Burns, Giordano, Hall deserving of spots on Canada's final World Cup roster

Hockey Canada has so much talent to choose from for the upcoming World Cup that more than few quality players are bound to be left out.

In CP's picks for the final seven players to be named to the roster, that group would include the Canadiens P.K. Subban, Flames T.J. Brodie, Penguins Kris Letang, Flyers Claude Giroux and Bruins Brad Marchand not to mention Jay Bouwmeester, a key piece of Canada's gold-winning entry at the last Olympics.

New faces, from the bushy-bearded Brent Burns to Flames captain Mark Giordano to Oilers winger Taylor Hall, are among those we believe deserve spots on Canada's final roster, which will be announced Friday. The first 16 players were revealed in March.

Defence

Alex Pietrangelo: The fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft, Pietrangelo has grown into a workhorse for the St. Louis Blues. Much like he did in Sochi, Pietrangelo should slot onto the right side of a third pair, killing penalties and absorbing a heavy dose of defensive zone starts for Babcock. It's won't be the prettiest role, but one the King City, Ont., native is more than capable of playing.

Mark Giordano: The Flames captain gets the spot that went previously to Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo's long-time defensive partner. Giordano can play the left side of a pair with Pietrangelo, kill penalties effectively, and provide a weapon from the point (one Bouwmeester lacks), his 21 goals tied for second among NHL defenders during the regular season. Unlike Bouwmeester, who's showed signs of decline in recent years, Giordano has remained a steady force for Calgary. Given the historic defensive play of Canada's last Olympic team, not to mention his familiarity with Pietrangelo, there's a real argument to bring back Bouwmeester. Canada shouldn't opt for status quo though, not with a suitable fit like Giordano available.

Brent Burns: Perhaps no player has done more to raise his stock for Canada since the 2014 Olympics than Burns. He's scored more goals than any other defender over the past two seasons (44, tied with Oliver Ekman-Larsson) and has more points than all but the prolific Erik Karlsson on the back end. He also has 20 points this spring for the Western Conference champion Sharks. Despite his imposing size (six foot five), Burns gets around the ice like someone much smaller, a skilled weapon for Canada to whip out on the power play and when a goal is needed otherwise. He comes with bonus versatility too, capable of sliding up to play forward if necessary.

Forward

Corey Perry: Perry had an awful start to the NHL season, a blistering second half and disappointing playoff, during which he was held goal-less in a seven-game first round defeat. Still, Canada could use his pesky personality, goal-scoring prowess and international experience at the World Cup. He's also a reliable fit alongside Ryan Getzlaf, who was among the first 16 players named to the Canadian squad.

Taylor Hall: Hall's talents shouldn't be overlooked because of the ongoing struggles of his NHL team. The Alberta native has explosive speed on the left side and is capable of scoring in bunches. He had six goals in 10 games representing Canada's gold medal winning entry at the recent world championships. He's also been among the most productive NHL players over the past three seasons (0.87 points per game) and would add a boost of young energy to Canada's roster.

Matt Duchene: Duchene's final audition for the World Cup roster should be enough to secure him a slot. He had another fine showing representing Canada for the second straight spring, second on the team with 10 points in 10 games at the worlds. The 25-year-old became a 30-goal-scorer for the first time during the NHL regular season, plays with lots of speed and can line up at wing or centre for Babcock, as he did at the 2014 Olympics.

Logan Couture: Couture's playoff performance is hard to ignore. He's shone for the Sharks, boasting a playoff-leading 24 points. He has good size (six foot one and 200 pounds) and speed and is versatile enough to play in any kind of role for Babcock, be it at centre or wing. Couture should beat out Giroux, Marchand and Rick Nash for one of Canada's final spots up front.

The first 16 players named to the team were:

Forwards: Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Getzlaf, Jeff Carter, Patrice Bergeron

Defence: Drew Doughty, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Duncan Keith, Shea Weber

Goaltenders: Carey Price, Braden Holtby, Corey Crawford