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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
There’s one thing to be stated for having choices. Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off GM Don Sweeney — alongside affiliate GM Jim Nill — goes to have an abundance of them relating to setting his nation’s roster for the upcoming event.
We’re just below a month away from the Dec. 2 deadline for administration of every nation — that is Canada, the USA, Finland and Sweden — to submit their roster of 20 skaters and three goaltenders for the occasion going down on Feb. 12-20.
The NHL has eschewed its ordinary All-Star Sport in favor of this event, however don’t have any worry: Canada alone will virtually carry sufficient expertise to reflect that of any league-wide showcase.
Selecting from the nation’s finest is a tantalizing thought. Given the fortune of faces to select from, who will really make Sweeney’s squad? And which gamers would be the hardest to depart off the checklist?
Oh, and — who precisely goes to have a tendency objective for this workforce?
Every nation announced six players that might be on the workforce again on June 28. For Canada, that is defenseman Cale Makar, together with forwards Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Connor McDavid and Brayden Point.
The countdown is formally on for determination day. The roster itself is certain to include a shock (or two) so as a substitute of a full-blown projection, we’re breaking down every place with the skaters probably to be a lock, and those on whom a call will likely be hardest.
Facilities
The shoo-ins: Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon
Stating the apparent: Canada will likely be deep down the center. That is true whether or not MacKinnon is lining up there or sliding to the wing (one thing he has already advised reporters he is open to doing) and Brayden Point leads to this class. Both manner, when you possibly can roll out these three in any capability on the identical lineup card, you are doing alright.
The robust calls: The fourth middle spot for Canada is probably going Nick Suzuki‘s to lose. He has a finely tuned 200-foot recreation and takes on Montreal’s hardest matchups each evening, all whereas elevating his teammates within the course of. That is a well-rounded addition to the roster. Nevertheless, it will not be simple for Sweeney to dole out roles right here, whereas additionally contemplating who might doubtlessly fill winger slots as a substitute.
Ryan O’Reilly can be a wonderful checking-line middle choice, and has Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe pedigree on his resume. Steven Stamkos additionally comes with ample profitable expertise, and his power-play acumen (an correct bomb of a one-timer) make him a flexible additional piece. His management is a helpful commodity, too.
By way of pure manufacturing, Mark Scheifele simply scored 42 targets two years in the past and he already is averaging over some extent per recreation this season for the red-hot Winnipeg Jets. Anthony Cirelli is one other candidate for the fourth-line middle position, given his robust begin to the season (12 factors in 11 video games) and, in fact, his connection to Canada’s head coach (and Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss) Jon Cooper.
The true conundrum for Canada right here is whether or not they’ll prioritize flash and scoring with no steadiness of some grit-and-grind vitality. Though that would at all times be discovered within the nation’s secure of superior winger choices that we’ll be trying into subsequent. However does Canada want to include a sure physicality to be at its finest? Or simply enable the fast-paced, free-flowing offense it will possibly simply create be their information? It is solely a two-week affair we’re speaking about. No want for Canada to overthink issues … proper?
Wingers
The shoo-ins: Brayden Level, Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart
It was talked about earlier however ought to go with out saying: Level is a terrific middle and will play there too. Reinhart was second in NHL objective scoring final season (with 57 markers) whereas Marner constantly ranks among the many league’s most dynamic playmakers.
This trio is a good level of entry into a protracted checklist of adverse selections.
The robust calls: Zach Hyman might be among the many certain issues right here … if not for a bout of early-season struggles. The Oilers’ winger tallied 54 targets final season — third-most within the league — however has simply two factors in 11 video games in 2024-25. If that pattern continues, another person would possibly leapfrog over Hyman on the depth chart.
The identical goes for Quinton Byfield. He is proper on the cusp of this roster. Frankly, he may be the toughest name of all. How Byfield performs the subsequent month might finally resolve his destiny. After placing up 20 targets final season, the 22-year-old is off to a gradual begin with simply 5 assists in his first 11 video games. If Byfield can pad these stats over the subsequent couple weeks with improved play, Sweeney should take discover of the younger King who may also play middle.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is weathering a mediocre opening to this marketing campaign (4 factors in 11 video games) which will see him bumped in favor of somebody like Brandon Hagel. The latter would absolutely get Cooper’s vote given how Hagel has been so vital for Tampa Bay, and is having an ideal season (13 factors in 11 video games). Alexis Lafreniere‘s scorching begin in New York (10 factors in 10 video games) additionally places him firmly on the radar for a spot.
Brad Marchand comes with that get-under-your-skin ingredient Canada might not have elsewhere, and stays productive (with 9 factors in 12 video games thus far) even at 36 years previous. Not unhealthy. Sam Bennett offers the identical kind of sandpaper and Cup-winning historical past. Would having each Marchand and Bennett be an excessive amount of of a great factor in that respect?
Mark Stone is one other veteran participant with a Cup on his resume — and is without doubt one of the finest defensive forwards within the recreation — however his on-ice contributions are steadily overshadowed by journeys to the injured checklist.
Mathew Barzal is a point-per-game participant who appears to single-handedly maintain the offensively challenged Islanders afloat, and he can play at middle or on the wing (the 27-year-old transitioned from one place to the opposite when New York acquired Bo Horvat in 2023). That willpower alone may be sufficient to sway Sweeney in his route. Barzal hit the long-term injured reserve, and can miss 4 to 6 weeks, which clearly impacts the decision-making course of right here too.
Travis Konecny will get a protracted look. He is strung collectively consecutive 30-goal seasons for Philadelphia, and has appeared to get higher 12 months over 12 months.
On the subject of promise, no we’ve not disregarded/forgotten the youngest of Canada’s burgeoning ahead group. Connor Bedard and Wyatt Johnston each deserve critical consideration to make this workforce. However the place do they match into how Sweeney needs to assemble this group? Bedard and Johnston are sensational in their very own rights, and might actually deal with themselves towards the opposite membership’s finest gamers. This event can also be an audition of kinds for Canada’s 2026 Olympic workforce (for which Sweeney and Nill may also be assistant common managers) and placing Bedard and/or Johnston on this stage to see how they do might plant seeds of confidence for what’s to come back in 2026.
Defensemen
The shoo-ins: Cale Makar, Devon Toews
Hoo boy. This might be Sweeney’s Mt. Everest in creating Workforce Canada. It is easy sufficient to faucet Makar — a four-time Norris Trophy finalist and one-time winner — and his teammate Toews because the nation’s high pairing.
From there, issues get tough.
The robust calls: Noah Dobson looks like a straightforward choose regardless of how ignored his defensive play is following a stellar 2023-24 season. Shea Theodore is within the prime of his profession with the Golden Knights, expert with the puck and a particular groups asset. All that ought to land him a slot. However he’ll have competitors.
Theodore’s teammate Alex Pietrangelo is sensible from a pure protection perspective, and he is an added veteran presence to what might be a comparatively younger protection corps. Josh Morrissey appears always ignored for a way good a participant he is change into, and the way in which he can weave in some offense with out sacrificing on the defensive aspect. Morgan Rielly will likely be on the lengthy checklist as nicely, having made many a previous look for Workforce Canada and persevering with to carry out at a excessive (and dependable) degree.
Evan Bouchard is the true wild card for Canada’s again finish. He anchors Edmonton’s energy play utilizing the identical high-end passing and playmaking that make him a menace at even energy. Nevertheless, Canada can have Makar for his or her power-play wants, and different choices that may doubtlessly convey extra to the combo than Bouchard.
MacKenzie Weegar might lack identify recognition, however he is bodily and fiery and that might steadiness out among the finesse on which Canada’s blue line will likely be heavy.
Much like Bedard and Johnston, Canada has an up-and-coming defensive star in Owen Power who they’re going to positively be testing for the Olympics. Is now the time to see what he is acquired on a smaller stage?
It is also vital to notice that Drew Doughty — at the moment sidelined by a damaged ankle — is predicted to be wholesome by the point this event will get going. Will he transfer the needle for Sweeney and steal an additional spot maybe? We will not rule out the likelihood.
There are virtually too many proper decisions right here to make a mistaken one for Canada’s protection. The identical won’t be stated for its goaltending.
Goaltenders
The shoo-ins: Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill
If Canada goes to have an Achilles Heel, it is prone to be goaltending. In distinction to the embarrassment of riches Canada boasts in every single place else, there simply aren’t the identical variety of elite-caliber decisions in web.
Binnington is finest suited as his nation’s No. 1 goalie. The 31-year-old had an outstanding, and sorely underappreciated, 2023-24 season (.913 save proportion, 2.84 goals-against common) and that was whereas backstopping a Blues workforce that was missing defensively. Binnington additionally rises to the event; it is the most important video games and most charged-up moments the place he appears to thrive (see: St. Louis’ run to a 2019 Stanley Cup victory). That is excellent news for Canada.
Hill is a perfect backup. He changed Logan Thompson as Vegas’ starter throughout their profitable playoff trek to a Cup win in 2023, and had a powerful follow-up marketing campaign in 2023-24, with a .909 SV% and a pair of.71 GAA. He and Binnington can be a effective tandem.
Talking of Thompson, he might need the within monitor because the nation’s third-stringer. Regardless of so-so stats (.876 SV%, 3.21 GAA), Thompson is 4-0-0 in his first season with the Capitals. Will that stave off the remaining competitors?
The robust calls: Stuart Skinner would have been an apparent choice for Canada after the way in which he helped drag Edmonton to Sport 7 of the Cup Last final season. However Stuart has been woefully unreliable at instances — together with out of the gate this season — and with restricted spots, each optimistic or destructive counts.
Montreal’s Sam Montembeault appeared like a great choose in concept, however Montembeault has been struggling for the Canadiens as of late and it is laborious to say if he’d carry out higher surrounded by Canada’s superior protection.
Cam Talbot is an intriguing identify within the combine as nicely; he is posted respectable numbers early on for the Purple Wings (.913 SV%, 3.16 GAA) and would convey veteran expertise to the room.
Then there’s the poetic ingredient to together with Marc-Andre Fleury on this closing season of his NHL profession. Nevertheless, Fleury’s numbers have not been nice (.899 SV% and a pair of.93 GAA). Ditto for Darcy Kuemper, a strong veteran who’s constant however unspectacular. That about sums up nearly all of Canada’s goaltending choices.
In the long run, it might come down to 2 elements: who’s wholesome, and who has the most popular hand. Contemplating all that may change in a month — and once more from there — count on Sweeney to have contingency plans in place. He will not be brief on names (typically) to sift by way of, not less than.
