Gene J. Puskar The Associated Press Penguins winger Phil Kessel was not on the U.S. roster announced Wednesday for September's World Cup of Hockey

This year's World Cup of Hockey will be held in Toronto, and will be the first installment of the tournament since 2004 and the third in history, the first one being in 1996.

Heading Canada's roster are two superstars: Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Chicago's Jonathan Toews, both locks due to their proven record of worldwide success.

They're two of the four newcomers along with Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin.

The NHL has shutdown mid-season since the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, freeing players to represent their countries but recently owners have lost some enthusiasm for the Olympics because many players have returned injured or exhausted, thereby hurting their teams in the push towards the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, right, saves a shot by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Chicago. The final seven players must be added by June 1.

Jagr said he was retiring from worldwide play after last summer's World Championships in Prague in which he was named tournament MVP. With strong finishes to the 2015-2016 season, center Carl Soderberg (SWE) and prized prospect Mikko Rantanen (FIN) could also vie for a spot in the World Cup of Hockey. There will be a North American team consisting of players who are 23 and under as October 1, 2016, plus a Team Europe, of players outside the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden.

If age and skill aren't going against Kessel, then why didn't he make the first 16 cut?

"I'm really curious how that will work out in Toronto", Nicholson told the Journal.

Only Slovakia had more players picked for Team Europe with five, while Germany and Switzerland had two each and Slovenia, Austria and Norway will be represented by one each.

"We took iconic emblems from each of the participating teams to create jerseys that honor the traditions of each nation and fused those with an emphasis on technical design for elite performance on the ice", said Keith Leach, Senior Director NHL, the adidas Group.

"I'm sure it will be heavily debated no matter how it ends up". "I am glad it was made a decision to invite to the [Russian] squad all of the best players as of today". "(I) probably don't fully appreciate it. I think probably in 10 years we'll look back and truly appreciate it".

Sweden and Team Europe will announce their rosters later Wednesday.

Bettman said after an event at the U.S. Capitol that his reaction to the rosters released Wednesday was "whoa".

"When I spoke with (Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong), he said I'll have a chance if I just keep playing my game", said Subban. "People are going to now start speculating and debating and discussing".