in the standings. In fact, while McDavid has emerged as the only reliable scoring option in an otherwise inept Oilers offense, the Maple Leafs have already shown they can score in bunches even with Matthews on the shelf due to injury.
Consider that Toronto has 10 players with at least 20 points, while Edmonton boasts just five. The Maple Leafs have four skaters who have surpassed the 14-goal mark, while the Oilers have just two. Balanced scoring is critical, and Edmonton is getting nothing in that department, having scored just four goals over its past six games while going an unsurprising 1-5-0.
Solid goaltending matters
It took some time for Frederik Andersen to find his form, but he has emerged as one of the league's top netminders since the beginning of November, going 16-8-2 with a 2.36 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts. He's a major reason why the Maple Leafs haven't lost more than three games in a row at any point during that stretch.
Things haven't gone nearly as well for Edmonton netminder Cam Talbot, who put together a sensational 2016-17 campaign but has been a shell of that player this season. Not only are his 3.09 GAA and .902 save percentage the worst marks of his career, he has been downright abysmal so far in 2018, going 1-4-0 with a 3.59 GAA and a woeful .885 save percentage.
Don't ignore special teams
With a few exceptions, successful franchises excel in at least one area of special teams. And the Maple Leafs have been terrific in that regard, coming into Thursday ranked eighth in power-play conversion (20.9 percent) and fourth in penalty killing (84.8 percent). It's an extension of their success from last year, when they were second and 10th, respectively.
As for the Oilers ... it's bad. Their 16 percent power-play success rate ranks 26th out of 31 teams - a long, long way from their fifth-place showing last season - and they've been even worse on the penalty kill, sitting in the NHL basement at 71.4 percent. And things are getting worse, with the Oilers having surrendered nine power-play goals in their last seven games.
Play your cards right
Both teams have been blessed with a trove of talented forwards - but you wouldn't know it by looking at the Oilers' roster. In just over a year and a half, Edmonton has traded two former No. 1 picks (Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov) and a fellow first-rounder (Jordan Eberle) for a reliable but offensively challenged blue-liner (Adam Larsson), an erratic young center (Ryan Strome), and a former fourth-rounder toiling in the ECHL (Zach Pochiro).
Since beginning the rebuilding process, the Maple Leafs have had to deal with bouts of inconsistency from young forwards Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Nazem Kadri. But rather than send them packing, Toronto opted to hold onto them, bolstering its goaltending, defense, and forward depth in other ways. Given the way all three have embraced pivotal roles up front, it's safe to say the Leafs are happy they did.
The player who tossed his silver medal into the crowd after losing the gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship was reportedly dealing with a significant injury.
Sweden's Lias Andersson suffered a separated shoulder midway through the tournament and played both the semifinal and final with it, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Wednesday afternoon.
Andersson was in New York City rehabbing his shoulder Wednesday, and he'll likely be out of action for two-to-four weeks, according to the report.
The 19-year-old center is playing this season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. He served as Sweden's captain at the tourney and was a first-round pick (seventh overall) of the New York Rangers.
