Joel Armia, Los Angeles Kings (Finland)
"It's great. Honored to represent my country. Obviously, great news. It's going to be a great tournament. To be a part of that, yeah, I feel like it's a big accomplishment for sure. I think we have a great team too, so it's not like we're going to go to participate. We're going to go win games."
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils (Sweden)
"It's a tournament you've dreamed of playing your whole life. And every scenario when you were younger, being in an outdoor rink or playing street hockey, was always playing for Sweden in the Olympics so it's a really special moment. When I was younger, there wasn't a lot of NHL games that were broadcast; it was more you got to see the NHL players when they were playing for Team Sweden. I mean, those were the big moments you remember, and the 2006 (Torino Olympics) gold medal obviously stood out the most. The 2014 Sochi Games was also a really special moment and brings back a lot of memories, watching them with my old teammates from back home and my family. So it's a real special day to me."
“Extremely honored. It’s a dream come true. I’m very excited about it. … Before the season we set goals and I think this was one of the goals for sure. I’m very excited about the opportunity I’m going to get. It’s going to be fun.”
"Super excited to be on the Olympic team. It's just the biggest sporting event in the world. Obviously, it's going to be different from some teams compared to others, but it's great for me. ... I'm not the new guy anymore, really, played with a lot of them at the world championships this year too."
"It means everything. That’s what you dream of as a kid. To be able to do it now, best against the best -- Olympics are the coolest experience you can experience. It’s amazing."
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings (Canada)
"I actually had no clue if I was going to make it. And I worked my [rear end] off this summer, the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life, to obviously play well for the Kings, but especially to make this team. And then, obviously, a bump in the road, came through this season with a broken toe, and then I started getting worried about it again, because I felt I was performing well before that. And now I think I’m getting back to where I need to be to help them out."
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights (United States)
"A few changes (from Four Nations), but for the most part, I'm familiar with a lot of guys on the team. It will be a great opportunity for us to prove ourselves. High expectations going into the tournament. You've got to go there and prove yourself. There are a lot of other teams who feel they're really good. We're going to go there, and there's a lot of pride on the line. I'm excited. It's going to be a great opportunity for us. I look forward to being part of Team USA and representing the country."
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild, (United States)
"It's super special. Obviously a dream come true. To have an opportunity to play best on best at the Olympics, it's one of the coolest things. I'm so grateful and excited for this opportunity. ... The movie 'Miracle' was a staple in our house for sure. I've probably seen that movie 100 times at least. In the back of the minivan we had a TV screen and it was always the movie in there."
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning (Canada)
"It gives me shivers. ... Being able to play for the flag is a dream come true. I never would have thought about it in a million years, and now, obviously, I get the opportunity. People believed in me to give me a chance to go try and win gold, play for the country, and to play for that flag on the front of the chest means the world to me."
"I'm not sure I was expecting to make the team, honestly, after my start to the year. But it was a nice surprise, for sure. Love that the management there has faith in me to up my game and get it to the level that it needs to be for that tournament. ... I think the level of play at that tournament and the speed is hard, so much harder than the NHL."
Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights (United States)
"It's a really special moment for sure when you get that call. I've fortunately been able to represent the U.S. in some tournaments in the past. This is the biggest one of all you can do that at, so it's an honor. Obviously really happy for my family, my parents, my wife. It's just an incredible honor to go over there and experience it and play with the best guys in the world."
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars (Finland)
"Of course it's nice to be announced to the team. It's one of the biggest things you can do is play for your country in a sport you love to do."
Bo Horvat, New York Islanders (Canada)
"I wanted it bad. I wanted to represent our country. I wanted to wear the maple leaf. I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the Islanders win, but also to make their decision tough, to make my stamp on what I could bring to Hockey Canada. Thankfully it didn’t go unnoticed. It’s a pretty surreal moment right now."
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils (United States)
"I'm really excited to be a part of the group and looking forward to February and getting to be a part of that group. When you get that call from (U.S. general manager) Billy (Guerin) it's just a amazing feeling. NHL players haven't played in the Olympics for a long time, so it's a dream come true, and when Billy calls it's just a really rewarding and happy feeling. It's a great group of guys. Guys who have played together and a lot of guys that are friends with each other so it should be a really good group off the ice just like it was last year (at the 4 Nations Face-Off). On the ice, it should be a really fast, competitive, skilled team, and we're looking forward to that."
Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken (Finland)
"It's not too many Finnish guys in this league, so we kind of know each other. We've been playing together, and then we know the style, and we've been having the same coaches for a long time, and you know almost all the guys. It starts from (the) under-16 team, the national team, and then you kind of go through all years and even when I've been here, I've been playing with Team Finland a couple times, so we already know what to do out there."
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins (Sweden)
"It's obviously a huge honor. It's great. Very happy. Excited. And been looking forward to it for a long time now."
Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth (United States)
"Super excited. (U.S. general manager) Bill Guerin FaceTimed me twice and I missed him. So we were just getting ready for practice on Long Island. So (Mammoth GM) Bill Armstrong came in and was like, 'Check your phone.' I was hoping that was a good sign and, yeah, just didn't really know what to say. It means so much to me. I've worked tremendously hard. Anytime you can represent your country, it's the best feeling ever."
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings (Sweden)
"It's a dream come true to be in the Olympics for sure. Four Nations, no one really knew what it was going to be like. ... For me, I'm just very excited, proud, and just looking forward to it. We're only a month away, something like that, so it's sort of creeping. It's nice to see all the rosters come out. You don't start talking to all the guys, but we know each other well from before and all that kind of stuff, so it's nice to see the roster come out."
Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings (Canada)
"Growing up playing on the outdoor pond or in the front road playing street hockey, like you’re always dreaming of playing for the Olympics. I think every kid in Canada wants to put on that maple leaf in that kind of setting, so it’s such an honor."
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks (Finland)
"I used to watch (the Olympics) all the time. Obviously, I remember watching Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu and all my heroes back then, and then even (the) Vancouver Olympics (in) 2010 here was a big deal, (Torino in) 2006, all these memories. So just being able to be part of that, and because it's Olympics, it's every four years, but even more so this year because the NHL players are there, it's going to be a lifetime event."
"It's a huge thing, a huge honor. It's kind of what everybody dreams of as a hockey player, to get to represent your country in an Olympics. It’s a dream come true. ... I'm excited to be a part of it."
Olli Maatta, Utah Mammoth (Finland)
"It means a lot. I think those tournaments are always a lot of fun. The hockey quality's going to be great. ... I honestly think we might have one of the best generations (in Finland) there is right now. You look at the top guys we've got and it's impressive how good these guys are in this league. They're not only, like mid-tier players. They're all elite players in this league, so we have a lot of talent and it's exciting to see."
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (United States)
"Yeah, it's exciting. You know, it's getting a look at Canada's team and some of the other teams that are coming out. I mean, it's exciting. It just feels like it's right around the corner, and it's only, you know, five, six weeks away. So definitely, very anxious to kind of see that. Definitely an exciting time."
"I'm excited it's getting closer and obviously with the roster announcement today, it gets more real and you start to picture some of those faces that will be there with you on the team and playing together. I'm really excited."
"This is a dream come true. I remember watching the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and then 2006, 2010, and 2014, especially 2010. I was at the age where Sid (Crosby) and Jarome (Iginla) and (Drew) Doughty and all those guys were heroes of mine. ... That call this morning was very emotional. It's such a great opportunity and something that is a huge honor. There are so many great players from our country, and you are competing with them to make that team. It's pretty special and something I take with a lot of pride."
Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche (United States)
"Incredibly lucky. A dream come true for sure, something that you dream about as a kid. Especially for me with the family (grandfather played for the U.S. team in 1960). And growing up in Warroad, with so many Olympians kind of through there out of a small town, which is kind of cool. To be a part of that is special."
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars (United States)
"It's something I've been wanting my whole life. To finally get that call, it is one of the best things to ever happen. It's as big as it gets; Stanley Cup No. 1, Olympic gold No. 2 in my book. I've been lucky to represent Team USA on a few different things and it's been some of my best memories in my hockey career, so it's like that times 10."
“It's special. Very honored. Very excited for it when the time comes. Obviously gold is what we have in sight. Won't be an easy road to get there, but that's what we have in mind.”
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins (Sweden)
"Obviously, like, super excited. It's a dream come true for me to get the chance to play in the Olympics and represent my country. Yeah, I couldn't be more excited."
"I think it’s a very good team. I feel sorry for (Aleksander) Barkov, that’s going to be a big miss for us, but we have a lot of good players, I have a lot of good friends on the team, a lot of guys I played with at the junior level. Finland always has a chance and we’re going to go all there to try and take it all home."
Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers (Canada)
"Representing my country at the Olympics is something I've dreamed about since I was a kid. Having that dream come true really is special and I can't wait to wear the maple leaf and compete alongside the best hockey players in the world."
Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens (Canada)
"Being cut from the (4 Nations) team gave me a little motivation. I just wanted to play the best I could and help the Canadiens get into the playoffs. We did that last year. We had an amazing run, and we started this year off the same way. It's been such a fun year so far, and it's an amazing team to play for. I'm just trying to do my best every single night to help my team win and hopefully give a good impression to Hockey Canada. Luckily, thankfully, they saw that and named me to the team." – Courtesy RDS
“That’s awesome. It’s a dream come true for sure. It’s still a month away so you try not to think about it too much, but it’s going to be awesome for sure.”
Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres (United States)
"It means a lot. It’s been a big goal of mine for a while. I think any time you get to represent your country, it’s an honor, a special feeling. ... Whatever they need, whatever the role. Obviously, it’s a team full of talent. I think just being able to be versatile, whatever role they need me in, I’ll try to do it to the best of my ability."
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers (United States)
“As a kid, I don’t care where you’re from, but especially being an American, there is no greater honor than putting on that jersey,” Tkachuk told TNT. “And I think the millions at home, the millions watching, whether you like hockey or not, are going to be so proud of the way our team plays and how prideful we will be to wear that jersey and how we’re going to represent. So I think that alone is so exciting and such an honor in general, but to be able to do it with (brother) Brady (Tkachuk), it’s something that you just dream about. We have unfinished business after what happened last year (in the 4 Nations Face-Off). My dad (Keith Tkachuk) played in four of these and he just raves about he experience, the Olympic Village … the Olympic rings being everywhere you look, and I’m just so, so, so excited, and to have the team announced today you kind of get that one step closer. So it’s a great time to be a hockey player, it’s a great time to be an American hockey player, and we’re looking to represent over there.”
Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche (Canada)
"My wife's due in February (2nd). So that's something that is way more important to me than making an Olympic team, and being there for that is something that's on my mind more so than showing up for my country. And I'll be there when that time comes, but right now, I'm there for my wife. If my baby hasn't arrived, I'm staying here. That's 100 percent what I'll do. I'm not leaving until that baby's here and everybody's home safe. I think she's excited. I think excited for me to have this opportunity. It doesn't come every day, so she's excited for that. But I'll be there for that baby, for sure."
"It’s been a dream of mine playing the best on best hockey and representing Finland for sure. ... Last time I kind of took it for granted a little bit, I was still young, 18. For sure, going to enjoy it a little more this time. It's super nice to see all the other athletes, just the atmosphere around it, it’s really special, all the best players there, so even more special this time."
"I joked with my dad two or three years ago, maybe, and said, 'Is it weird to have the Olympics as a goal in a couple years, and for an 18-year-old or 19-year-old?' But I remember after my first or second year in the AHL, I was like, 'OK, maybe I can try and make a push for this,' and obviously last year didn't go as planned. And then after that, you're, 'OK, there's no chance I'm making it.' I told my girlfriend we were going to try and book to go to Hawaii or something and then, obviously, that's not happening. ... It'll be awesome. It's an Olympics and now, hopefully, I can say I'm an Olympic athlete, so that's pretty cool at 23 years old."
"I said I'll go easy on him. To see (Sharks teammate Macklin Celebrini) on there (with Team Canada) as well, I'm so proud of him as well. What a player. To have the chance to play against him, I mean, obviously, we're going to see what happens, but it's (going to be) an unbelievable tournament."
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets (United States)
"The two goals a kid dreams of are the Stanley Cup and a gold medal. Every year you get a chance to try and play for the Stanley Cup. Every year starts fresh, you get a chance to play for the playoffs and hopefully you get there and then hopefully win a Stanley Cup, whereas the Olympics, it's every four years. In this case, it's been 12 years. So, this is at the top of my list of accomplishments as a hockey player, making it to an Olympics."
