TORONTO — When Canada’s World Cup management team met this week, each member of the staff again came with a 23-man roster. Again there were 11 players on every list.
It’s not hard to assume goaltender Carey Price, defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and Duncan Keith and forwards Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Jamie Benn, Patrice Bergeron, Steven Stamkos and Tyler Seguin are gimmes to make the team. Now comes the tough job of filling out the other 12 spots.
“I think the (top) 16 is not going to be overly debated,” Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong said. “I think the really hard decision for Hockey Canada comes because of the depth of our player pool is that 17 through 23.”
Canada is further along in its roster-construction process than the United States or the 23-and-under Team North America. It helps to have a deep foundation from the undefeated, gold-medal-winning Sochi Olympic team, though Stamkos and Seguin warrant inclusion.
Armstrong, who’s being assisted by Ken Holland, Bob Murray, Marc Bergevin and Rob Blake, also pointed to a handful of off-the-radar players who have forced their way into the discussion.
“(Tyler) Toffoli in Los Angeles is playing very well, (Jake) Muzzin in Los Angeles is playing very well, (Mark) Stone in Ottawa’s a very good player, (Brendan) Gallagher in Montreal,” Armstrong said. “Now what we’re going to do as a group is really hone in on probably that list of 14 or 15 guys that are going to make our final part of our roster and really get a chance to watch these guys.”
Mike Babcock and his coaching staff haven’t had input yet, but they will.
“If the coaching staff doesn’t see a fit for the player, then we’re basically picking a 22-man roster instead of a 23-man roster,” Armstrong said. “So we want to make sure that Mike and his staff share the same vision of why these guys are on the team.”
U.S. general manager Dean Lombardi, who was set to meet with his lieutenants Tuesday night, is taking a more patient approach to putting the pieces together. He said the U.S. was still in the “formative stages” after a summer of planning.
One thing seems clear: the U.S. won’t bring back the same team that finished fourth in Sochi. There’s a new sheriff in town in coach John Tortorella, and the team will look much different.
“I think there’s a definite trend towards having a bit of a turnover,” Lombardi said. “Not only with the players but with the players that will be back in assuming a more hands-on leadership role.”
Lombardi wants Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Ryan McDonagh to assume those bigger leadership roles.
Leadership may be an issue for the younger Team North America.
“I have a sense of who the guys will be to form this kind of leadership group,” co-GM Peter Chiarelli said. “We’ve got some of the older candidates, but I don’t know how they will lead. Maybe you just let it evolve just because they’re young, they’re enthusiastic and they can get things going in a hurry.”
Team North America will soon name the rest of its coaching staff to work under Todd McLellan, Chiarelli said. As far as players go, there are some no-doubters like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, but many others like Max Domi and Anthony Duclair have stood out.
Because of the variance of young players, Chiarelli estimated that 60 per cent of his roster is pretty much decided and the rest will go down to the wire. Teams must name 16 players, including two goaltenders, by March 1 and the final seven by June 1.
McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon are among the young players not available to Canada, something Armstrong implied was something of a relief.
“I don’t have to worry about Connor McDavid, and I’m sure he would’ve been a player we would really hone in on, and we don’t have to worry about that now,” Armstrong said.
Eichel, Brandon Saad, Alex Galchenyuk, Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba won’t be available for the U.S., which could hurt that team.
“There are some obvious names there, but I’ve got my hands full so I don’t want to cry over what I can’t have,” Lombardi said. “It’s focusing on what I have.”
