Chris Tanev's Fate For The 4 Nations Face-Off Appears To Be Known Following New Development
There's lots of questions surrounding who will replace Alex Pietrangelo in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but it seems it most likely won't be Toronto's Chris Tanev.
With questions regarding who is going to replace Alex Pietrangelo after he pulled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off, there are several names who could be in the mix as the tournament sets to kick off in just over a week.
It's been mainly narrowed down to four players who are in the mix: Drew Doughty, Chris Tanev, Mackenzie Weegar, and Brandon Montour. All four could add a lot to Team Canada's roster, but it seems like it'll most likely be the most seasoned of them all.
Drew Doughty All But Locked As Alex Pietrangelo Replacement
Coming back from a broken ankle is never an easy injury, especially for a hockey player but Doughty has done just that. The fact he's played nearly 28 minutes already and shows no signs of discomfort is a massive positive for not only LA, but for Canada as well.
Though he hasn't been great in his three games back defensively, it's still going to take time for the 35-year old and he'll be able to play three more games to get comfortable before the 4 Nations break.
In his three games, Doughty has one assist and is a minus-4 so far with the Kings.
If Doughty gets chosen, it's a big disappointment for Chris Tanev. The Maple Leafs veteran has been a fantastic shutdown defender this season and could have added some much needed protection for Canada's less than superstar goaltending.
Always known as an elite defender, Tanev is a shot-blocking monster and has 137 already this season. He can shut down passing lanes, throw a hit or two, and more often than not he controls the puck in the defensive zone allowing for a smoother transition into offense.
This season Tanev has one goal and 13 assists in 51 games and is a fabulous plus-19 for the Leafs showing just how important he is to preventing scoring chances.
There's no doubt that Doughty is the most accomplished of the bunch, with two Olympic gold medals, two Stanley Cup wins, and a Norris Trophy. But at this point in his career, he should focus on helping the Kings for the rest of their season and playoffs; much like Pietrangelo.
Chris Tanev is the perfect candidate to help Canada's journey for hockey supremacy and has proven he can stay healthy and be an impactful player; he deserves his chance to shine.
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