Leafs future set for Worlds

Photo Courtesy of hockeylandcanada.com

Justin Smith
Editor

Team Canada is gearing up for preliminary round match-ups at the World Hockey Championships, and there are some familiar faces set to compete.

James Reimer, Morgan Reilly and Nazem Kadri are ready to start their journey for gold and will face France tomorrow. After a disappointing season and an uncertain future for the Leafs this summer, all three players are looking to prove that they can compete with the best.

According to TSN Ottawa Bureau Reporter Brent Wallace the lines at practice today had Kadri centering the second line, while Reilly was placed on the third defensive pairing.

Team Canada Lines Burrows Turris MacKinnon Hodgson Kadri Brouwer Huberdeau Schenn Read Chimera Scheifele Ward Monahan
— Brent Wallace (@tsn_wally) May 8, 2014

Team Canada D pairings: Garrison Bieksa Coburn Myers Gudbranson/Rielly Ellis
— Brent Wallace (@tsn_wally) May 8, 2014

With Reimer set to get the first start, he will likely be playing for the chance to impress not only the accompanying Canadian coaching staff but also Leafs management. Although many believe that he will be traded in the off-season at some point, it is also conceivable that he may be playing for a contract with his future team. Whichever reason he might have, if Reimer performs well at this year's Worlds, the will be the beneficiary. With Team Canada being situated in a different grouping than Team U.S.A, all three Leafs will likely have to wait until the quarter-finals to face their teammate Jake Gardiner.

The tournament is being held in Minsk, Belrus this year, with 16 teams participating. Tomorrow's contest between Canada and France can be seen on TSN at 9:30 a.m Eastern.