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5. Matt Duchene

Duchene
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It’s likely Matt Duchene’s strong start to season with the Colorado Avalanche already had him penciled in to make Team Canada. However, if there was any remaining doubt despite Duchene leading Colorado to a 14-5 record with 20 points, those doubts can be put to rest. Duchene should be playing at the Olympics. He might even be Stamkos’ replacement on the top-line given his elite skating ability. Anybody paired with Crosby will need to skate fast and there aren’t many people on the planet who can skate faster than Duchene.

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4. Claude Giroux

Giroux
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

When talking about some of the biggest disappointments in the NHL this season, it’s easy to talk about the Philadelphia Flyers. It’s even easier to talk about Claude Giroux who only has one goal through the first 19 games of the season. The Flyers haven’t looked very impressive this season with their 7-10-2 record and it hasn’t helped Giroux has only been able to put 11 points on the board to start the year.

During the summer, Giroux was probably a safe bet to make Team Canada but given his rough season he’s now on the bubble to make the team. Giroux’s talent is undeniable and as unfortunate as Stamkos’ injury is, it could provide Giroux a second chance to play in the Olympics. If Stamkos is named to Team Canada but is unable to play in the Olympics, and if Giroux isn’t named but suddenly turns around his season, don’t be surprised if Canada’s chooses the best available player.

As badly as Giroux has struggled, if he can get back to playing like the player everybody knows he is in the next two months, he will likely be playing come the middle of February.

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3. Andrew Ladd

Ladd
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Ladd has captained the Winnipeg Jets to a respectable 9-9-2 record to begin the season. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has proven he knows how to win and is willing to accept a lesser role in order to do so. Ladd was a great character guy when the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in the 2009-10 season and he’d be a great character guy playing a checking role with Team Canada at the Olympics. He’s scored 17 points to start the year but he wouldn’t be needed to score at the Olympics as he’d be used in a role similar to what Brenden Morrow provided Canada in Vancouver in 2010.

There will be plenty of more skilled players to choose from over Ladd, but if Canada wants a dependable veteran who’ll understand his role than Ladd could help provide a quality checking-line playing next to Bergeron. Morrow was a debatable selection over players like Stamkos in 2010, but it ultimately ended up being a great fit defensively for Canada. Would choosing Ladd over someone like Taylor Hall be 2014’s version of choosing defense over offense?

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2. Chris Kunitz

Kunitz
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Since Stamkos was virtually a lock to play with Crosby at the Olympics, if he’s not healthy in time than Chris Kunitz could be the guy who replaces him. The only way Kunitz makes Team Canada would be if he’s guaranteed to play with Crosby given the chemistry the duo have formed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It could be the perfect example of choosing chemistry between teammates like Canada did with the three Sharks, Thornton, Marleau and Heatley in 2010.

Is Kunitz an Olympic-calibre player? Probably not given all the options Canada is able to choose from. However, if he can continue to build on his 17 points in 20 games this season, along with the 52 points in 48 games he scored last year, it wouldn’t be outrageous if Canada named him to their Olympic roster. It’ll be important for Canada’s gold medal hopes that they pair Crosby with quality line-mates after he didn’t have the greatest showing at the 2010 Olympics. There will be a lot worse options than giving Crosby somebody he’s extremely familiar with and if the best goal-scorer in the world can’t play with Crosby, somebody who’s proven they can play with Crosby probably becomes incredibly important for Canada.

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1. Tyler Seguin

Seguin
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody thought Seguin would have a realistic shot to make Team Canada in the summer but many are now wondering if he’s played himself onto the team. In his first season with the Dallas Stars, Seguin has been explosive with 22 points leading the team to a 10-7-2 start to the year. He currently sits tied for eighth in league scoring and if he can keep up his current level of play, it’ll be hard to keep him off Canada’s Olympic roster.

Are there maturity questions after the Boston Bruins traded him? Absolutely. However, attitude problems haven’t kept previous players off Canada’s Olympic team like Theo Fleury in 2002 and Todd Bertuzzi in 2006. Neither Fleury nor Bertuzzi were playing as well as Seguin is in their Olympic years and Seguin’s off-ice issues aren’t anything similar to what theirs were either. With Jamie Benn also likely to make Team Canada, the chemistry Seguin and Benn would provide their country could be valuable. The loss of Stamkos could very well be replaced by the pleasant surprise Seguin’s play has been this season.

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