2014 Olympic Watch: Wild’s Jason Pominville Back in the Picture for Team USA
By Dakota Case
Apr 9, 2013; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville (29) against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Xcel Energy Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Wild 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Wild’s July 4th, 2012 blockbuster signings, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, are almost guaranteed to be locks for Team USA as they piece together a roster for February’s Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Another player many thought would be in consideration, but was ultimately snubbed for the orientation camp roster, was newly acquired Wild forward Jason Pominville. According to the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo, Pominville has jumped back into consideration.
Per Russo:
"I talked to GM David Poile about the decision by the United States of not inviting the Wild’s Jason Pominville to camp. Pominville, who typically hits the 20- or even 30-goal mark, was born in Canada but has dual citizenship.Poile said today that Pominville “probably should have” been invited to camp. Poile said Pominville’s name came up Sunday during a five-hour meeting with management and he has been “put back on the board,” meaning he will be scouted all season.“If he plays well enough, he’s back in the mix,” Poile said, although he added that the big reason why Pominville wasn’t included is that there are just several forwards on the potential depth chart with their “foot in the door.” That likely means, at a minimum, guys like Parise, Brown, Backes, Callahan, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel and Bobby Ryan.Remember, only 25 players can make the team and only 20 skaters can dress per game, and seven or eight of those will be defensemen.So while it’s probably still a longshot for Pominville to make the team, he is back on the U.S. radar and if he has a terrific October, November and December for the Wild, he’ll put himself in position to make this arguable snub look like a true oversight."
The Minnesota Wild are also hoping for a terrific October, November and December from Pominville, but for other reasons.
Other Wild players in the mix for representing their countries in Russia include Finland’s Mikko Koivu, Mikael Granlund and Niklas Backstrom, Sweden’s Jonas Brodin and Switzerland’s Nino Niederreiter.