Hall - Crosby - Stamkos
Benn - Bergeron - Seguin
Tavares - Toews - Carter
Duchene - Getzlaf - Perry
Giroux
Just missed: Marchand
Keith - Weber
Vlasic - Doughty
Brodie - Subban
Burns
Just missed: Giordano
Price
Holtby
Crawford
Key takeaways:
-TC will likely choose 2 RHD and 1 LHD among the final 3. Subban imo is close to a lock given his services in Sochi and him having the best all-around game among the pool of offensive RHD in Subban/Burns/Letang. That leaves the final RHD spot between Burns and Pietrangelo whom plays for STL GM Doug Armstrong. As the 7th defensemen, I would think they'd choose a dynamic scorer as a change of pace player, or someone who can step in should one of the top 3 RHD (Weber/Doughty/Subban) not play well or go down. It'll be tough for Armstrong to not take Pietrangelo but with Bouwmeester realistically not in the running, the chemistry factor that made them locks for Sochi will no longer be there. Burns was also a big contributor on the 2015 Worlds team. The lone LHD comes down to Brodie or Giordano. Tough call as Giordano was perhaps the Norris favourite last year before the season ending injury, but Brodie has been CAL's best dman this year. However, it wouldn't shock me if TC ultimately decided that the dynamic pairing of Giordano/Brodie (left handed shot who plays as the RD on CAL's top pairing) bumps Burns out of the top 7.
-The final 4 forward spots realistically come down to this pool of 5 for me. Perry/Giroux/Hall/Duchene/Marchand. All of these forwards can and will likely slot in on the wing, and all except Marchand have featured on either the 2014 OLY team or the 2015 Worlds team. Giroux is perhaps the most talented two-way player of this bunch and would fill in comfortably at RW. Perry is the lone natural RW and given his chemistry with Getzlaf, I would be shocked if he didn't make it. That leaves the last 2 between the 3 of Hall/Duchene/Marchand. Stylistically, Hall and Duchene are more similar than Marchand, who brings an element of physicality and ability to kill penalties to the table. Hall is a natural LW so he has that going for him, but Duchene is the better goal scorer. Both bring speed and were key factors on the 2015 Worlds team. Marchand however isn't as proven on the best-on-best int'l stage as he was on neither the 2014 OLY or 2015 Worlds team. Hall also had some good chemistry with Crosby at the Worlds going in his favour. Marchand is probably the last cut among the fwds.
-Line combination-wise, I would imagine Bergeron and Toews will not be on the same line to spread around their defensive presence and ability to win face offs.
-Toughest cuts to me would end up being Marchand/Giordano/Pietrangelo (when you consider his GM in STL is also the one calling the shots for TC) but it wouldn't shock me to one or more of them make it. I would however be surprised if someone who hasn't really been discussed much like Couture or Muzzin made it, but Couture in particular could have played at the 2015 Worlds but chose not to is my understanding. This will hurt his consideration with the TC brass but he actually has a very versatile game and can easily slot in at LW while bringing a defensive presence. Muzzin played at the 2015 Worlds and he partners Doughty on LA's top pairing.
Not sure why anyone would think hockey Canada has some ax to grind with these two.
