On the Fly: Could McDavid have made Team Canada?
On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, continues with another World Cup of Hockey installment. In the latest edition, our editors debate whether Connor McDavid could have made Team Canada - were he eligible.
Gold-Smith: McDavid would have a strong case for inclusion on the Canadian roster in a tournament without a 23-and-under Team North America.
He might have had to play out of position for this Canadian squad, though, unless one of the country's five elite centers - Crosby, Toews, Bergeron, Getzlaf, and Thornton - were left off.
Thornton is in the twilight of his career, and while he's still an effective player, few would argue if the Edmonton star was picked over him. McDavid is arguably more valuable - even at this stage - than the aging Thornton, Jeff Carter, or even Carter's replacement on the right wing, Corey Perry.
Still, McDavid likely isn't too broken up about not being able to play for his home country at this tournament, knowing full well he'll have plenty of opportunities to represent Canada in the future. If the NHL goes to the Olympics in 2018 and he stays healthy, he'll be there wearing the red and white.
Wilkins: There's no doubt that, if the rules permitted, McDavid would have made Team Canada. He's already considered to be one of, if not the best player in the NHL, so why not one of the best in Canada and at the World Cup?
McDavid scored 48 points in 45 games in his rookie season. That works out to 1.07 points per game, and, if healthy for all 82 games, good for 88 points.
That's just 14 fewer points than Sidney Crosby had in his rookie season. It's also 11 more points than Artemi Panarin, last year's top scoring rookie. By comparison, only two players topped 88 points last season, and just one Canadian, as Jamie Benn had 89 points.
Furthermore, McDavid put up that performance on a terrible Oilers team - they finished dead last, next to Toronto. It stands to reason that McDavid's numbers would only improve surrounded by the greatest talent that Team Canada has to offer.
Hagerman: The idea of McDavid representing Canada is certainly intriguing, but the fact is there is much to consider besides his pure talent.
What might get lost in the idea of McDavid making the team, is the fact that he not only would have to beat out the All-Star caliber players that currently reside on it, but would have also needed to initially beat out the likes of Benn, Carter, and Tyler Seguin, who ultimately bowed out with injuries.
Benn and Carter are not only much bigger and stronger options, but they are seasoned veterans used to the international stage, which are both important facets to the team as proof in the latest addition of Ryan O'Reilly.
Of course the other glaring criteria for Mike Babcock's roster is experience.
Canada's roster includes 13 members of the team that won gold in Sochi, eight who won gold in Vancouver, and Stamkos - who didn't make the Sochi roster due to a broken leg.
Sorry Connor, but those are intangibles that talent alone just can't match.