TORONTO, Ontario -- An eager group of 25 players broke camp Sunday and got ready
to head overseas for final preparations for the world junior hockey
championship.
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22 will still be there when the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden. Coach
Brent Sutter said the final cuts -- one defenceman and two forwards -- will be
decided on many factors, including injuries. "Theyre not easy decisions, but the
reality is weve got a couple-or-three guys banged up and were not exactly sure,"
said Sutter. "Hopefully they can skate when we get over there. "Whether theyll
be ready for the first exhibition game, were not sure. All these guys deserve to
be able to push to get on the team and theyre going to have a few more days to
do so." The team will play three pre-tournament games -- Friday against Finland,
Sunday against Sweden and the following day against Switzerland. Sutter hopes to
make the cuts after the first exhibition game so he can use the full squad for
the last two. The key question is high-scoring winger Jonathan Drouin, who is
recovering from a concussion but who expects to resume skating when the team
arrives in Sweden on Monday. Another is rushing defenceman Josh Morrissey, who
has been nagged by an undisclosed injury for a month but who expects to be able
to practise this week. "Theres a long time to Boxing Day and I guess it was nice
to have a couple of days here to rest and work with the great staff at Hockey
Canada in dealing with that problem," the Prince Albert Raiders rearguard and
Winnipeg Jets prospect said. "I think in the next couple of days Ill be ready to
go and back to 100 per cent." It may also be a nervy time for three so-called
"underage" players in camp, 16-year-old Connor McDavid and the players listed by
some as the top two prospects for the 2014 NHL draft -- forward Sam Reinhart and
big defenceman Aaron Ekblad. The Canadian team rarely keeps more than one
underager, but if there is ever to be three on one team it would be these ones.
McDavid, a remarkable playmaker and scorer, is considered a shoo-in to go first
overall in the 2015 draft. He and Ekblad are among only three players (along
with John Tavares) ever to be granted "exceptional" status to enter the OHL at
15, a year earlier than other players. Reinhart is a scoring centre for the
Kootenay Ice who has been captain of Canadian teams at age-group tournaments.
And with the world juniors slated for Toronto and Montreal next year, one might
think management will want to give them a taste of the tournament in Sweden to
help them get ready to shine on home ice. There are 11 players in camp eligible
to return for the Toronto-Montreal event. Sutter has said players will make the
team on merit regardless of their age, although he also values leadership and
experience. He also wants a big team. "Were certainly going to be a younger
team, but it doesnt bother me at all because theyre good players," the
51-year-old coach said. "Theyre the best. "But you need to have experience with
that, too. Its nice to have those guys who have been in the tournament,
understand it, know how it works -- everything thats involved in a tournament of
this magnitude." He used all three youngsters liberally in a 3-0 victory over a
group of local university players on Saturday. McDavid scored Canadas first
goal. "Im not going to think about anything other than making this team," the
Erie Otters star said. "I still have a long way to go." Sutter has had McDavid
and Reinhart on the same line, as he did during a summer development camp, to
build chemistry between them. "Hes an easy player to play with, so smart out
there," Reinhart said of McDavid. "He creates so much offensively, hes smart
defensively. He makes room for his linemates. Its definitely nice playing with
him." Because Reinhart turned 18 in November, he can wear a normal visor instead
of the full face cage McDavid and Ekblad are required under international rules
to use. The six-foot-four Ekblad will be going to his ancestral homeland. His
great-grandfather was Swedish. He likes that the coaching staff doesnt seem to
hold his age, 17, against him. "But I still have to prove myself," the Barrie
Colt rearguard said. "So does Connor and every guy at this camp. "Everyone has
to prove they have some attribute that will help Team Canada win. Thats all that
matters. Theyre giving everyone a fair chance. Theres a reason everyone is
here." There remains a slim chance the team will get help from the NHL, although
Sutter does not expect the Calgary Flames to free up centre Sean Monahan. The
Toronto Maple Leafs have until the Dec. 19 NHL roster freeze to decide whether
to loan defenceman Morgan Rielly. Either player, both under 20 and therefore
eligible for the tournament, would be likely snapped up eagerly by the Canadian
squad, even if it means another cut or two from the group in Sweden. "Im not
putting any money on the table that were going to get anybody else," said
Sutter.
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