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Chiarelli explains Nugent-Hopkins absence on initial Team NA roster

Getty Images
Getty Images

Approaching the Team North America roster selection process for the World Cup of Hockey was an interesting one for co-general manager Peter Chiarelli. Like some other GMs involved in the putting the eight teams together, he had the opportunity to include one of his own players.

But when first 16 players were revealed for Team North America on Wednesday afternoon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers did not make the initial cut. Through 46 games this season the 22-year old center has eight goals and 30 points. He's been out of the lineup since mid-January with a broken finger.

So how did Chiarelli balance his Oilers loyalties with those of selecting 16 players with fellow Team North America GM Stan Bowman?

“That was a difficult one. Ryan is an important part of our team in Edmonton,” Chiarelli said. “He’s been hurt. We've got a management group. There's certain assessments we have of certain players.

“I spoke with Ryan a week or so ago. We talked about this situation. I told him, I said, ‘You're an important part of the Oilers, and you're going to be an important part of this team when you start playing, so just go and play and things will sort themselves out.

“Ryan was really good about it. He knows what he has to do. I would expect him to be part of this team at the end of the day. But he's got to come back and play, and I expect that he will.”

Bowman and Chiarelli included nine forwards for their preliminary roster, with a solid group at center. The final seven skaters need to be announced before June 1.

It’s going to be a good competition for one of the last spots at forward with Nugent-Hopkins, Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Alex Galchenyuk among the names that may end up heading to Toronto in September.

Then there’s the question of Auston Matthews, the likely No. 1 pick in June’s entry draft. The 18-year-old is tearing up the Swiss league with 24 goals and 46 points in 36 games with ZSC. Chiarelli said he faces an “uphill road” to make the team, but he’s certainly an interesting name in the mix of potential finalists up front.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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