Team Canada at Spengler Cup with NHLers?

12 Dec 2012 | Davide Tuniz

Hockey Canada will decide before Christmas if allign NHL stars at traditional Davos' tournament.

Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of national teams, confirmed he is in contact with some of NHLers currently playing in Switzerland due to the NHL lock-out trying to bring them at Spengler Cup where Canada traditionally compete with a team formed by players acting in Europe. Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Patrice Bergeron and John Tavares are among the Canadian players who would be eligible to compete in the historic club team tournament. Brooks Laich, Michael Del Zotto - recently going back to USA to treat an injury - and Matt Duchene could also be available. The final composition of the Canadian team will be announced before Christmas, because in the event of the end of lockout, these players will return to North America. “These are top-end guys that would obviously put us in a good situation with our overall team makeup,” said Pascall, “We’re kind of going day by day".

Other two Canadian, Joe Thornton and Rick Nash, won't be on the roster because are playing with host Davos.
Canada won Spengler seven times in 13 participations between 1996 and 2007.

News from other participants:
After announcing the signing of Philadelphia Flyers forward Maxime Talbot (currently in Finland with Ilves Tampere), Fribourg-Gottéron will count with Swedish forward Patric Hörnqvist who began season in NLB Martigny after moving in Djurgården. "I love Switzerland, it's a league with good speed and a lot of great players. Moreover, it will be fun to play the Spengler Cup, there are good teams, including Team Canada" said Hörnqvist.

HC Davos should not count on Mark Streit, unlike announced previously. SC Bern would not release his defender for the tournament.