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Top NHL insider delivers final update on 2 Oilers making Team Canada before roster reveal
Photo credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images
Top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has shared the final update on Team Canada's roster before the reveal tomorrow, and Evan Bouchard is not on the list.
Before NHL training camps opened up this year, 4 Oilers were invited to Team Canada's Olympic Orientation Camp: McDavid, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, and Bouchard. The Oilers captain was the only lock, but the others did their best to prove themselves worthy for the Olympic pick.
NHL insider suggests Team Canada will run back same blueline for Olympics
On the most recent edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that he believes Canada will bring back all 8 defenceman from the 4 Nations Faceoff - meaning Bouchard will be cut.
In addition, Friedman staunchly denied that Canada would select the Oilers full top line including Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman.
I actually wondered if there was any chance they would take all three of them: Hyman, McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins. Now I don't believe that will happen, but it crossed my mind for a few days. It won't happen.
On the blue line, I'm thinking the same 8. Doughty, Harley, Makar, Morrissey, Parayko, Sanheim, Theodore, and Toews.
- Elliotte Friedman
On the blue line, I'm thinking the same 8. Doughty, Harley, Makar, Morrissey, Parayko, Sanheim, Theodore, and Toews.
- Elliotte Friedman
Friedman went on to explain that in his discussions with league sources, Canada liked their mix and positional versatility of defenceman in the 4 Nations. Sanheim is able to play both sides, Parayko is strong defensively, and they filled in fine when Makar, Theodore, and Morrissey missed games.
That said, if Canada is truly leaning towards the same eight defenceman, they're leaving behind a few players arguably better than their current roster.
Evan Bouchard should be on the roster as one of the NHL's elite defenceman, but Matthew Schaefer and Jakob Chychrun have also emerged as top candidates too. They could supplant a few of the 4 Nations defenders on merit, but Canada seems to prefer the defensive-defenceman archetype.
It was more of a long-shot for Hyman or Nugent-Hopkins to make the roster, but it seems like they're on the outside looking in as well. Both have played well this season, but missed time with injury.
The debates will continue tomorrow as Olympic rosters are fully revealed by all participating countries.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 796 ANSWERS Top NHL insider delivers final update on 2 Oilers making Team Canada before roster reveal Do you think Bouchard should be on the Team Canada roster? | ||
| Yes | 242 | 30.4 % |
| No | 554 | 69.6 % |
| List of polls | ||