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Team Canada
Forwards
Celebrini | McDavid | Marner
McDavid backs the D up, had great chemistry with Marner at the Four Nations (golden goal) plus Celebrini who is a high hockey IQ player who can score many ways.
Marchand | Crosby | MacKinnon
Like the top line, MacKinnon backs up the D, Marchard can forecheck, backcheck, paycheck and Crosby can do everything. East Coast chemistry.
Bedard | Horvat | Stone
Bedard is allowed to attack while Horvat can score goals, win FOs, kill penalties and Stone is rock solid defensively to compensate for Bedard.
Bennett | Cirelli | Wilson
Maximum pain grind line. Wilson’s physicality takes full advantage of the smaller ice, Cirelli can be relied upon to shutdown anybody and Bennett is greasy.
13th forward candidates: Reinhart.
14/15: Scheifele, Suzuki.This will boil down to versatility. Scheifele can score, Suzuki is a smaller yet reliable player but Reinhart is a proven goal scorer, can kill penalties, championship winner and can play anywhere up and down the line-up at any forward position.
Defense
Toews | Makar
No-brainer. Top pair of the best team in the NHL. Perfect balance of defense and attack from the left and the right.
Chychrun | Parayko
Again, balance. Chychrun has been on offensive fire without being a defensive liability (like Bouchard), Parayko is a huge body that can shut anybody down.
Schaefer | Doughty
Balance of youth and experience. Schaefer is a rookie risk but this pairing can skate themselves out of anything. Doughty is a big game guy.
7th defender candidates: Theodore, Harley, Ekblad, Sanheim
Luckily, the Canadian blueline has a lot of options to keep the pressure off the weak goaltending. Theodore has the resume, Harley has the experience of the Four Nations and Ekblad is a champion, big body, can play multiple roles. I’d probably take Theodore as the 7th guy if Schaefer stumbles because Theodore is an all around steady hand.
Powerplay
MacKinnon | McDavid | Marner Celebrini | Crosby | Bedard
Makar | Chychrun Parayko | SchaeferPK
Horvat | Stone Cirelli | Marner Crosby | Marchand
Toews | Parayko Chychrun | Doughty Schaefer | MakarGoalies
Toss up: Thompson | Binnington | Kuemper
Canada’s obvious weakness. Thompson was snubbed last time but he’s got the best numbers right now so he’s worth a shot. Binnington still got the job done last time and has been known to be a pressure goalie so he gets called back. Both should be adequate if relied upon. Kuemper has a Stanley Cup, he can lock in under pressure and his numbers this year are pretty strong considering how much rubber he faces compared to the other candidates. I’d be okay with Kuemper as the Game 1 starter just as much as Thompson or Binnington, that’s how wide open the net is for Canada this time around.
4th string: Wedgewood.
Wedgewood is overrated but his numbers give him at least some consideration in case of injury. There really isn’t anybody else out there. It’s bad.
Nah, those guys are all important pieces.
Stone should be there. He has been hurt but two way defense role players are important and he’s always a Selke candidate for good reason.
Horvat is having a great year and will fit as a strong bottom 6 center. Lots of goals, can play PK and win FOs. He should be there.
Cirelli is also a proven bottom six menace. Plus, look who the coach is. He needs one of his guys there. Chances are Hagel will be there too.
Doughty is debatable but his resume is strong. He is the one true veteran on the blueline and balances out taking a bunch of rookies.
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