[sureLoss]

Spoiler tags for the original post:

Spoiler!

Will be officially announce after the Winter Classic today.

But as usual word is leaking out about who made the team and who didn't

According to Gary Lawless: Blake Wheeler will make the team.

There are rumblings that Bobby Ryan didn't make the team.

Kevin Allen projects the team as follows (not official but Allen apparently has sources with USA Hockey):
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...oices/4257385/

Parise Kesler Kane
van Riemsdyk Pavelski Kessel
Brown Backes Callahan
Pacioretty Stastny Oshie
Wheeler Stepan

Suter Martin
McDonagh Fowler
Orpik Shattenkirk
Faulk Johnson

Miller
Quick
Howard

The final blue-line picks were challenging because there were several quality options. It's not easy leaving off Keith Yandle (Phoenix Coyotes), who probably is America's best power-play point man. Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg) has the USA's best shot from the point. But both players are not as strong defensively as a coach needs them to be in a tournament featuring the world's best players. Erik Johnson (Colorado) is having a strong season, but there were other players whose skating was a better fit for the wider European ice or had expanded dimensions to their game.

The most difficult decision was leaving off Bobby Ryan (Ottawa Senators). He might be en route to his fifth 30-goal season. His hands are exceptional. But the Americans are deep on the wing, and other players have more to offer. Ryan is not a skater, nor a defensive zealot. Wheeler was my pick over Ryan because of his speed, size and reach. All are important on the wider surface.

Ultimately, I took Stepan over Brandon Saad (Chicago) because it would be irresponsible to go to Sochi with only four proven NHL centers. Saad is playing better than Stepan, but wing is his best position. Oshie is a strong penalty killer and has chemistry with Backes. Plus, he is exceptional in the shootout. If a scoring winger is hurt, Saad is my next pick.

Update Offical roster named here:
http://olympics.usahockey.com/page/show/1067902-roster

Forwards (14): David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler

Defensemen (8): John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Suter

Goalies (3): Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick

Biggest names not on the roster: Bobby Ryan, Yandle, Byfuglien, Okposo, Jack and Eric Johnson