Best on Best 2023: Projecting Team Canada’s roster

Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t hold your breath. The last time hockey treated us to real best-on-best competition was 2014 at the Sochi Winter Olympics. The 2016 World Cup offered a fun diversion with most of the world’s best players participating, but the dispersal of talent onto the gimmicky Team North America and Team Europe negated any concept of actual best-on-best action.

This past season, the NHL backed away from the proposed 2024 World Cup of Hockey, shelving the idea until at least 2025 as it tries to wait out Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. An 11-year gap between best-on-best tourneys looks like the best-case scenario at this point. The closest thing we’ve gotten to an update came in late March when new NHL Players Association executive director Marty Walsh expressed interest in “starting the conversation” with the NHL and inching toward a potential 2025 resolution.

We can’t control what happens on the international hockey front. We don’t know exactly when we’ll see best-on-best action again. But damned if it isn’t still thoroughly enjoyable to project our rosters every year as the pool of talent for each nation changes shape.

My colleague Steven Ellis and I are pleased to introduce a new series in which we’ll map out our ideal rosters for the world’s top-ranked hockey nations. What might each lineup look like if the puck dropped right this second?

Welcome to Best on Best 2023. We’ll start with the ultimate lightning rod for debate: Canada.

First, some rules for the exercise:

– Roster structure follows the IIHF format for the Olympics and World Championship: 14 forwards, eight defensemen, three goaltenders, 25 players in total.

– Since we can’t say for certain when the next best-on-best event will happen, be it 2025 for a World Cup, 2026 for the Milano Cortina Olympics or a later date, we are constructing rosters for today – but with current injuries factored out.

FORWARDS – Matt Larkin’s picks

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	Connor McDavid	Nathan MacKinnon
Steven Stamkos	Brayden Point	Mitch Marner
Brad Marchand	Sidney Crosby	Patrice Bergeron
Zach Hyman	Bo Horvat	Mark Stone
Jonathan Huberdeau	Connor Bedard

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Canada has so much talent at the skater positions that it’s justifiable to break ties by opting for team chemistry fits. Canada has a history of doing so in its roster construction, from playing Chris Kunitz with Sidney Crosby in 2014 to placing Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley on a line in 2010. I’ve done the same here, forging an Edmonton Oilers connection on line 1 between Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Same goes for playing Steven Stamkos with Brayden Point and reuniting the dynamite line of Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron. Seven years ago, they dominated as Canada’s No. 1 unit at the World Cup. Now they’re an ideal third line thanks to their tremendous two-way sense. Remember: as long as Bergeron hasn’t retired, he’s fair game to include.

Biggest flex: Yes, I put Connor Bedard on there. Screw it. Even though Canada hasn’t typically handed roster spots to rookie pros – no Crosby in 2006 for instance – I’m a believer in Bedard’s otherworldly talent. Why not stash him as a 14^th forward in case you need a spark?

Toughest cut: I was sooo close to including Jared McCann, one of the most underrated 5-on-5 scorers in the league, over Jonathan Huberdeau. But I wanted to avoid too much recency bias after Huberdeau’s terrible 2022-23, suffered under Darryl Sutter’s thumb. I did this exercise less than a year ago and had Huberdeau as the top-line left winger; it would feel like an ovecorrection to cut him altogether this time.

Also considered: Jordan Kyrou, Mathew Barzal, Robert Thomas, Anthony Cirelli, Carter Verhaeghe, Mark Scheifele, Sam Reinhart, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Drake Batherson, Nick Suzuki, Travis Konecny, John Tavares

FOWARDS – Steven Ellis’ picks

Zach Hyman	Connor McDavid	Mitch Marner
Brad Marchand	Sidney Crosby	Patrice Bergeron
Steven Stamkos	Brayden Point	Nathan MacKinnon
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	Bo Horvat	Mark Stone
Jonathan Huberdeau	Connor Bedard

You simply can’t go wrong here. Having names like McDavid, Crosby, MacKinnon, Marchand, you name it, at your disposal is downright criminal. All four lines are capable of scoring goals at impressive rates, and the quality of talent available as extras is just absurd.

And that’s what you expect from Canada.

McDavid has never had the chance to represent Canada internationally in best-on-best competition, which is just as absurd. And with him on the scene, it’s only fitting that we get one more top-level showing out of Crosby, who still has a ton left in the tank. After helping Canada win gold at the 2016 World Cup, we haven’t seen him don his nation’s colors since. It would also be a good time to line him up with Patrice Bergeron once more, with Bergeron also making one last appearance.

For extra forwards, you can’t go wrong with Huberdeau. He had an ugly season, but I expect that to be a one-off. He’s way too talented to just off the face of the world. Bedard can add some extra speed and skill anywhere in the lineup. Like Matt said, Hockey Canada has been hesitant to bring young hotshots to major events, but Bedard is special.

Biggest flex: While Matt went for a more traditional Canadian lineup, I went for a more offensive-oriented group in terms of line deployments, as we actually picked the same 14 forwards. Just beat teams with skill and you’re good to go. With this group, you can roll four lines and look good anywhere.

Toughest cut: I spent way too long trying to decide between Bedard and Robert Thomas. Thomas deserves to be there, and he’s a versatile forward that could play anywhere in the lineup. But with so much skill, I like placing a nice bet on Bedard here.

Also considered: Mark Scheifele, Mathew Barzal, Nick Suzuki, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, John Tavares, Anthony Cirelli, Pierre-Luc Dubois

DEFENSEMEN – Matt Larkin’s picks

Devon Toews	Cale Makar
Shea Theodore	Alex Pietrangelo
Noah Dobson	Aaron Ekblad
Darnell Nurse	Dougie Hamilton

Sticking with the chemistry theme: feels pretty cool to ice a top four from the past two Stanley Cup champions. Devon Toews and Cale Makar have been partners for years now. Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo don’t actually play together much with Vegas, but they’d still have a head start on chemistry in a best-on-best-event that requires defensemen to gel quickly with their partners. The third pair feels pretty interchangeable. I’d be comfortable with Noah Dobson or Darnell Nurse and Aaron Ekblad or Dougie Hamilton.

Biggest flex: I surprised myself by not including Josh Morrissey in my top eight. My logic was: While Morrissey is an elite puck-mover, he isn’t a great defender, and this D-corps isn’t hurting for offense. Swapping in Nurse brings a physical element that the blueline would otherwise lack.

Toughest cut: I strongly considered reuniting Ekblad with his former Florida Panthers teammate MacKenzie Weegar. But I opted for more dynamic options.

Also considered: Brandon Montour, Vince Dunn, Evan Bouchard, Brent Burns, Owen Power, Jakob Chychrun, Morgan Rielly

DEFENSEMEN – Steven Ellis’ picks

Devon Toews	Cale Makar
Shea Theodore	Alex Pietrangelo
MacKenzie Weegar	Dougie Hamilton
Josh Morrissey	Thomas Chabot

Hard to go wrong with the blueline core the team has. Like Matt, I have a bit of a familiarity complex going on in the top four with two pairs of teammates from the past two Stanley Cup champions. Honestly, either could be a top pair – it’s that good of a group that can shut down any team’s best attack.

Deciding on the bottom four was much more difficult, and that’s because the options were plentiful. My biggest difference is adding Weegar, who had a solid year in Calgary and thrived in Florida. He’s not the most offensive defenseman in the lineup, but he had a tremendous World Championship, and we know Hockey Canada likes him. Add Dougie Hamilton to his side and that’s as dangerous as it gets.

Biggest flex: I think Weegar needs to be here. Simple as that. I’m a huge believer in his game and I think he’s primed for a huge season in Calgary, especially if Noah Hanifin gets moved.

Toughest cut: I loved Owen Power’s game this year because he does so much that doesn’t get rewarded on the scoresheet. You could replace, say, Thomas Chabot and add Power and I could see it working, but that just shows you how deep this group is. Either way, we’re talking about a young guy with a bright future.

Also considered: Owen Power, Evan Bouchard, Morgan Rielly, Brandon Montour, Vince Dunn, Aaron Ekblad, Darnell Nurse, Noah Dobson

GOALTENDERS – Matt Larkin’s picks

Adin Hill

Darcy Kuemper

Carter Hart

Ugh…what happened, Canada? Didn’t you used to have dominant goaltenders? It’s not just the underwhelming trio that stands out here; it’s the names I omitted. Tristan Jarry hasn’t proven trustworthy in big games. Marc-Andre Fleury lost his starting job in Minnesota this past season. Stuart Skinner was pulled four times in the 2023 playoffs. Jordan Binnington has barely been a league-average goaltender since winning the Stanley Cup in 2019. In the end, I have the starting goalie of record on the past two Cup winners, plus the upside of Hart. Could be worse.

Biggest flex: Adin Hill’s sample size is miniscule by best-on-best standards, but, hey, when it comes to the most fickle position in pro sports, why not go with the guy who just reached the Stanley Cup summit?

Toughest cut: I could see the case for having Fleury as your No. 3 given his big-game experience and the sunny dressing room presence he’d bring.

Also considered: Tristan Jarry, Jordan Binnington, Stuart Skinner

GOALTENDERS – Steven Ellis’ picks

Carter Hart

Darcy Kuemper

Marc-Andre Fleury

What a time for Canadian goaltenders. Once viewed a position of strength, finding three that you can feel confident against – especially against USA or, if they were allowed, Russia – is extremely difficult. The days of Carey Price and Roberto Luongo ruling the roosts are way past gone, and nobody has managed to steal the spotlight.

One thing I’ll say: historically, it never matters who the third goalie is, and there’s no real reason to debate it. Heck, Canada could just bring Olympic goalie Matt Tomkins with the roster they have. But I like Fleury here as a good mentor for Hart, who, based on the 2017 and 2018 world juniors, knows how to handle the major international stage. With that being said, there’s still the cloud of mystery surrounding the 2018 world junior team, and if Hart was ruled ineligible, I’d take Jarry.

Biggest flex: Not picking Adin Hill, I guess? Sorry, Matt, but he played one good month of hockey. I get that the crop isn’t great, but Hill seems like a stretch.

Toughest cut: I know Hill won Vegas the Cup, but I’m a believer in Logan Thompson. I made the bold prediction before the season began that Thompson would be one of Canada’s goalies at the 2024 World Cup, if it happened. Based on what we saw before his injury, I still feel confident in that. The issue? I just need to see him bounce back after missing most of the second half of 2022-23.

Also considered: Tristan Jarry, Jordan Binnginton, Stuart Skinner, Adin Hill, Devon Levi

Teams at a glance

TEAM LARKIN

N. Hopkins-McDavid-MacKinnon
Stamkos-Point-Marner
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Hyman-Horvat-Stone
(Huberdeau, Bedard)

Toews-Makar
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Dobson-Ekblad
(Nurse, Hamilton)

Hill
Kuemper
(Hart)

TEAM ELLIS

Hyman-McDavid-Marner
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Stamkos-Point-MacKinnon
N. Hopkins-Horvat-Stone
(Huberdeau, Bedard)

Toews-Makar
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Weegar-Hamilton
(Morrissey, Chabot)

Hart
Kuemper
(Fleury)

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