Chris Tanev's Fate for the 4 Nations Face-Off Has Been Sealed
The search for Alex Pietrangelo's replacement in the 4 Nations Face-Off has narrowed down to four candidates who are Drew Doughty, Chris Tanev, Mackenzie Weegar and Brandon Montour.
But all signs point to Doughty securing the spot since he recently returned from a broken ankle and has played nearly 28 minutes per game for the Los Angeles Kings.
Who is the right choice between Chris Tanev and Drew Doughty for Team Canada?
Though he has struggled defensively in his three games, his experience and pedigree make him the frontrunner for Team Canada.
At 35, he has won two Olympic gold medals, two Stanley Cups, and a Norris Trophyand all this success is tough to overlook.
Doughty has one assist in his three games since returning and is a minus-4, but he will have three more games to find his form before the international break.
If he's chosen, it would be a disappointment for Chris Tanev since he has been one of the NHL's best shutdown defenders this season.
Tanev has been very good with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he have an excellent plus-19 rating while scoring 14 points in 51 games.
His 137 blocked shots rank makes him one of the league's best, and he's known for his ability to shut down passing lanes, play physically, and transition the puck efficiently.
Given Canada's goaltending concerns they need to have a strong defensive presence and a guy like Chris Tanev could be invaluable.
While Doughty's is probably the right choice to make, his focus should arguably be on helping the Kings make a deep playoff push, just like Alex Pietrangelo did.
Tanev, on the other hand, is healthy and reliable and plays some of the best hockey of his career.
He would be an ideal fit for Canada's blue line in their quest to win the international tournament.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 4 | 296 ANSWERS Chris Tanev's Fate for the 4 Nations Face-Off Has Been Sealed Who should Team Canada pick between Dew Doughty and Chris Tanev? | ||
| Chris Tanev | 239 | 80.7 % |
| Drew Doughty | 57 | 19.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
