Potential Team Canada roster for the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Belarus

Possible Team Canada lineup

*Confirmed (updated May 6th):
- Goalies (3): Justin Peters (CAR), James Reimer (TOR), Ben Scrivens (EDM)
- Defense (7): Kevin Bieksa (VAN), Braydon Coburn (PHI), Ryan Ellis (NSH), Jason Garrison (VAN), Erik Gudbranson (FLA), Tyler Myers (BUF), Morgan Rielly (TOR)
- Offense (13): Troy Brouwer (WSH), Alex Burrows (VAN), Jason Chimera (WSH), Cody Hodgson (BUF), Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA), Nazem Kadri (TOR), Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Sean Monahan (CGY), Matt Read (PHI), Mark Scheifele (WPG), Brayden Schenn (PHI), Kyle Turris (OTT), Joel Ward (WSH)

- Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice is practising with the team in Switzerland.
- David Perron (EDM) withdrew with a hip injury.
- Marc Methot (OTT) withdrew with an injury.
- Teams are allowed to register 25 players for the tournament.

The NHL regular season has come to an end. Several players from non-playoff teams will be participating at the World Championship in Belarus which will start for Team Canada with the preliminary round game against France on Friday, May 9th.

After winning the Olympic gold medal in Sochi with an outstanding and convincing performance Canada is looking to win their first gold medal at the Worlds since 2007. Their last medal dates back to 2009, a silver medal following a 1:2 loss in the final against Russia in Switzerland.

A World Championship just three months after the Olympics... I won't start that discussion here. That's just the way it is.

It will be hard to motivate the golden boys from Sochi for yet another tournament after a disappointing NHL season missing the playoffs with their respective team.

Roberto Luongo, Mike Smith, Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber are the only four players with that faith. It would be a big surprise if one of them were to travel to Belarus.

Let's take a look who could possibly be on Team Canada as per today, April 14th.

Goalies

Braden Holtby participated at the Olympic orientation camp last summer, but brought himself out of contention for one of the three spots at the goalie position with poor play. Holtby is still a young and talented goalie who could be considered for the 2018 Team Canada Olympic roster.

After being traded to Toronto last summer Jonathan Bernier quickly established himself as the number 1 goalie for the Maple Leafs. Bernier had a great first season in Toronto and will also be a hot candidate for Pyeongchang in 2018.

Other possibilities: Cam Ward, Ben Scrivens

Defense

Canada's golden defense in Sochi was possibly the best ever. For the Worlds Team Canada could count on some players who were on the Olympic orientation roster: Karl Alzner, Mike Green, Travis Hamonic, Marc Methot and Dion Phaneuf. Mark Giordano and Kevin Bieksa would provide great leadership. Morgan Rielly and Justin Schultz are two young and promising defensemen who could be among the league's best in a couple of years.

*confirmed are Kevin Bieksa and Marc Methot

Other possibilities: Brian Campbell, Jared Cowen, Tyler Myers, Kris Russell

Offense

A line of Eric Staal between Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle could also have been a possibility at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Hall is one of the best young players in the NHL.

This potential forward group is talented, dynamic and fun to watch. Some of them have played great roles for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in the past. Most of them would want to show their development and skillset to Team Canada as a first audition for the next Olympic team. 

A great addition for leadership to this young group would be Shane Doan, but it's a tough one convincing a 37-year old to make the trip to Belarus.

*confirmed are David Perron and Kyle Turris

Other possibilites: Tyler Bozak, Troy Brouwer, Ryan Clowe, Shane Doan, Nazem Kadri, Bryan Little, Clarke MacArthur, Sean Monahan, Mark Scheifele, Jason Spezza, Joel Ward, Travis Zajac

Some players such as Ladd and Bernier are dealing with injuries, but there is some time left.

Still with almost four weeks to go, first time general manager Rob Blake will leave a couple of spots open for players who will be eliminated after the first playoff round. It will be interesting to see how Blake will assemble his team for Belarus and who will answer the call to represent the Olympic gold medalist.

Line Combos

Hall - E. Staal - Eberle
Kane - Turris - Perron
Ladd - Staal - Hodgson
Skinner - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Strome
Huberdeau

Methot - Phaneuf
Giordano - Bieksa
Alzner - Hamonic
Rielly - Schultz
Green

Bernier
Holtby

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