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Team Canada Lines and Injury Notes Ahead of Wednesday’s Tourney Opener

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NHL Predictions

Time for the latest Team Canada injury news and notes ahead of the much anticipated 2025 4-Nations Face-Off. You may have heard Team Canada had a practice that showcased perspective opening game lines. But, in terms of injury concerns, some of the notable names begin and end with captain Sidney Crosby. That is the main sense today, as Crosby’s status has been confirmed today. Other players to discuss include Alex Pietrangelo, Mitch Marner, Drew Doughty, and Mark Scheifele. So, let’s give you all the details as the tournament is set to get underway Wednesday as Canada takes on Team Sweden in Montreal, Quebec.

Any Surprises Among Team Canada’s Pre-Tourney

The biggest headline for Team Canada ahead of the tournament is the status of their captain, who’s status is now confirmed. Sidney Crosby is the hero known for clinching the 2010 Olympics with the Golden Goal. He’s represented Canada a number of times internationally. Therefore, the ball is and was in his court.

The team was likely to bring Crosby along anyway. If he needs to sit out a game at the start, it will be worth it for when he’s good to go. However, if it was a player not of Crosby’s legendary status, it could very well have been a different scenario. They’d be asked to stay home and a replacement would be suiting up. But in any case, with Crosby it’s different. It is different when you’re a player an entire generation looks up to and you’re ninth on the NHL’s all-time point list. So, it seems Crosby will accompany his Team Canada compatriots, but what about the rest of the roster?

What About the Other Names?

Another major player of interest for Team Canada is none other than Toronto Maple Leaf Mitch Marner. Marner has been battling with a lower-body ailment and it forced him out of the Calgary Flame game last week. In contrast, he has laced them up in the Leafs past two games, skating well over 20 minutes each night. With over an assist a game on the season and 71 points in 54 games overall, Marner is in fine form.

In any case, it had also been reported that Winnipeg Jets veteran centre Mark Scheifele was put on alert. Had Crosby, Marner, or any of the forward group not been able to go, Scheifele would have been a more than willing recipient of the call to arms for his country.

The lines for Team Canada themselves also tell a story on how the injuries may play out. The only note from the top six is Brad Marchand not flanking Crosby. Otherwise, despite any major injury concerns, Marner and Crosby both find themselves firmly placed into the top-two lines. The one omission from the forward group in the morning’s lines was Travis Konecny.

Therefore, Crosby status has been all but confirmed at this time. He was also taking up space in the front or to the side of the goaltender for his patented goal line, backdoor tap-ins on the vaunted Canadian power play. Out there with McDavid, Makar, Reinhart, and his good friend, Mackinnon, look for the unit to expect great things.

Two-Top Forward Lines Points-per-Game 2024-25

Also, it was only mentioned this past weekend. However, Drew Doughty ends up in for Alex Pietrangelo in the tournament. Pietrangelo has been noticeably banged up this year, so it isn’t a huge surprise. He was paired with Shea Theodore, in what would be an extremely responsible pairing for Team Canada.

Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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