I’m not sure there’s ever been two more well-played hockey games than the two Canada-USA just played. Hockey is an impossible sport, where defensively you’re constantly between reads, elite players can make you pay, and so players tend to err on the side of defensive caution. That meant in a high stakes game you had the most elite players in the world committing to defence first, and you had to find a way to score somehow, which was almost impossible.
Knowing the margin for error was roughly nil, a lot of the below is based on the comfort level felt with certain players on the ice in big moments. Who stepped up? Who looked unafraid? Who looked hesitant? And, based on those factors, how does it affect Team Canada’s outlook for the Olympic roster just one year from now?
Here at Sportsnet, we’ve got plenty of people doing reflections of the championship game. Allow me to be the first to jump off from this event, and judge whether players saw their stock go up, or down, after the 4 Nations Face-Off.
FORWARDS
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
Stock way, way up. Easily Canada’s brightest surprise from the event, as he was perceived as a fringe selection and didn’t score in the NHL for more than a month after being selected to the team. From fighting Brady Tkachuk on his first shift of the tournament, to throwing the biggest hits of any Canadian, to scoring a monster goal in the final, Bennett was a guy Canadians were glad to see throw his leg over the boards when his number got called.
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stock way down. I saw him as a PK and shut down guy for Canada, but they barely had to kill any penalties the entire event (this will be different under IIHF refs), and failed to shut down Sweden and Finland when they got ahead. Not that Cirelli was directly to blame, but he just wasn’t particularly impactful at any moment of the tournament.
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Stock unchanged. Five points in four games, including big points at big moments (created the OT winner, buried the empty net game clincher), and he was a key part of Canada’s only line that was consistently effective in the final game. Until the McDavid line starting coming on, there were long stretches where it felt like if it wasn’t going to be Crosby and MacKinnon, it wasn’t going to be anyone.
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stock up, a tiny bit. Hagel was one of the guys I thought Jon Cooper didn’t use enough. He actually had real drive while chasing down bodies and pucks, and wasn’t afraid to play in the traffic. But the fight, the energy, the quotes, and the passion made Canadians love him more. If he can maintain his play in the NHL over the next year he’s a no brainer to bring back.
Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes
Stock down, but felt like he ran out of runway. He didn’t get a ton of opportunity and at first seemed overwhelmed by the moment. He looked hesitant and at times light. But…he got a lot of puck touches in the championship game, started to get more involved, and it felt like he was coming on. He’s got his work cut out for him to keep that roster spot next year, but this experience would have been invaluable for him. Don’t count Jarvis out of Italy just yet.
Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
Stock down. Wasn’t used a ton, and wasn’t noticeable when he was. Not that he was bad, he just didn’t have any moments. If there are roster spots available, he’s going to have to fend off a lot of people whose stock went up by not being there (namely Mark Scheifele, Tom Wilson, and Zach Hyman).
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Stock maybe, impossibly, up a bit? Led the tournament in goals but more than that, MacKinnon was involved in winning pucks back and noticeably changed the flow of the game in a positive direction every time he was out there. About 45-50 minutes into the championship game I was listing forwards I’ve liked for Canada in a group chat and ’29’ felt like the only number to write down without hesitation before needing to really think about it.
Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Stock down physically, but Canadians probably like him more. Was one of the first six players named to Team Canada back in June before his season had a chance to play out. He probably would’ve made it on merit alone even if he wasn’t named early, but unfortunately he just looked slow when the games got fast, and so he wasn’t used a ton. He’s been a great Canadian player though, and it was nice to have a veteran around who didn’t seem rattled by the pressure.
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Stock unchanged, but with a glimmer of hope. He looked by far the best he ever has in a big game, and tallied two big moments in two overtimes. Great to see him play his regular game in an irregular moment like that. I say his stock is unchanged, as he played three 60-minute games (including the first one against the USA) without being impactful and slid down the lineup, but had some big moments and worked his way back to the McDavid line in the end. So his stock is level, with hope that he can consistently be the version we saw in the last game.
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Like MacKinnon, McDavid’s stock is up somehow. I’ve watched years of an excellent Marner and Auston Matthews get shut down in the playoffs by good defence. But against all the defensive attention possible, McDavid put up five points in four games (best among forwards, tied with Sid) and got the championship OT winner. He couldn’t get it going at times in the final game, but he never stops pushing.
Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stock down, though marginally. I just think he’s so, so good, that him contributing only a couple points despite playing with McDavid was probably the floor of what I was hoping to see from Point. He’s a gamer, and he’ll be back.
Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Stock unchanged, if down like one per cent. It was stock up on all the little things he does, from forechecking to finishing checks to thinking his way around the rink. But he’s been one of the world’s best goal scorers the past few years, and he played in Canada’s top six, so I was hoping he’d shoot one in the net for them.
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Stock down a bit. Does all the right things, is hard on the puck, but he seemed a little slowed down, and already didn’t have much extra speed to give.
DEFENCEMEN
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Stock up a hair. Crazy to say for a guy who’s regarded as the best defenceman in the world, but he broke pucks out with fakes, made guys miss, and completely changed the complexion of how his opponents had to defend. Wasn’t feeling good and still played almost 30 minutes in the final, far and away the most of any Canadian.
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Stock way up. Only played three games thanks to the flu, but he never hesitated, was up in the rush, defended hard, and was just super impressive.
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Stock up a titch. Long and lanky defender who threw bombs at J.T. Miller, fired pucks at Connor Hellebuyck, and skated up with the rush whenever he could. Had his worst game in the final, but for the whole tournament he ended being a superb selection. akarWill be a fringe name heading towards the Olympic decision, but another year of good play would make him hard to deny.
Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden Knights
Stock down. Feel like I have to mention this. It felt like the country was at Hockey War and he dodged the draft. Maybe we’ll hear more about his condition and understand, but that he played games for Vegas leading up to the event made it feel like he didn’t care to be there, which some are justified in taking personally. I would bet we hear this vehemently denied, as he’s a decorated veteran player who likely prioritized pushing for another Stanley Cup. And maybe he didn’t know what the event would become. But there’s no doubt it hurts his stock, perception-wise.
Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
Stock up. No mistakes, long, good skater, looked unafraid. Didn’t do anything special but he wasn’t asked to, either.
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
Stock unchanged. Bummer to lose him so early.
Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
Stock up. Was steady and defended hard, made great passes from the defensive zone, and is the perfect complement to Makar, as we already knew. Threw one ice-length sauce to MacKinnon in the final that was pretty jaw-dropping.
Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
Stock way, way up. A national audience finally got to see one of its brightest young defence stars in huge moments, and he didn’t wilt. In fact, he seemed unfazed. A solid bet for Italy.
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Stock up. Started slow in the first game, but really found his feet and became a breakout pass specialist for Canada by the final game. One of the team’s more pleasant surprises.
GOALIES
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Stock up. “Clutch” is a real thing, and while he may not be one of the NHL’s best anymore, he’s a guy who doesn’t get overwhelmed by the big moments. And in this tournament, the team needed that.
Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
Stock unchanged. Did not play, and not by choice.
HEAD COACH
Jon Cooper
Stock up. He showed conviction in sticking with Binnington, who got the job done. He showed a willingness to go away from a big name like Marner when it wasn’t working, and that it isn’t personal by bringing that same player back up when he was playing better. Cooper’s cool demeanour works great in pressure moments.
What a spectacular week of hockey. A massive win for the players, the league, and the game of hockey. Oh, and for Canada! In the wake of some divisive years, it was nice to unite against a common foe, cheer, and come back together for a week. Here’s to the true North, strong and free.
