The 7 players who should complete USA's World Cup roster
The United States revealed a well-rounded initial roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on Wednesday, but some difficult decisions remain.
Related: Patrick Kane leads USA's initial World Cup roster
The American side will have the likes of USA mainstays Patrick Kane, Max Pacioretty, Joe Pavelski, and Zach Parise, but it won't feature Johnny Gaudreau, Dylan Larkin, Brandon Saad, or Seth Jones, all of whom were named to the initial 23-and-under North American squad due to the tournament's eligibility rules.
That's unfortunate for USA general manager Dean Lombardi, but there are plenty of reliable options for the remaining spots.
Here are the seven players who should be added before the final roster deadline on June 1:
Forwards
Phil Kessel
He's had a disappointing campaign - by his standards - in his first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Kessel absolutely deserves a spot on this team.
The 28-year-old already has five 30-goal seasons on his resume, and he's represented the United States in two Olympic Games, three World Championships, and two under-21 World Junior Hockey Championships.
Kessel is one of the USA's best pure scoring options, and his experience on the international stage makes him a no-brainer.
Kyle Okposo
Okposo is one of the most consistent American playmakers when healthy, and he's tied for fifth among U.S.-born skaters this season with 48 points in 59 games.
He's represented his country at three World Championships and two World Junior Hockey Championships.
Bobby Ryan
Ryan is another remarkably consistent scorer who's played for Team USA in the Olympics, World Championships, and the world juniors.
Although a lot of right wingers have a similar resume, the U.S. should prioritize skill over preferred position.
Brandon Dubinsky
He's not a prototypical offensive force, but the Columbus Blue Jackets center brings a blend of skill and sandpaper to the American squad, which already features Justin Abdelkader and Ryan Kesler.
Dubinsky can get under the skin of opponents, and he has a long history with Sidney Crosby. Lombardi clearly added Abdelkader and Kesler with physicality in mind, and Dubinsky would round out an imposing grind line.
Defensemen
Keith Yandle
Yandle is tied for third among American defensemen with 35 points this season, and he hasn't posted an even-strength Corsi For percentage below 50 since 2008-09.
The New York Rangers blue-liner drives possession and provides stability on the back end.
Justin Faulk
Faulk is tied for the league lead in power-play goals among defensemen, and he'll be 24 on March 20, meaning the Carolina Hurricanes defender should be eligible to play for the U.S. in this tournament.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Shattenkirk ranks sixth in points among American blue-liners with 33 in 56 games, and he's on pace to surpass the 40-point plateau for the third straight season.
The St. Louis Blues defenseman is no stranger to the U.S. national program, representing his home nation in three previous tournaments.
David Backes, Matt Niskanen, Ryan Callahan, Lee Stempniak, and Kyle Palmieri could all be considered as potential injury replacements, but their cases aren't as convincing as the aforementioned seven.