Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny named to USA Olympic Hockey Team, Erik Johnson snubbed

Following the terrific shootout finish to the Winter Classic game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, Team USA unveiled their 2014 Olympic team roster. Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny was named to the 2014 team while teammate defenseman Erik Johnson was snubbed.

Paul Stastny has been off-and-on this season for the Colorado Avalanche, but is currently fourth on the team in points with 25. Stastny has played in 37 games, accumulating 11 goals and 14 assists. This will be Paul’s second-stint with the United States squad after achieving a silver medal in the 2010 Winter Games that was held in Vancouver, B.C. In the six games played, he would score a goal while adding two assists.

Meanwhile, defenseman Erik Johnson was left off of the Olympic roster. I personally thought it would be the other way around, Johnson making it and Stastny not. EJ has had a tremendous season up until this point, but his plus/minus has slipped due to the teams poor performance of late. Johnson currently has six goals and 11 assists, 17 points on the season; two of those goals were on the power-play. Here is the reasoning to how the USA squad was selected, featuring EJ:

"But what about Erik Johnson, a veteran of 2010 and a member of a resurgent Colorado team? And more to the point, what is the makeup of this defensive group going to be? Will it be heavy on offense/skating ability or will there be a more traditional balance of skill/defensive dependability, which would favor Erik Johnson?"

This is from Paul Holmgren:

"Erik Johnson hasn’t met the expectations that come with a No. 1 overall draft pick, “but he’s come around,” Paul Holmgren says."

This coming from the Philadelphia Flyers general manager:

"“I know everybody’s down on him after the World Championships, but he’s been nothing but good for Colorado,” the Philadelphia GM adds."

Here is the whole Team USA Roster:

Goaltenders: 

Jonathan Quick: Los Angeles Kings

Ryan Miller: Buffalo Sabres

Jimmy Howard: Detroit Red Wings

Defenseman:

Ryan Suter: Minnesota Wild

Ryan McDonagh: New York Rangers

Paul Martin: Pittsburgh Penguins

Brooks Orpik: Pittsburgh Penguins

Justin Faulk: Carolina Hurricanes

John Carlson: Washington Capitals

Kevin Shattenkirk: St. Louis Blues

Cam Fowler: Anaheim Ducks

Forwards:

Ryan Kesler: Vancouver Canucks

Dustin Brown: Los Angeles Kings

Patrick Kane: Chicago Blackhawks

David Backes: St. Louis Blues

T.J. Oshie: St. Louis Blues

Zach Parise: Minnesota Wilds

Joe Pavelski: San Jose Sharks

Phil Kessel: Toronto Maple Leafs

James van Riemsdyk: Toronto Maple Leafs

Derek Stepan: New York Rangers

Paul Stastny: Colorado Avalanche

Ryan Callahan: New York Rangers

Max Pacioretty: Montreal Canadiens

Blake Wheeler: Winnipeg Jets