Debate abounds whenever a Canadian roster is assembled for a major international tournament, with outcries over egregious omissions and claims the Great White North could field multiple teams and win all the medals.
The same was true Friday as the 2016 World Cup squad was named, and even though significant talent is being funneled towards the gimmicky North American team - made up of both Canadian and American players who will be 23 years old or younger as of Oct. 1 - there still remains a bevy of options when it comes to naming a "B" roster.
Here's a 23-man team that would hold its own against any other in Toronto when the puck drops on the World Cup in September, with a couple notes for each position.
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
- Yes, Fleury has taken a back seat to Matt Murray during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he - like Luongo - had a tremendous regular season and remains a high-end option in net.
- Jones gets a nod based on his stellar play for the San Jose Sharks, who could very well be hoisting the Cup in a couple weeks.
Defense
Tyson Barrie, Colorado Avalanche
Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis Blues
T.J. Brodie, Calgary Flames
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
- Six of these players ranked in the top-20 in total points among defensemen this past season: Letang (3rd), Giordano (6th), Subban (12th), Barrie (13th), Seabrook (14th), and Brodie (18th).
- Bouwmeester gets a nod based on his international experience and in the interest of maintaining balance among right and left-handed shots.
- A case could be made for several of these players to be on the main roster, and this group could stack up against any other defense corps in the tournament.
Forwards
Derick Brassard, New York Rangers
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators
Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators
Milan Lucic, Los Angeles Kings
James Neal, Nashville Predators
Ryan O'Reilly, Buffalo Sabres
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Patrick Sharp, Dallas Stars
Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers
Jason Spezza, Dallas Stars
Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators
- While it's hard to argue with the list of talent on Canada's main roster, the fact that Hall and Perry were left out in the cold is straight up baffling.
- 12 of these 13 forwards ranked in the top-60 in NHL scoring this past season, recording no fewer than 55 points.
- Couture gets a nod based on his ridiculous postseason to date, and the fact his numbers would have been right up there with the rest of these forwards had he not been injured in the regular season.
In short, this 23-man roster would stack up against any and every team at the World Cup, including Team Canada.
And in a tournament that features makeshift North American and European teams, why not let these guys play, eh?
