Oilers defenceman could be added to Team Canada after Pietrangelo withdraws
Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Alex Pietrangelo is reportedly withdrawing from the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament to deal with an injury, opening an avenue for Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard.
Evan Bouchard, along with Zach Hyman, were considered major snubs from the Canada roster after their Cup Final run last season.
Alex Pietrangelo withdraws from Team Canada, Evan Bouchard could be next up
According to a statement from the Vegas Golden Knights this afternoon, Alex Pietrangelo will be withdrawing from the tournament on his own volition to prepare for the rest of the season.
Elliotte Friedman has reported that Team Canada will have until February 11th to name their replacement.
This will be a significant hit to Canada's roster, losing a veteran 200 foot star level defender like Pietrangelo. He currently hasn't missed any time with injury, and seems to be just prioritizing rest and recovery for the Knights of the 4 Nations.
Could Evan Bouchard be named as the replacement after Pietrangelo's absence?
Evan Bouchard isn't having his best season. He's made quite a few noticeable defensive gaffes, and his scoring is slightly down from last year. However, he's still an elite defenceman that could play on Team Canada.
There's more than a few high-end defenders still left on the board for Canada to choose from. Dougie Hamilton, Mackenzie Weegar, Morgan Rielly, and Drew Doughty could be options outside of Bouchard.
The other options surely are more experienced and have better defensive reputations than Bouchard, but the Oilers defender is likely the fastest skater and best offensive player of the bunch. Bouchard has 37 points in 49 games this year, and the best shooting and passing abilities available to Canada.
Knowing Hockey Canada, they may be most partial to Kings defenceman Drew Doughty for his long international history. However, coming off a major injury at 35 years old, there's simply better options.
The Four Nations Faceoff is set to begin February 12, meaning Team Canada will have to announce Pietrangelo's replacement soon. Oilers fans will certainly be rooting for Bouchard to get the spot.
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