Craig’s List: Projecting Team Canada's roster

Craig Button

TSN Director of Scouting

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Connor McDavid’s starring role aside, Team Canada relied heavily on the 19-year-old players on its roster to win gold at the world juniors in 2015. 

That will not be the case in 2016, not with a number of players in the NHL likely not being made available and a deep reserve of talented 18-year-old players in the mix for key spots up front. 

On Tuesday, Team Canada announced its roster for selection camp, which runs from Dec.10-13 in Toronto. I’m skipping camp and going straight to Dec. 14 with my projected team.

I’m taking 18-year-olds Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters, Mitch Marner of the London Knights, Matt Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Travis Konecny of the Ottawa 67’s and returnee Lawson Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs to Helsinki. 

Moose Jaw Warriors centre Brayden Point, 19, is a significant player in my lineup, and fellow 19-year-olds Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa Generals) and Brendan Perlini (Niagara IceDogs) add high-end offensive skill and scoring ability to spread the wealth throughout the lineup. 

Saginaw Spirit centre Mitchell Stephens is returning from an ankle injury, but I’m taking him because he’s a player who can contribute in various spots in the lineup and play in multiple situations. I’m also taking Cape Breton Screaming Eagles’ winger Pierre-Luc Dubois, a youngster who could make a big contribution, like Crouse did as a 17-year-old in 2015. 

He’s a strong, smart and mature player who can skate and provide real purposeful play.

My blueline is stocked with 19-year-old players, with the exception of Noah Juulsen, 18, of the Everett Silvertips. The group includes Haydn Fleury of the Red Deer Rebels, Travis Sanheim of the Calgary Hitmen, Travis Dermott of the Erie Otters and Joe Hicketts of the Victoria Royals.

Jake Walman is the best defenceman in the NCAA with Providence College and has 10 goals on the season. I’d select him because he could provide Team Canada with a significant scoring presence from the back end. I’m also adding Roland McKeown (Kingston Frontenacs) because of the versatility to his game. He is a right-shot defenceman who provides balance and is able to play some forward if the need should arise. Combined with his skating ability, he is a nice player to have in this tournament. 

This group has the same qualities that made the 2015 defence so formidable. The key will be getting them to coalesce as a complete unit to help this team compete for a repeat gold medal.

Identifying two goaltenders early and allowing them to get their game in order ahead of the tournament has been the preferred plan of attack for Team Canada in recent years. Mason McDonald of the Charlottetown Islanders, the top goalie at IIHF U18 in 2014, and Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts have emerged as the two goalies for this year’s squad. No other netminder has served notice that they are capable of unseating the duo.

Christmas is coming and with that, one of Canada’s great gifts, the world junior tournament, is just 26 days away.