With the NHL skipping out on the traditional All-Star Weekend next year and opting for an international tournament instead, let’s take a look at which Maple Leafs we may see on Canada’s roster come next February.
With the NHL skipping out on the traditional All-Star Weekend next year and opting for an international tournament instead, called the “4 Nations Face-Off”, consisting of Canada, Finland, Sweden, and USA, let’s take a look at which Toronto Maple Leafs we may see on Canada’s roster come next February.
Each of the four teams have already unveiled their first six players on their roster, with Canada naming Cale Makar, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Connor McDavid, and Brayden Point. New Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was one of the initial roster picks for the United States, while William Nylander was named to Sweden’s squad.
Canada is by far the deepest of the four teams involved in this tournament, and based on which network you look at or which analyst you trust, there are choices upon choices of different roster possibilities and possible line combinations.
The Toronto Maple Leafs look to have at least one player who will be on the roster for-sure, as well as two other possibilities.
Which Toronto Maple Leafs players could make Canada’s 4 Nations roster?
Mitch Marner
Mitch Marner is far and away the likeliest member of the Maple Leafs to be on Team Canada and is a virtual lock to be on the roster. Despite all the criticism he receives in Leaf land and often being made out as the scapegoat, Marner’s a fantastic player and Jon Cooper and Co. would be wise to take him.
Marner put up 85 points last season in only 69 games played, and he put up 99 and 97 points the two seasons prior. He has paced 100 points for four straight seasons.
When looking at Canada’s options at right wing, there’s definitely a possibility Marner could end up as the teams first line right winger, next to Connor McDavid in the middle. Not a bad running mate to have centering your line.
Morgan Rielly
When looking at Canada’s defensive options, Morgan Rielly making the roster is probably a long shot, but it’s certainly possible.
Canada’s first line pairing is as much of a no-brainer as humanly possible — Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Two elite defenceman that already play together on their NHL squad? Canada would be wise to keep them together atop their defensive pairings. This now leaves four spots for Rielly to potentially make the squad.
With the likes of Shea Theodore, Alex Pietrangelo, Josh Morrisey, Drew Doughty, Aaron Ekblad, Noah Dobson, Evan Bouchard and Dougie Hamilton all also gunning for a spot on Canada’s backend, it’s hard to envision a world where Morgan Rielly cracks the roster, but it’s definitely not impossible.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Eric Duhatschek both have Rielly as an “extra” on Canada’s blueline.
John Tavares
Tavares is the final Maple Leaf with a shot at cracking Canada’s 4 Nations roster, although he is the least likely out of the three.
Tavares has plenty of previous experience representing the red and white, and that experience may help him crack the roster as a fourth line centre. When thinking of Tavares wearing the Maple Leaf, his legendary New Years Eve hat trick against the United States at the 2010 World Juniors immediately comes to mind.
The 33-year-old’s international trophy cabinet includes two World Juniors gold medals, an Olympic gold, a World Cup of Hockey and a Spengler Cup appearance, for a total of 74 international games.