Three Oilers Players Learn Their Fate on Making Team Canada Roster
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Photo credit: Perry Nelson - USA Today Sports
Team Canada Rosters for the upcoming Four Nations Tournament are set to be released tomorrow, and Insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun now has a full read on the roster - that has left off Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Stuart Skinner.
Johnston and LeBrun evaluated every position with what they've heard from Canadian executives about fringe pieces on the roster. The only Oiler is Connor McDavid, playing first line center.
Reinhart - McDavid - Marner
Marchand - Crosby - MacKinnon
Hagel - Point - Stone
Marchand - Crosby - MacKinnon
Hagel - Point - Stone
The fourth line spots are expected to go to Anthony Cirelli, Sam Bennett, and Travis Konecny as Team Canada targets grit and penalty killing in their bottom six.
The sense is that that role is more likely to be given to Cirelli, who regularly kills penalties and like Hagel, has the trust of the Lightning coaching staff. Bennett's gritty game and Stanley Cup pedigree also hold appeal, while Konecny's versatility and strong start caught the attention of management.
- The Athletic
- The Athletic
There was significantly lobby from the Edmonton Oilers to get Zach Hyman on the Canada roster playing next to McDavid, but it seems he's been passed over. Hyman recently opened up about potentially missing out on the Canada roster.
On defence, the locks for Canada are reported to be: Cale Makar, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Devon Toews, and Travis Sanheim.
Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard was in the conversation to make the roster, but instead, the last two spots are going to Josh Morrissey and Colton Parayko.
Our belief is Morrissey and Parayko - two other big-minute munchers - get the nod here.
- The Athletic
- The Athletic
In goal, Team Canada is expected to be going with Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Samuel Montembault.
While Montembeault's numbers may not have popped this season playing behind a Montreal Canadiens team that has had its defensive struggles, he's believed to have been tabbed for the No. 3 role.
- The Athletic
- The Athletic
After Stuart Skinner took the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final last year, he was surely in conversation for Team Canada. However, Skinner's inconsistent start to this season has taken him off this roster.
The full roster for Team Canada is expected to look as follows:
Specifically leaving out Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard are some controversial choices. Hyman plays a hard checking game that would be great for the top line or the fourth line, and Evan Bouchard is an elite puck mover which could capitalize on Canada's talent up front.
It'll be very unfortunate for the Oilers to be cut from Team Canada and only send Connor McDavid after they had so many candidates, but still, Oilers fans and the players cut will still be cheering their hearts out for Canada.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 3 | 56 ANSWERS Three Oilers Players Learn Their Fate on Making Team Canada Roster Do you think Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard should have made Team Canada? | ||
| Zach Hyman | 14 | 25 % |
| Evan Bouchard | 7 | 12.5 % |
| Both | 11 | 19.6 % |
| Neither | 24 | 42.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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