Phoenix Coyotes' Keith Yandle left off U.S. hockey roster for 2014 Olympics

azcentral sports Wed Jan 1, 2014 11:47 PM

Once Coyotes practice was adjourned Wednesday, Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle plopped down in front of a TV and cradled his cellphone in his hand.

But Yandle didn't receive the news he was hoping for.

Team USA revealed its Olympic roster at the conclusion of the Winter Classic, and Yandle was not among the eight defensemen named to the 25-man roster.

"There are some very intelligent hockey men making decisions for the Olympic team, and they have some very hard decisions,"

Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. "I have to think that Keith, excluding him from the defense, was maybe the hardest.

"He's been our best player the last month. He's driving our team. He's an assistant captain. So just for me, USA will have a terrific defense if Keith Yandle is not one of their eight. He's been that good for us, but obviously they're some other good players in this league as well."

Yandle, who was invited to USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp last summer, ranks fifth among NHL defensemen with 27 points. He's tied for sixth with 21 assists.

On the power play, Yandle has been a stalwart. His 12 power play assists are tied for third-most among defensemen, and he's tied for third with 14 power play points.

And since the 2009-10 season, Yandle has tallied the most points among American defensemen with 200.

"You're still playing your season," Yandle said before Wednesday's announcement. "You're still going about trying to win games for your team. That's what I'm here to do … and that's what I'll keep trying to do."

The eight defensemen included on the 25-man roster were: John Carlson (Washington), Justin Faulk (Carolina), Cam Fowler (Anaheim), Paul Martin (Pittsburgh), Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh), Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis) and Ryan Suter (Minnesota).

"You just have to deal with it," coach Dave Tippett said on the prospect of Yandle not making the team. "If it happens to go that direction, you have to prove people wrong."

During deliberations, Team USA brass asked for Maloney's insight and inquired about Yandle's ability to play on the penalty kill and shift to the right side since the left side was already cluttered with options.

But Yandle is an established left-handed defender and doesn't kill penalties for the Coyotes, so it seemed his omission was more about the makeup of the team the Americans were building as opposed to a knock on his skills.

"It does speak to the depth of the quality of players coming from the U.S.," Maloney said. "That's the way I look at it. If anything, I think Keith played himself directly into contention for a role versus playing himself off the team. At the start of the year certainly talking to a number of people, I thought he was on the outside looking in and I think it really came down to a very, very tough decision for the officials at USA Hockey."

It might not have been enough to earn a spot on offensive merit alone, and Yandle was aware of that. The Coyotes have noticed improvement in his defensive play, particularly in the last two months.

"I think you almost have had to see Keith evolve over the last five years from where he first entered the league as purely an offensive guy that you want on the ice when you were down a goal but you won't put on the ice when you were up a goal to where he's come now," Maloney said. "He's learned to check well with his stick. I think he's much more competitive in the harder areas of the rink than he was two or three years ago, and this is the best I've ever seen him play at both ends of the ice for us."

Yandle has paid close attention to his stick work and positioning. Package that with his superior skating, and Yandle was excited to showcase his ability on the larger international ice surface.

"He's just so much better without the puck," Maloney said. "Defensively, I think he's just learning that you don't have to pay the Rembrandt every time you touch the puck. You can just make the simple play. The simple play's a good play."

This isn't likely the last Olympic conversation that includes Yandle. And there's still a chance he could be named to the team if one of the current defensemen becomes injured.

"Selfishly, I'm mixed on it," Maloney said. "I would love for Keith to be on that team. However, a nice break in February for him to regenerate the engines and coming back and leading us to the playoffs that works for me just fine, too."

It's clear, though, earning an invitation to the Olympics was important to Yandle. Maloney talked to Yandle on the phone shortly after the roster reveal and said Yandle was disappointed.

"He was and deservedly so," Maloney said. "He played very, very well. He's been our best player in the last month."

He was also the best player in his final game before the roster was unveiled. Yandle scored two goals and added an assist in a 4-3 Coyotes overtime win Tuesday over the Edmonton Oilers. He corralled a bouncing puck, skated in on a partial breakaway and with a defender draped on his back, scored the game-winner.

By not including Yandle on their Olympic roster, the Americans seem to be missing out on a player who can change the game with a single play.

"That was just all world," Maloney said. "Very few people in the world can do what he can do, and that's why I'm a little surprised because he can do things very few people in this world can do with the puck offensively when you need something to happen. But, hey, time will tell if they made the right choice."

Coyotes update

Winger Dave Moss took a maintenance day and did not participate in Wednesday's practice.

"He's fine," Tippett said.

Defenseman Rusty Klesla could be available to return against the Columbus Blue Jackets after missing the last three games with an illness. And captain Shane Doan (Rocky Mountain fever) continues to skate and rebuild his strength and endurance. His recovery after skates has also been encouraging.

"All things are looking positive in that direction," Tippett said. "Things have been pretty normal for him, so that's a good thing."

Thursday night’s game

Coyotes vs. Blue Jackets

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Jobing.com Arena.

TV/radio: 3TV/KTAR-AM (620).