Team Canada Facing Backlash for Snubbing Star Maple Leafs Player
Team Canada might have had a little bit of an easier time if they had selected John Tavares for their team -- and are getting some backlash for snubbing the veteran.
Given that the Canadian squad hasn't exactly had the start one would anticipate at the 4 Nations Faceoff, the unbelievable firepower the team has really hasn't shown their full potential yet, although that doesn't mean the team hasn't brought the fireworks.
But they've lacked on offense and with a pretty much invisible fourth line it begs the question -- Why isn't John Tavares on the team? The veteran is one of many snubs that Canada had, and the team is currently receiving a bit of backlash for leaving him off.
Would Team Canada have been better off with Tavares? Let's have a look.
John Tavares Snub Just One Of Many That Hurts Team Canada
Tavares is only one of several players who were left off Team Canada's roster including Chris Tanev, Mark Scheifele, and Mackenzie Weegar. But it's Tavares' experience in best-on-best tournaments that should have given him the edge over some other names.
Would it have killed Jon Cooper and company to have taken out Anthony Cirelli or Brandon Hagel for Tavares? Sure, you lose a bit of speed and youth but they're playing on the fourth line anyways -- a perfect spot for a veteran like Tavares.
This season with the Maple Leafs, Tavares has 21 goals and 24 assists in 48 games and is looking great even in his age-34 year, including being one of only five players to score 200 goals with two or more teams.
Hagel has a case for making it, as he has 26 goals and 36 assists in 55 games with Tampa Bay. Cirelli however, has 20 goals and 22 assists in 55 games as well -- lower numbers than Tavares.
Going beyond the statistical differences, Tavares has played in five different best-on-best tournaments in his career -- winning gold in every single one.
He won 2014 Olympic gold in Sochi, back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2008 and 2009, A Spengler Cup in 2012, and the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.
It's genuinely shocking that such a presence in these types of competitions was passed over and it's a disservice to Team Canada to have not brought him aboard.
John Tavares deserves better and should have been in the 4 Nations. But that's okay, he's got something bigger he needs to focus on -- A Stanley Cup.
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530152.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530107.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
