Chris Tanev could bring a unique set of defensive skills to Team Canada, depending on the specific qualities the team prioritizes for the upcoming mid-season tournament. Mitch Marner could be the lone Toronto Maple Leafs player to play for Team Canada at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off in February. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Early Trading [https://www.tsn.ca/video/early-trading-projecting-who-may-be-on-canada-s-4-nations-roster%7e3040280], Marner will be the only player from the Maple Leafs to be named to Team Canada when the announcement comes down at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. "From making some calls around the league here in the last 24 hours, we believe that these are some of the forwards who will be named [to Team Canada] on Wednesday," LeBrun reported on Tuesday. "Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs. We think Marner will be the only Maple Leaf to make Team Canada." LeBrun also named Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel, the Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett, the Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone, and the Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Konecny. Marner has nine goals and 24 assists in 24 games with the Maple Leafs this season. His 33 points are the fourth-most among Canadian players in the NHL, behind Nathan MacKinnon, Dylan Strome, and Reinhart. The 27-year-old forward has represented Canada twice in international competition, at the World Junior Championships in 2016 and the World Championships in 2017. Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper says Marner is playing with "confidence and swag" since coaching him at the World Championships. "He's always had it, but you see it in how he plays. He's always had it in him, but I think he's let it out a little bit more, and in a good way," Cooper said before the Tampa Bay Lightning's game against Toronto on Saturday. "He's not showing off. He does everything with a purpose. And he thinks the game — it's amazing how he thinks, it's elite." One player who many questioned about making Team Canada's roster was Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev. He's second in the NHL regarding blocked shots with 75 through 24 games. The 35-year-old has one goal and five assists while averaging 19:23 of ice time, mostly playing alongside Jake McCabe as the team's shutdown defense pairing. Although reports suggest that Tanev hasn't made Canada's 4 Nations roster, there's still a chance he could play for his country when the puck drops in February. Canada head coach Jon Cooper said earlier this week that things can change if injuries pop up. "The tournament's not for two months. So, you're going to look at four teams that are going to get announced and I bet you there'll be 10 new players, minimum, from the four teams.," Cooper said. "I guess that would be my one [message]. If you're not named to that team, stay ready because unfortunately there's probably going to be some spots open."
