How MacKenzie Weegar’s versatility could set him apart in 4 Nations chase
Given the handful of locks on the Canadian blue line, Weegar is in tough, battling with a handful of others to be the team’s sixth or seventh defencemen. But what could set him apart from the rest is his adaptability and versatility, Eric Francis writes.
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CALGARY – MacKenzie Weegar would be lying if he told you he hasn’t been contemplating a February break on the white sand of Cabo or, say, Costa Rica.
“I definitely have my eye on some places,” admitted the Flames defenceman before adding a kicker.
“But it’d be great to go to Montreal and Boston to represent your country.”
Such are the two possibilities that lie ahead for the 30-year-old as Team Canada brass pare down their roster for February’s 4 Nations Face-Off, which is due Dec 2.
Given the handful of locks on the Canadian blue line, Weegar is in tough, battling with a handful of others to be the team’s sixth or seventh defencemen.
He wouldn’t be asked to run the power play as he does in Calgary, or like he did at the world championship in 2023 when he led all defencemen in points as the tourney’s top defender.
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What he would be tasked with, if asked, would be a little bit of everything, as his versatility allows.
A right-shot defenceman who has long played on the left side, that alone would give the team options if injuries crept up.
He’d also give the back end some snarl, which is key, given it’s not an all-star game.
“He’s ultra-competitive,” said Flames coach Ryan Huska, stating the case for Weegar.
“Because of the intensity and compete he plays the game with, I think he can be a guy they can be comfortable using in all sorts of different situations.”
Weegar’s stat line from his last outing says plenty about just how complete his game is.
He led the team with four shots, four blocks and four takeaways, had two hits, was the team’s chief penalty killer, ran the power play, set up the winning goal and was plus-1 in a 2-0 win in which he played 23:19.
“I like to say I’m a 180-foot defenceman, because I don’t like to get too low in the offensive zone,” smiled Weegar, who led all NHL defencemen last season with 17 of his 20 goals coming at even strength.
“I’m just trying to be the same guy that I’ve always been, an all-around defenseman in the defensive zone and in the offensive zone. I want to be hard to play against, make hits, take hits, block shots, move the puck quickly, shoot the puck, make good breakout passes, just try to be all-around.”
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Team Canada GM Don Sweeney watched Weegar play live in Boston and Buffalo a few weeks ago, and was joined by Team Canada boss Doug Armstrong for the second game.
They saw the tools that allowed Weegar to start his own club last year, as the first player in NHL history to score 20 goals and block 200 shots in a season.
As Armstrong saw when Weegar was so dominant on the way to world championship gold, the late-blooming Ottawa native can play any role he’s asked.
Still, a look at Canada’s defensive candidates illustrates how stiff the competition is:
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Jose Theodore – Alex Pietrangelo
Josh Morrissey – Drew Doughty
MacKenzie Weegar – Evan Bouchard
Morgan Rielly – Aaron Ekblad
Others being considered would include righties Brandon Montour, Noah Dobson, Colton Parayko and Dougie Hamilton.
Doughty would be a lock if not for the injury that has kept him out this season. His unknown return date may open the door for a guy like Weegar who can play either side.
Bouchard’s defensive lapses could hurt his chances on a team that already has endless power play quarterbacks, and Dobson’s start has been slow.
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For a late-blooming, seventh-round pick, Weegar finds it surreal that he’s even in the mix for hockey’s first best-on-best tourney in eons.
“Yeah, it’s definitely weird, just being in the NHL, my route that I took to get here, my upbringing and whatnot, I still have to pinch myself,” he said.
“Some days I still get giddy that I’m in the NHL. I’m so blessed to be playing in the NHL, and now being talked about possibly playing in the 4 Nations for Team Canada… It’s just crazy to me. It really is. It’s mind-blowing. Kudos to my family, my friends and everybody who has helped me.
“It’s special, for sure.”
Teammate Rasmus Andersson is also on the bubble for making Sweden’s entry and said last week he’d be “pissed” if he wasn’t selected.
“I don’t think I’d be pissed, I’d be supporting them for sure,” Weegar said.
“Canada has got so many great defensemen, and there are a lot of guys who can make that team. Whoever is representing us I’m sure will do a fantastic job. It’s the best hockey country in the world, right? It gives you goosebumps to ever represent Team Canada.”
