In only his second game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 22-year-old winger fired a wrist shot off the crossbar and behind Washington Capitals netminder Philipp Grubauer for his first career goal.
The Washington Capitals welcomed Brooks Laich back to the Verizon Center with a video tribute during a TV timeout Wednesday, which drew a standing ovation from the fans.
A visibly emotional Laich demonstrated his appreciation to the Capitals faithful with a raising of the stick and a clap of the mitts.
Laich, who was playing his second game for the Toronto Maple Leafs following a trade on Feb. 28, had played all but two of his 744 career games with the Capitals coming into Wednesday's contest.
The initial 16-player roster for the World Cup of Hockey is set, and Team Canada's brass - led by general manager Doug Armstrong - has less than three months to fill out the full 23-man roster.
It's rare for Perry and Ryan Getzlaf to be separated, and with the Anaheim Ducks center having already been named to the squad, the winger is sure to follow.
Perry is a Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a World Junior Championships gold medalist, and since Canada traditionally values pre-existing chemistry, expect him to line up alongside Getzlaf in this tournament.
Taylor Hall
The Edmonton Oilers remain a huge question mark, but it's no fault of Hall's. Among Canadian left wingers this season, Hall ranks second in points to Jamie Benn, who's already been named to the team.
The 24-year-old helped Canada to a World Championship in 2015, and should be called upon to represent his country once again as a premiere player at his position.
Claude Giroux
The Philadelphia Flyers captain has been as consistent as they come as an NHL center, averaging 0.9 points per game in his career.
Overlooked for the past two Winter Olympics, Giroux was a member of Canada's 2015 World Championship-winning team, and also won World Junior gold in 2008.
Canada is already stacked at center, but Giroux's right-handed shot could slot in as a winger, and a dynamic one at that.
Brad Marchand
The Boston Bruins winger sits in a tie with Benn for second among NHL players with 32 goals this season, and in six fewer games. Only Alex Ovechkin can boast a higher total.
And speaking of chemistry, Marchand has been excelling alongside Patrice Bergeron for years, and, like in Boston, this pair could give international opposition all it can handle at either end of the ice.
Don't forget, Marchand also has two World Junior gold medals as a member of the 2007 and 2008 teams.
Defensemen
P.K. Subban
This one's too easy.
Subban is one of the game's most exciting players, and is a Norris Trophy winner as the top player at his position.
Questions abound in regards to his propensity to give away the puck, but he leads the league in that category because a player of his skill level commands it on his stick as often as possible.
The World Cup is meant to be a showcase for the game's best players, and Subban is indeed just that. He should be on this team, especially with the tournament being played in his hometown.
Brent Burns
Among all defensemen this season, only Erik Karlsson has recorded more points than Burns, while the San Jose Sharks blue liner ranks first with 21 goals and 265 shots.
Like a few mentioned above, Burns played for the 2015 World Championship team, and his superb play offensively and defensively warrants a spot on the World Cup team, especially considering his familiarity with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, one of the four named to the initial roster.
Kris Letang
The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is sandwiched between Burns and Subban in terms of points by Canadian defensemen this season, and is, of course, familiar with star center Sidney Crosby.
A series of unfortunate injuries have befallen Letang in recent seasons, but the two-time World Championship gold medal winner and Stanley Cup champion has been good for 0.61 points per game in his career.
It's high time for Letang to be featured in a major international tournament.
Vancouver, B.C. – The National Hockey League announced today that four Vancouver Canucks players have been selected to represent their respective countries at the 2016 World Cup in Toronto including Daniel Sedin (Team Sweden), Henrik Sedin (Team S...
Hockey fans around the globe will have some slick new jerseys to add to their closets in the coming months.
With the 2016 World Cup set for September, and on the day when 16 players were named to each of the eight teams, the NHL also revealed the jerseys to be worn at the event, all courtesy of Adidas.
Here they are in all their glory, with the first four representing traditional European squads:
Patrick Kane will lead Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Here's a look at the initial 16-man roster for the American squad:
Forwards
Kane, Chicago Blackhawks Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals Derek Stepan, New York Rangers Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings
Defensemen
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers John Carlson, Washington Capitals
Goaltenders
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
Seven more players will be named to the roster before the June 1 deadline.
Kings general manager Dean Lombardi is Team USA's GM, and Flyers president Paul Holmgren is the assistant general manager of the American contingent.
Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke is a senior advisor, while USA Hockey's Jim Johannson is the American World Cup team's director of hockey operations.
The USA won gold at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
TORONTO - The first 16 players named to Canada's 2016 World Cup featured a number of those who helped the country capture gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Forwards
Sidney Crosby: Canada's captain for the last gold-medal winning squad, Cros...
TORONTO - Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby headlines the first 16 players Canada unveiled for its World Cup of Hockey roster.
Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was also named among the Canadian team forwards
Nashville Pred...
