Canada's 4 Nations Replacement For Pietrangelo Depends On What They Want: Four Options

The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off is only a few weeks away, and as expected, a player has already bowed out due to health concerns.

That player is star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who removed himself from Canada’s roster to “tend to an ailment and to prepare for the remainder of the regular season.”

Pietrangelo’s withdrawal opens up a spot on Canada’s blueline, and many veterans should be considered to replace him.

But it all comes down to what Canada GM Don Sweeney wants for his group of blueliners.

Each of the four D-men we’ll be examining below brings different skill sets to the table, so we’re going to break down the possibilities by focusing on the unique talents each potential Pietrangelo replacement can offer.

Veteran Presence With Winning Experience: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Doughy's fractured ankle – suffered in the pre-season, keeping him out of the lineup for the season so far – was reason enough to leave him off Canada’s roster. But Doughty is expected to return to action before the 4 Nations tournament begins, and given his incredible experience as a winner at all levels of the game, Doughty would make a fine replacement for Pietrangelo.

The 35-year-old Doughty has done it all, capturing two Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a gold medal at the World Cup of Hockey. This could be one of his final opportunities to represent Canada, so you know he’s motivated to be added to the 4 Nations tournament after recovering for months.

Doughty could be relied on to eat up major minutes and chip in with some offense where needed. He still hot 50 points last year and 52 points the season before. He’s thrived in high-pressure environments, and he’s basically seen and done it all. Nobody should be surprised if he gets the nod here.

Offensive Defenseman: Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers

Bouchard’s game is straightforward – he’s an offense-minded blueliner who has blossomed into a powerhouse in Edmonton. This season, the 25-year-old has 29 assists and 37 points in 50 games with the Oilers, and if Canada is looking for someone who can create offensive opportunities galore, Bouchard would be a great pick.

Unlike Doughty, Bouchard hasn’t played much on the international hockey stage. His most recent time playing for Canada came in the 2019 World Junior Championship, where he was part of a disappointing Canadian team that finished sixth in that tourney. But in the case of the 4 Nations Face-Off, Bouchard’s offensive instincts could power Canada’s offense in a major way. He’s never going to be a shutdown blueliner, but Bouchard’s elite skills with the puck make him a viable candidate to step into the spot Pietrangelo had been given.

Purely Defensive Defenseman: Chris Tanev, Toronto Maple Leafs

At 35 years old, Tanev has underscored his talents as a shot-blocking, shutdown D-man in his first year with the Maple Leafs. If Canada picks him to replace Pietrangelo, they will only expect him to impose his will in the defensive zone. He can give you 20 minutes of low-event hockey, and with other Canadian defensemen there to amass points, Canada doesn’t need Tanev to do anything other than prevent goals from being scored on his team.

Tanev also doesn’t have a ton of experience playing for Canada on the international stage. He was part of a gold medal-winning Canadian team at the 2016 World Championship, and he’d be a solid citizen on this 4 Nations squad. Any offense he’d provide would be gravy, but he’d be picked because he can thrive in high-stakes situations and push opponents to the outside of his zone.

Two-Way, Well-Rounded D-Man: MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames

The 31-year-old Weegar is still in his prime, posting 19 assists and 25 points in 49 games with Calgary while averaging 23:25 of ice time. Last season, he generated 20 goals and 52 points in 82 games.

Weegar can be relied on as a responsible puckhandler with terrific vision and a cool and calm demeanor. He also has a World Championship gold medal from 2023, when he put up 11 points in 10 games, so a solid track record should make him the selection to replace Pietrangelo.

Full disclosure: if we were picking Canada’s team, we would’ve picked Weegar over Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim, but that’s a personal preference. Now that Pietrangelo is off the team, we’d select Weegar to replace him. He’s about as complete of a package as they come, and although some would see him as a secondary part of the team, Weegar should deliver great results if and when he gets the chance to prove what he can do in the showcase.

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