Less than a month away from the beginning of the 2016 World Cup of hockey, two teams have had to make changes to their lineups. Team Canada announced that forward Logan Couture and defenceman Jay Bouwmeester will replace the injured Jamie Benn and Duncan Keith. For Team Sweden, defenceman Hampus Lindholm is set to replace Niklas Kronwall, recovering from a knee injury sustained last season.
Team Canada and Sweden Announce World Cup of Hockey Roster Changes
Currently the captain of the Dallas Stars, Benn underwent surgery on July 14th to repair an abdominal muscle injury. At that time, general manager Jim Nill would not speculate on Benn’s availability for the World Cup of Hockey. With a six-week recovery time, Benn will be available for the Stars’ season opener on October 13.
Although Jamie Benn won’t play at World Cup, GM Jim Nill says he’ll be 100 percent to start this season.
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) August 23, 2016
Couture, of the 2016 NHL Western Conference Champion San Jose Sharks, finished the 2015-16 season as the team’s leading scorer with 10 goals and 30 points in 24 postseason games and 15 goals and 36 points in the regular season, despite missing 30 games.
Keith is currently recovering from a knee injury. To avoid further injury before the start of the Chicago Blackhawks season, he decided not to participate in the tournament. Bouwmeester, currently with the St Louis Blues, played for Team Canada in two Olympic Games and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Kronwall, also recovering from a knee injury, played 64 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season. This will be Lindholm’s first appearance with Team Sweden in an international competition. He has completed three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks with a total of 23 goals and 92 points.
Eight teams – Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North America (U23), Team Russia, Team Sweden and Team USA – will compete in the two-week tournament. All games will take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It runs September 17 through October 1.
Main Photo
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 02: Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks in action during the NHL preseason game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on October 2, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
