Report: Hockey Canada targeting Horvat, Drouin, Lazar, Duclair for U20 team

Hockey Canada isn't sure whether or not generational prospect Connor McDavid will be healthy in time to compete at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship tournament, which will be hosted in Toronto this December and January. What they do know is that they'd like to accumulate some NHL caliber talent in an effort to end Canada's five-year gold medal drought on home-ice.

"Kelowna Rockets owner Bob Hamilton is doing (former Hockey Canada CEO) Bob NIcholson's job this year, in trying to persuade NHL teams to give up their players," reported Sportsnet's Damien Cox during an intermission segment Saturday night.

"They want Bo Horvat, Curtis Lazar, Anthony Duclair and Joanthan Drouin," Cox continued. "That's who they're targeting. Their pitch: 'We only need 17 days'."

Horvat, Lazar, Duclair and Drouin are all playing supporting roles for their respective clubs, and have been healthy scratches at some point this season. Of the four, it would seem that Horvat is the most likely player to be released. This is based solely on the fact that Horvat has only appeared in seven games this season with the Vancouver Canucks, so his entry-level deal is still eligible to be slide.