Canada is set to begin the IIHF World Championship on Saturday against Slovenia with an all-NHL lineup.

It didn’t look like that a week ago when several junior-aged and European-based players were in the lineup. However, in what THN’s Adam Proteau described as “The Sidney Crosby Effect,” once the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar declared his intention to play in his third career World Championship on Sunday, he was soon followed by Nathan MacKinnon and Marc-André Fleury. Since then, Stanley Cup first-round casualties Jared Spurgeon, Mike Matheson, Jordan Binnington, Brayden Schenn and Phillip Danault have joined the team.

The only non-NHLer remaining on the roster is presumptive third-string goalie Dylan Garland of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, who is unlikely to see tournament action unless there’s an injury.

A similar thing happened back in 2015, the last time Crosby played in a World Championship. Canada’s roster was looking run-of-the-mill that spring until Crosby said yes after the Penguins missed the playoffs. By the time Canada took the ice for its first game, the team included the likes of Taylor Hall, Matt Duchene, Claude Giroux, Jason Spezza, Jordan Eberle, Tyler Seguin, Dan Hamhuis and Brent Burns. It also included MacKinnon, Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly, who are all back this year.

That Canadian team started with a 6-1 win over Latvia, finished with a 6-1 win over Russia in the final, and ran the table with a perfect 10-0 record in that tournament, winning every game in regulation time and outscoring its opponents 66-15.

Since then, no team has managed a perfect record at the Worlds. We’ll soon see how far this roster can take the team. 

Goaltenders: Marc-André Fleury (Minnesota Wild), Dylan Garand (Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL / New York Rangers), Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues).

Defensemen: Noah Dobson (New York Islanders), Ryker Evans (Seattle Kraken), Mike Matheson (Montreal Canadiens), Brandon Montour (Seattle Kraken), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers), Jared Spurgeon (Minnesota Wild), MacKenzie Weegar (Calgary Flames).

Forwards: Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Will Cuylle (New York Rangers), Phillip Danault (Los Angeles Kings), Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets), Tyson Foerster (Philadelphia Flyers), Barrett Hayton (Utah HC), Bo Horvat (New York Islanders), Kent Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Ryan O’Reilly (Nashville Predators), Brayden Schenn (St. Louis Blues).

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