EDMONTON - Hours before his current homeland learns who will be on its Olympic squad, Maple Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle was named to the Czech Republic team for the Vancouver Games.
The veteran blueliner - who leads the Leafs in scoring and for much of the season was the top NHL point-getter among NHL defenceman - was considered a lock for the Czech team.
He will be joined on defence by former teammate Pavel Kubina, who was dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers over the summer.
The 23-man Czech squad is deep with current NHLers and one famous former player - Jaromir Jagr, who spent the past two seasons in the KHL.
Other big names on the squad announced by coach Vladimir Ruzicka include New Jersey forward Patrick Elias, Minnesota’s Martin Havlat, Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec and Boston’s David Krejci.
Other Leafs expected to be headed for the Olympic competition are Niklas Hagman for Finland and Americans Mike Komisarek and Phil Kessel. Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has already been named to Team Sweden while centre Mikhail Grabovski is on the Belarus squad.
