With Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Alex Pietrangelo withdrawing from Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, an open roster spot is up for grabs.
Canada is one of the deepest teams in the tournament and left a lot of talent at home, so they’ll have a long list of options to replace Pietrangelo. One name that is getting some well deserved attention is Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev.
Elliotte Friedman on Tanev’s 4 Nations chances
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had this to say about Tanev and Canada’s 4 Nations roster:
The other guy I think they’ll look at is Tanev from Toronto. I could imagine Toronto wanting no part of Tanev there. Just knowing that he’s a bit of an older guy, and he’s going to eat pucks for two weeks straight and every time somebody winds up, you’re gonna be like, oh God. But I think he’s on the radar.
Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast
It does make a ton of sense for Canada to pick Tanev. It’s no secret that part of the reason why they left so many talented players at home was because their entire roster construction strategy was to beat the dynamic United States team. Adding a guy like Tanev, who won’t take a single shift off in a tournament with iffy stakes at best, is a huge win.
Tanev would fit in perfectly
I can’t imagine guys like Shea Theodore, Cale Makar, and Josh Morrissey getting down to block shots from Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor. Tanev absolutely will, though.
Tanev fits seamlessly into Peitrangelo’s spot, too. He’s a right-shot defender, 35 years old, and has experience playing with several of the USA’s best players. Matthews currently as a member of the Leafs, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes when he was with the Vancouver Canucks, and Matthew Tkachuk and Noah Hanifin when he was with the Calgary Flames.
Add in the fact that Tanev actually wants to be there and play for Canada, and it’s an easy pick in my eyes.
Any kid growing up in Canada, that’s what you dream of, to be able to put the Canadian flag on your chest and represent your country.
Chris Tanev in an interview with Luke Fox in December 2024
Drew Doughty’s imminent return does complicate things for every other Canadian defenseman who wasn’t picked for the original roster. Time will tell.
