Team Canada GM: 'Olympic Goaltending Remains Open Competition'

While Jordan Binnington may have been one of the stories for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, general manager Doug Armstrong isn't ready to tab Binnington as his starting goaltender just yet.

Team Canada will open up their two-day off-ice orientation camp next week, with 44 players invited to camp. This includes Binnington, who plays for Armstrong in St. Louis, as well as Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault. Interesting that only three were invited. 

"It just didn't feel right bringing that large number of goalies to the camp, so we just went with the three, but I've talked to the other goalies and told them that it's an open competition to play well and make our decisions hard in January," Armstrong told TSN 1050. "It's open competition for that goaltending position."

While only three goalies are headed to orientation camp, Armstrong admitted he called roughly six goaltenders to inform them the decision is far from over, and that they're on Team Canada's radar to start next season. There's certainly a very good chance someone besides Binnington, Hill, or Montembeault will be starting in net for Canada at the Olympics. 

Mackenzie Blackwood, Logan Thompson, and Darcy Kuemper are three netminders who will get a look, with Blackwood being the most likely to make the team. 

The full roster of 25 players will be announced in early January, with Team Canada looking to build off their momentum of defeating Team USA to take home the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Olympics, however, are a whole new level and it's great to see the NHL returning to the games.

Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images