Scout's Analysis: Player-by-player breakdown of Canada's WJC roster

Team Canada’s World Junior Championship training camp in Moncton, N.B., came to a close on Monday and the final roster has been selected. I’m not here to get into a debate about surprise cuts or selections. Assembling a Team Canada roster at the men’s or women’s national team levels is difficult enough without me chiming in with my personal opinion.

Having said that, here is some insight into the players who were selected to wear the maple leaf in Halifax and Moncton beginning on Boxing Day.

FORWARDS

Logan Stankoven
Team: Kamloops, WHL
Drafted: Dallas Stars, 47th overall in 2021

Stankoven is a relentless competitor who plays the game fast. He finished fourth in tournament scoring last summer in Edmonton. He’s elusive in small areas and tough to defend. Look for Stankoven to play an elevated role and contribute on the power play.

Connor Bedard
Team: Regina, WHL
2023 Draft Eligible

The top-rated player for the prospect-rich 2023 draft will play a top-six role for Team Canada. I’m expecting to see Bedard deployed at even-strength and on the power play. They have enough depth to use other forwards on the penalty kill. If games get to overtime or a shootout, Bedard will be one of the first players over the boards for head coach Dennis Williams.

Dylan Guenther
Team: Arizona, NHL
Drafted: Arizona Coyotes, ninth overall in 2021

Guenther brings a mix of size and skill to Team Canada’s top-six forward group. He’s an elite shooter. All three of his goals at the NHL level this season have been scored on the power play. I’m expecting more of the same at this tournament. Canada has creative forwards who will get Guenther pucks in high-danger areas. He will finish from there.

Adam Fantilli
Team: University of Michigan, NCAA
2023 Draft Eligible

Fantilli is a dynamic forward who plays the game fast. He can be used in the middle or the wing. Fantilli is also one of the top-rated players for the 2023 NHL draft. The freshman forward at Michigan is tied for third in NCAA scoring, with 11 goals and 15 assists in 16 games. Fantilli played the wing for much of the U18 tournament in Germany last spring alongside Bedard. If he ends up on the wing again at this tournament, it would give his line a secondary option in the face-off circle. He’s been proficient playing the middle at Michigan and wins the majority of his draws in all three zones.

Shane Wright
Team: Seattle, NHL
Drafted: Seattle Kraken, fourth overall in 2022

It would be hard to find a player who has been under the microscope more than Wright over the past year. His introduction to NHL life has been a roller-coaster ride, so Wright will be motivated. Having him and Bedard as the one-two punch down the middle for Team Canada is a luxury any other team would love to have. Wright has the pedigree to be used in all situations if required, but the bulk of his minutes will come at even-strength and the power play. I’m expecting Wright to provide reliable offence at the event.

Brennan Othmann
Team: Peterborough, OHL
Drafted: New York Rangers, 16th overall in 2021

Othmann is a returning forward who scored two goals and four assists at the 2022 WJC in the summer. Othmann scored 50 goals last season in OHL Flint, was traded to the Peterborough Petes this fall, but has yet to establish his scoring touch with his new team. He’s a shooter more than a playmaker. His off-the-puck detail ranges. It will be interesting to see if he establishes himself early in the tournament and plays to his goal-scoring identity. If he doesn’t, there will be a player waiting on deck to take his role in the upper echelon of the lineup.

Joshua Roy
Team: Sherbrooke, QMJHL
Drafted: Montreal Canadiens, 150th overall in 2021

Roy has experienced a meteoric rise the past couple seasons. He led the QMJHL in scoring with 119 points in 2021-22. He’s back in the mix for a scoring title again this season, sitting fourth overall with 43 points in 26 games. Roy can be used anywhere in the top-nine forward group for Team Canada. He will bring offence, but his tenacity on the forecheck and overall detail has evolved as well.

Zach Dean
Team: Gatineau, QMJHL
Drafted: Vegas Golden Knights, 30th overall in 2021

Dean is an interesting forward who can be used in all situations for Team Canada if required. He plays a fast, skilled game but also tracks back responsibly to defend in his zone. He could end up being a bit of a Swiss-army knife for the team. He’s an involved player who also has edge to his game.

Caedan Bankier
Team: Kamloops, WHL
Drafted: Minnesota Wild, 86th overall in 2021

Bankier brings a mix of size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds), grit and skill to the forward group. He’s a proven goal scorer for the Kamloops Blazers, but he also sees time on the penalty kill. There’s only one puck, and Team Canada has enough players who are gifted offensively, so I’m looking for Bankier to lean on opponents and contribute with blocked shots and detail on the penalty kill.

Zack Ostapchuk
Team: Vancouver, WHL
Drafted: Ottawa Senators, 39th overall in 2021

Ostapchuk is another returning big-body forward for Team Canada (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who contributed secondary offence in the summer tournament (one goal, two assists). I expect more of the same at this tournament. Ostapchuk isn’t elite offensively, but he can make life difficult on opponents with his presence. He brings sound three-zone detail and awareness and can be used in a variety of roles.

Nathan Gaucher
Team: Quebec, QMJHL
Drafted: Anaheim Ducks, 22nd overall in 2022

Gaucher should add a dimension in the bottom six of the lineup. He’s a big, strong forward who also has the ability to provide secondary scoring. I expect to see Gaucher deployed on the penalty kill and taking key draws on his back-hand side. He scored one goal and one assist for Canada this past summer in Edmonton.

Reid Schaefer
Team: Seattle, WHL
Drafted: Edmonton Oilers, 32nd overall in 2022

Schaefer has the ability to be used on one of the power-play units in a middle bumper/net front role. His long reach and puck touch are assets. In Seattle, he has shown he can be used in all situations, so Schaefer gives the Canadian coaching staff a variety of options.

NOTE: If Ostapchuk (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), Gaucher (6-foot-3, 210 pounds), and Schaefer (6-foot-3, 219 pounds) play together on the same line, they will give opponents all they can handle physically.

Colton Dach
Team: Kelowna, WHL
Drafted: Chicago Blackhawks, 62nd overall in 2021

Team Canada management elected to go with more size at the bottom of their forward group by adding Dach (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) to the roster. He isn’t elite offensively, but he can grind out shifts against middle-six opponents and brings reliable detail in the defensive zone.

DEFENCEMEN

Olen Zellweger
Team: Everett, WHL
Drafted: Anaheim Ducks, 34th overall in 2021

Expect Zellweger to quarterback one of the power-play units for Canada after he finished third in scoring at the summer WJC tournament (two goals, nine assists). Zellweger can be elusive offensively. He’s a transitional defenceman who sees the ice very well and distributes pucks through traffic. Team Canada forwards will go to the net with their sticks on the ice and Zellweger will get them the puck. Expect other defencemen to contribute on the penalty kill. Zellweger will be deployed at even-strength and the power play.

Jack Matier
Team: Ottawa, OHL
Drafted: Nashville Predators, 124th overall in 2021

I’m expecting Matier to partner with one of the more active defencemen on Canada’s roster. He’s a rangy right shot who brings size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) and composure. Matier has the ability to be used in all situations, but I expect him to see the bulk of his ice time at even-strength and the penalty kill. Team Canada GM (and Ottawa 67's GM) James Boyd knows, and trusts, what Matier can bring to the team.

Brandt Clarke
Team: Los Angeles, NHL
Drafted: Los Angeles Kings, eighth overall in 2021

Clarke and Zellweger could end up as “co-QBs” on either the same power-play unit or separate units. Clarke is a transitional defenceman who plays with pace. Defensively, he’s more of an area defender than a physical one. The team will be looking for Clarke to provide a layer of offence at even-strength and on the power play.

Ethan Del Mastro
Team: Mississauga, OHL
Drafted: Chicago Blackhawks, 105th overall in 2021

Del Mastro is another returning player for Canada. I expect him to play an elevated role compared to what he did in the summer. I’m not going to overplay my expectation for Del Mastro. He will be paired with one of the more active defencemen and tasked with playing a safe two-way game. He’s a big body who’s an above average skater and brings battle in the defensive zone. He will be used at even-strength and the penalty kill.

Kevin Korchinski
Team: Seattle, WHL
Drafted: Chicago Blackhawks, seventh overall in 2022

Korchinski is another defenceman who can bring a layer of offence for Team Canada. He is capable of quarterbacking a power-play unit. He distributes very well and has some deception on the blue line and when escaping pressure. It will be interesting to see how the pairings roll out. If the team wants to push the play with a five-man offensive unit, Korchinski could easily pair with Brandt Clarke.

Tyson Hinds
Team: Sherbrooke, QMJHL
Drafted: Anaheim Ducks, 76th overall in 2021

Hinds' game has evolved over the past couple seasons. He moves well and he has range due to his stature (6-foot-3, 188 pounds). I expect him to keep his game relatively simple. Hinds plays with bite in his zone and he’s capable moving the puck.

Nolan Allan
Team: Seattle, WHL
Drafted: Chicago Blackhawks, 32nd overall in 2021

There isn’t much flash to Allan’s game. He’s a big (6-foot-2, 201-pound) defenceman who leans shutdown “D." We might see Allan used on one of the penalty-killing units. The coaches know what they are getting when he spills over the boards. He gets from point A to point B, chips pucks up ice and provides a physical presence.

GOALIES

Ben Gaudreau
Team: Sarnia, OHL
Drafted: San Jose Sharks, 81st overall in 2021

Gaudreau has been inconsistent this season for the Sarnia Sting. The WJC might be exactly what he needs – a chance to prove he is a capable NHL prospect. The good news is the team in front of him should limit the opposition’s chances at even-strength. Gaudreau plays a butterfly style. He takes up enough net with his size (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) and has the quickness to make desperation stops when required. When Gaudreau is playing his best, he’s tough to beat and has the ability to steal a game.

Thomas Milic
Team: Seattle, WHL
2023 Draft Eligible

Milic has been the model of consistency overall playing for Seattle in the Western Hockey League. This butterfly/athletic goalie isn’t as big as Gaudreau, instead relying on tracking effectively, quick pads and sound positioning. I’m not sure Canada has a starting goalie heading into the tournament. Milic could very well have a chance to win the net as the tournament progresses.

CLOSING OBSERVATIONS

• Seven of Team Canada’s forwards are natural centremen, meaning three will be playing out of position.

• Five forwards are right shots, eight forwards are left shots.

• Five of the seven defencemen are left shots.

• Zellweger is Canada’s smallest defenceman, at 5-foot-10, 174 pounds

• Stankoven is Canada’s smallest forward, at 5-foot-8, 170 pounds

• Schaefer is the biggest forward, at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds

• Del Mastro is the biggest defenceman, at 6-foot-4, 206 pounds