Should Kraken Defenseman Brandon Montour Replace Alex Pietrangelo On Team Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off Roster

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has removed himself from Team Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster, opening up a spot for a right-handed defender, and Seattle Kraken's Brandon Montour should be considered.

The Kraken defenseman has scored eight goals and 23 points in 50 games this season. It isn't the production he had in the 2022-23 season where he scored 16 goals and 73 points but his overall effect on the game more than makes up for it. He leads the Kraken in shots on goal and average time on ice.

The 30-year-old is going up against tough competition to earn the available roster spot. Some of the players who have heard their names as a possible option are Evan Bouchard, MacKenzie Weegar, Drew Doughty, Chris Tanev and Dougie Hamilton.

Doughty has yet to play an NHL game this season after suffering a gruesome leg injury in a pre-season game with the Los Angeles Kings. Despite that, Hockey Canada still holds him in high regard.

Hamilton and Bouchard have had better offensive production than Montour this season but aren't as stout defensively. Tanev is better on the defensive side of the puck but doesn't offer the offensive game that Montour does.

Weegar and Montour are the most comparable players. They defend the rush well, chip in offensively from the blue line and are excellent puck movers. What Montour does have over Weegar is the experience of going on multiple Stanley Cup runs.

Canada's management and coaching staff including, GM Don Sweeney, Assistant GM Jim Nill and HC Jon Cooper will have a difficult decision to make.

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