In round a month’s time, Hockey Canada will announce its full roster for the 4 Nations Face Off. The inaugural event that includes groups of NHL gamers representing Canada, Finland, Sweden and america is ready to happen Feb. 12-20, 2025, at TD Backyard in Boston and the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Six gamers have already been introduced as being a part of Crew Canada: defenceman Cale Makar, together with forwards Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Brayden Level and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. That leaves 17 roster spots to be crammed, together with eight at ahead, six on the blue line, and three between the pipes.
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There was loads of hypothesis in Edmonton about what number of of McDavid’s NHL teammates might be part of him on the Canadian roster. Now the specialists are beginning to weigh in, and their projections will probably be music to Oilers followers’ ears.
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button and TSN Hockey analyst Mike Johnson have simply revealed their consensus Crew Canada lineup with line mixtures and defensive pairings. The TSN duo’s 23-man roster contains three Oilers gamers, with a fourth on the bubble.
Connor McDavid
The one query about McDavid referring to Crew Canada will not be whether or not the Richmond Hill product will probably be on the roster, however who his linemates will probably be.
To no shock, the TSN specialists have the No. 1 participant on the planet centering Canada’s No. 1 line. Whereas Button prompt Sam Reinhart to play proper wing alongside McDavid, they settled on Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner.
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Johnson famous how Marner skated with McDavid in the course of the summer time, and the 2 talked about how a lot they favored enjoying with one another.
“I believe Connor McDavid turning right into a bit extra of a aim scorer in this sort of a event could be good,” Johnson stated. “Mitch Marner (is) a facilitator, and Marner could also be slightly bit higher of a skater than Sam Reinhart.”
Zach Hyman
On the left aspect of Canada’s prime line, Button and Johnson are going with somebody that McDavid is aware of extraordinarily nicely: Oilers winger Zach Hyman.
This season has been a nightmare up to now for Hyman, who has nary a aim and just one help via Edmonton’s first 10 video games, however his efficiency over the long term speaks for itself: Since leaving the Maple Leafs to signal with the Oilers as a free agent in 2021, he has totalled 117 common season objectives and scored 30 extra occasions within the playoffs.
“Zach Hyman, who is probably not off to the best begin, nonetheless has proven and demonstrated a transparent skill to play with McDavid,” Button says. “So I’m not fearful a few sluggish begin, I’m fearful about what the staff will appear like once they don the jersey and begin to play the video games, and I believe Hyman is a very good match.”
Johnson additionally factors out that Hyman has familiarity with Marner from their time enjoying collectively on the Leafs, and in a brief event the place the groups may have restricted prep time, any such pre-existing chemistry will probably be crucial.
Evan Bouchard
On the backend, the TSN duo have Oilers rearguard Evan Bouchard enjoying the appropriate aspect on Canada’s second defensive pairing reverse Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets.
Whereas Johnson means that Noah Dobson be paired with Morrissey, Button makes a convincing case for Bouchard by mentioning how the 25-year-old offensive dynamo has blossomed in Edmonton enjoying alongside regular veteran Mattias Ekholm.
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“Similar to Ekholm actually supported Evan Bouchard in Edmonton, I believe Morrissey can do precisely the identical factor for Evan Bouchard,” Button says. “We discuss shifting the puck and getting the puck up the ice, and positively Makar is the first-unit powerplay man on the purpose, and I believe Bouchard is the second man.”
“Nearly as good as Noah Dobson (is), I believe Evan Bouchard suits into that spot. I don’t need Evan Bouchard enjoying decrease within the lineup, I would like him in that spot, as a result of if he’s not enjoying in my prime 4, I’m not so positive he’s on my staff,” Button provides. “I don’t assume Noah Dobson is prepared for prime 4 minutes at this degree of competitors, I believe Evan Bouchard is.”
Stuart Skinner
Johnson and Button agree on Canada’s prime two goalies, Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill. For the third netminder, Johnson leans in the direction of Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner, however concedes to Button’s decide of Sam Montembeault from the Montreal Canadiens.
Button says that the No. 3 netminder isn’t more likely to play, so the choice is extra about who Hockey Canada needs to realize the expertise that comes from being with a bunch of nice gamers at an elite worldwide event.
Johnson provides that he might very nicely change his goaltender picks earlier than the roster is introduced. Skinner is actually within the combine, and a robust month of November simply would possibly earn him a spot on Crew Canada. The ultimate roster will probably be introduced by Hockey Canada between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.
