Yesterday, just a few days after the NHL and NHLPA announced that it would allow players to take part in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, camp invites were sent out to a select group of players.
The Los Angeles Kings will have at least good representation at the camps, as seven players were named to Olympic camp rosters from Canada, the United States, and Russia. The eighth player is obviously King center Anze Kopitar who has already been named to the Slovenian Olympic squad for their first ever Olympic games.
About 1,500 miles to the Northeast, Slava Voynov will be getting his first taste of Olympic action as he was named to the Russian orientation squad for Sochi as well.
It’s been a phenomenal six months for Voynov, who is coming off maybe his most eye opening regular season and playoffs, followed by a lucrative 6-year $25-million dollar contract with the team back in late June. You can’t say that the 23-year-old Russian has not deserved this opportunity though. He led the Kings defenseman in points in the regular season, and tied for the team lead with Jeff Carter in points in the playoffs. He had an unprecedented four game-winning goals in the post season and was a stud for a depleted Kings blueline. Voynov looks like he will have a pretty good chance, as the following 12 defenseman have been invited:
From the NHL: Sergei Gonchar, Nikita Nikitin, Andrei Markov, Anton Volchenkov, Alexei Emelin, and Fedor Tyutin
From the KHL: Evgeny Biryukov, Denis Denisov, Evgeny Medvedev, Ilya Nikulin (Who played on the 2010 Olympic squad), and Evgeny Ryasensky.
It’s not a list of huge names, and you could argue that Voynov is easily among the top-five and even the top-three of those listed.
Stateside, three Kings were selected to attend the orientation camp for the Sochi team. The no-brainer selection was obviously Jonathan Quick, who will likely have to duke it out with Jimmy Howard or Corey Schneider for the starting job. Recently signed King captain Dustin Brown also graces the list in the forward slot, and the surprise invitee in my book is defensive specialist Trevor Lewis.
Now the U.S. has invited 48 players, so in all likelihood Trevor Lewis won’t have a fighting chance to get on the team with names like Kane, Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, and Kessel lining up against him, but who knows right? Even the fact that Lewis was selected is an honor a privilege, and something I’m sure he’s proud of. Dustin Brown may seem like a no brainer selection, but this team is incredibly heavy on talent at the wing so Brown better be ready to go.
Here is a full list of the invitees for Team U.S.A
here.
The United State’s northern neighbor and biggest competition at the games is sporting a stacked camp roster which also includes three Los Angeles Kings. The star of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games Drew Doughty will be back in action. Coming along with him is 2012-13 leading goal scorer Jeff Carter, and another gold medalist from 2010, Mike Richards.
Carter might have an extra jump in his step to get on the team for 2014, as in 2010 he was left off of the starting squad and was instead a reserve team member. He’s attained gold at every level, winning gold in the World Junior Championships in 2005 and at IIHF World U18 championships in 2003. After a Stanley Cup lifting in 2011-12, the Olympic gold is the one accolade that has eluded Carter so far. He’ll be 29 years old when Sochi rolls around and you have to wonder if he will be the same player in 2018 at age 33. This may very well be his last and best shot at making the roster. He’s healthy and coming off a strong year, now is as good a time as ever for Carter to make a push.
Canada is stacked with a ridiculous amount of talent and you can check out the full roster
here.
It’s great to see the Kings well represented at the international level and regardless of who makes the squad and who doesn’t, congratulations to Carter, Brown, Lewis, Richards, Doughty, Kopitar, Quick and Voynov. Doing the Kings organization proud.
Other Notes and News
Darren Dreger is reporting that Trevor Lewis has signed a 1-year contract with the Kings worth 1.325 Million
Kyle Clifford now remains as the last King RFA standing
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
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