The U20’s are a month away so this stuff is going to start getting more common, today Team Canada announced it’s Selection Camp players and 29 potentials for the final 22 man roster. Here are the names and information:

G

Calvin Pickard, Colorado
Olivier Roy, Edmonton
Mark Visentin, Phoenix
JP Anderson, San Jose

D

Tyson Barrie, Colorado
Jared Cowen, Ottawa                                                                                                                                                         Calvin DeHaan, NY Islanders
Simon Depres, Pittsburgh
Ryan Ellis, Nashville
Brandon Gormley, Phoenix
Erik Gudbranson, Florida
Brayden McNabb, Buffalo
Ryan Murphy, 2011 Eligible
Ryan Murray, 2012 Eligible
Dylan Olsen, Chicago
Mark Pysyk, Buffalo

F

Carter Ashton, Tampa Bay
Michael Bournival, Montreal                                                                                                                                                Casey Cizikas, NY Islanders
Brett Connolly, Tampa Bay
Sean Couturier, 2011 Eligible
Cody Eakin, Washington
Marcus Foligno, Buffalo
Brendan Gallagher, Montreal
Curtis Hamilton, Edmonton
Joey Hishon, Colorado
Quinton Howden, Florida
Ryan Howse, Calgary
Ryan Johansen, Columbus
Zach Kassian, Buffalo
Louis Leblanc, Montreal
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011 Eligible
Brandon Pirri, Chicago
Brad Ross, Toronto
Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis
Riley Sheahan, Detroit
Reilly Smith, Dallas
Linden Vey, Los Angeles
Garret Wilson, Florida

Some thoughts right off the bat:

• Coyotes first rounder Brandon Gormley hurt his knee recently so his shot on the team is likely dependent on how the knee is doing as the date nears.
• It’s rare to see a draft-eligible make Team Canada on defense, it’s even rarer for a guy two years removed like Ryan Murray to crack camp (he is a late 93′ birth though so it’s not as far-fetched). However at this summer’s U18 Ivan Hlinka Tournament Ryan Murphy didn’t make the club and Ryan Murray did. Since then Ryan Murphy has exploded with 13 goals and 39 points in 24 games this year in the OHL.  Murphy’s concerns are his all-around game (which has improved this year mind you), while Murray isn’t as offensively dynamic he brings a much more advanced defensive game to the table with good puck-moving abilities. Depending on how confident Canada is in players like Calvin DeHaan and Ryan Ellis to lead the powerplay will be a key factor in determining if Murphy can grab a spot on the final roster.
• Up front Canada doesn’t have the kind of dynamic scoring forwards we’ve been used to seeing in recent years, which begs the question of why Kings prospect Tyler Toffoli was omitted as he is the leading goal-scorer in the OHL with 24 goals in 27 games to go along with 41 points.  In terms of who can fill out their top six I’d say Brett Connolly, Jaden Schwartz, Sean Couturier and Ryan Johansen are locks with other names like Zach Kassian, Ryan Howse and Louis Leblanc are other possible candidates amongst others.
• I love that Brandon Pirri is there and that Chicago is giving him a chance even though he’s in the AHL. He’s a personal favorite of mine.
• Only three 2009 first rounders are invited at forward, Tampa’s Carter Ashton, Montreal’s Louis Leblanc and Buffalo’s Zach Kassian. Meanwhile there are eight first round defensemen who were invited.