Kings’ Frolov not named to Russian Olympic roster

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Kings winger Alexander Frolov, a member of Russia’s 2006 Olympic team at the Turin Games, was left off his country’s roster for the Vancouver Olympics.

The roster was announced Friday in Moscow by Coach Viacheslav Bykov, himself a 1992 Olympic gold medalist, and it’s deep at every position

Bykov picked 14 NHL players, led by Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar was nominated to his fourth Olympic team. The remaining nine players come from the KHL, although many -- including Sergei Fedorov of Metallurg Magnitogorsk -- have played in the NHL.

Here’s the entire roster, and it’s one wow after another. Start with Ilya Bryzgalov -- enjoying a terrific season with Phoenix -- Evgeni Nabokov of San Jose and Semyon Varlamov of Washington in goal and move on ot a defense that’s mobile and should be able to score a lot with Gonchar and Edmonton’s Denis Grebeshkov. Up front, there’s a load of talent led by Ovechkin, Semin, Fedorov, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk. The erratic Frolov, with nine goals and 24 points in 36 games, couldn’t crack that group.

Russia, winner of the last two world championships, is considered a strong gold medal contender at Vancouver and for very good reasons.

-- Helene Elliott