Hockey Canada announced its preliminary roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on Wednesday. As expected the roster consists of 16 full-time NHL players, leaving room for seven additional Canadians to be added to the final roster on June 1.
General Managers Tom Renney and Doug Armstrong have a deep selection pool to choose from, and it's likely some decisions will come down to the wire, but this is Team Canada ...for now.
The preliminary Canadian World Cup roster:
G Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
G Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks
D Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
F Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
F Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
This will be Canada's first major international tournament without Roberto Loungo in goal since 2002. Despite a strong year in Florida, Loungo was left off the roster in favor of Price, Holtby and Crawford. Holtby and Crawford are one and two in wins this season, and Price was having another MVP- caliber season before he went down to injury in November. However if one of them were unable to compete Loungo is likely the next choice.
The four defenseman selected to the preliminary roster were all members of the Canadian Olympic team that won gold at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. It's likely they will be joined by Montreal Canadiens' defenseman P.K. Subban who was notably left off the roster on Wednesday. Subban's skating and offensive ability make him the next choice on the backend.
The list of defensemen that could play their way onto Team Canada is headlined by the San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns. Burns is on pace to have a career year offensively, and his skating ability allows him to play forward or defense, which could come in handy for Team Canada in an international tournament.
A pair of Calgary Flames defensemen, Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie, could make a case for themselves on the backend as well. Giordano has established himself as an elite defensive leader in Calgary, while Brodie has put up 40 points through 54 games this year on a Calgary team that is sitting outside the playoffs.
With four players yet to be named, forward positions are most open to play-ins on Team Canada. Anaheim Ducks' winger Corey Perry was left off the preliminary list, but it's likely Perry and Colorado Avalanche winger Matt Duchene will join the final roster on June 1.
San Jose Sharks' center Joe Thornton was left off the Sochi Olympic roster for his lack of foot speed, but the tournament will take place on NHL-sized ice in Toronto. Seventh in league scoring as of Wednesday, Jumbo Joe is proving he can still produce, and that could see him win a roster spot. Boston Bruins' winger Brad Marchand is having a strong year, and his pesky personality and foot speed make him a dark horse candidate for Team Canada.
Toronto Maple Leafs' coach Mike Babcock will lead Canada in its World Cup title defense against the Czech Republic on Sept. 17 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto.
