So many players could have been on Team Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster, but decisions had to be made. Here are two Canadian squads of snubbed players.
If the reaction online proved anything, creating one Team Canada roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off is bound to leave off great players.
Canada's depth is so strong that creating an all-snub squad isn't much easier. Heck, Steven Stamkos only makes that squad as a 13th forward based on his play at the moment.
There is enough talent to create a double-snub Canadian squad that could hold its own in international competition. Even then, some really good hockey players didn't make it.
Without trying to squeeze too many skaters into positions they don't normally play, here are Canada's all-snub and double-snub teams, with analysis from senior digital correspondent Ken Campbell and web editor Jonathan Tovell.
(Don't see the list? Click here.)
This all-snub squad features players who are excelling right now while giving some benefit of the doubt to players who were almost surefire picks for Team Canada heading into the season. Zach Hyman, Connor Bedard and Steven Stamkos fit the latter.
While Bedard has 19 points in 26 games, he's not on pace to match last season's 61 points. Stick him with Dylan Strome, who's been Alex Ovechkin's set-up guy in Washington and the fourth-highest Canadian scorer with 26 assists and 34 points, and Bedard is bound to make better use of his elite shot. Bedard and Strome could also feed Hyman, who had 54 goals in 80 games last year.
And that's just one line. Mark Scheifele is centering the top line on one of the NHL's best teams right now and is driving the Jets forward. John Tavares is bouncing back from a relatively down year by getting 22 points in 24 games in the middle six. Nick Suzuki has spent some time on the right wing, and although it's not his natural spot, he's proven himself on the Canadiens with 26 points in 25 games. Tom Wilson brings a power forward presence, while Carter Verhaeghe has two 70-point campaigns.
On defense, Brandon Montour plays an effective two-way game, and MacKenzie Weegar is very well-rounded. Chris Tanev is the shutdown defender, and Ekblad is a two-way presence. Evan Bouchard brings an offensive edge, and Chychrun has been a noteworthy addition to the Capitals. Leaving Dougie Hamilton and Noah Dobson off was quite tough, as they could've made the official squad. And if Drew Doughty was healthy, he'd make it.
In net, Joey Daccord is a question mark because of the uncertainty about whether he needs a Canadian passport or not to play. If he can play for Canada, he should've been on the actual roster. Logan Thompson has one of the highest save percentages among Canadian netminders, and Cam Talbot has proven to be effective for Detroit.
(Don't see the list? Click here.)
This is a really promising Team Canada No. 3. It may not beat Canada or the USA in a seven-game series, but it's got a great blend of youth, skill and physicality that makes it a force.
Macklin Celebrini and Connor McMichael are on a tear lately, and Adam Fantilli shows great promise. Jake DeBrusk is on pace for career highs. Sean Monahan is producing at a pace he hasn't seen in years.
Have fun playing against the fourth line of Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Quinton Byfield.
The defense is also solid, with the Devils pairing of Brenden Dillon and Dougie Hamilton. And in net, Stuart Skinner went to the Stanley Cup final last year.
These teams would have a lot to prove and a revenge factor. That doesn't even consider a triple-snub team, either, which would easily have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mathew Barzal, Drake Batherson, Claude Giroux, Nazem Kadri, and so on.
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