It wont be long until each nation participating in the Olympic games will be finalising their Olympic rosters. Four Nations Faceoff champions Canada are a team everybody will have their eye on, waiting to see who head coach Jon Cooper and his team will select, and it is safe to say it won't be anywhere near the same as his Four Nations roster.
Canada who are arguably the best team heading into the Olympic games on merit have some of the worlds best players, and if anything have too many to choose from. It is crazy to see how many players they have to choose from, and it won't be easy for Cooper to choose his team, however one thing is clear and that is how poor some of his 4 Nations champions have been, and there are some very notable names who may miss out on the games completely.
In a season in which players will have had to play their best games possible, players like Sam Bennett, Drew Doughty, and Travis Konecny really aren't making a good impression, and at this rate, they are not close to being names on the team sheet. It isn't completely down to the fact that they haven't been playing well, but just haven't been playing well enough to make the team, simply just being beaten out by others who deserve it more.
Take Sam Bennett for example. Ever since signing his new deal with Florida, his game hasn't exactly improved, and hasn't really been reflecting the dollar amount. Through his first 14 games of the season, a +/- of -7, and only five points isn't what is going to be so appealing to Jon Cooper, and it looks like his all around compete level and standard isn't one which is going to meet Team Canada's standards.
It is easy to see that players who play a similar hard-hitting and intense game like him are making a way better case to make the team, one for example is Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals. Wilson was seen as somewhat of a snub, and very unlucky not to have made the 4 Nations team last February, however now, 16 points in 14 games, with a +/- of +6 while being one of the most important players on the team will be very intriguing for Jon Cooper and the coaching staff. And with how he plays the game, he is the perfect asset for a best on best tournament like this, and is the type of fiery personality you need to win an international tournament.
Similarly, this seems the case for the LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty. During the four nations, Doughty did have a pretty good tournament given the fact that he was not originally supposed to go. After being supplemented in the absence of Alex Pietrangelo, Doughty had the honour of playing for his country once again, and his heavy checking, physical manner was big plus for them, but it looks like it will be very easy for Canada to move on from him for the Olympics. Doughty is a guy who you know he will bring class and experience internationally, and is a guy who will bring drive, however it is what is done on the ice that matters, and some of the young bucks are making very impressive impressions ahead of the tournament.
As much of a hybrid D-man as Doughty is, player like Matthew Schaefer and Chris Tanev have been making really good cases, and look like they fit much better into the puzzle than Doughty. Schaefer who is only 13 games into his NHL career is already lighting it up and having massive impacts for the Islanders, and as crazy as people may think, it isn't a long shot to consider him for the Olympics. Sure Schaefer isn't your shutdown guy who is going to be a rock at the back like Doughty, but he moves the puck like a natural, and is a very interesting asset for Cooper. Tanev on the other hand is arguably one of, if not the best defensive defender in the league, and is a shutdown guy who you'd love to play 20+ minutes on the third pairing, and both look much more plausible than Doughty right now.
However, out of all the players who are on the chopping block for team Canada, Travis Konecny is a guy who will have some serious work to do to make the team. Konecny was a guy who was often theextra man for Canada during the 4 Nations, and isn't one of those intangible guys who is vital to your team. He did earn his 4 Nations spot, and he did earn the opportunity to get a fair share of ice time, however for the Olympics, there are many players who offer much more, players who provide more, and players who will have more impact. For example, guys like Nick Suzuki and Macklin Celebrini look like players who are locks for the team with how they are playing, and whether it is leadership skills, pure point scoring, or simply just their impact . It will be a very hard mountain for Travis Konecny to climb if he was going to make the Team Canada roster, but right now, it doesn't seem realistic.