As the World Championships continue in Russia, a pair of Ottawa Senators with World Cup aspirations are certainly not hurting their cause, even if one's task is probably insurmountable.

Mark Stone hasn't done anything to hurt his chances, and could still have an outside shot, but it is simply a numbers game and there are probably too many players ahead of him on the totem pole to warrant him jumping the line and cracking the roster. Guys who were left off like Corey Perry, Brad Marchand, Taylor Hall and Ryan O'Reilly have also had good tournaments after being left off Canada's initial roster not to mention the likes of Claude Giroux, Tyler Toffoli.

Stone's work is cut out for him to crack that roster.

Ceci, on the other hand, is a contender for a spot on the blue line of the "Young Guns". the Under 23 Team North America. The preliminary roster included 4 defensemen - Aaron Ekblad, Ryan Murray, Morgan Rielly and Seth Jones.

That leaves 3 spots that will likely come down to the likes of Ceci, Dougie Hamilton, Shayne Gostisbehere, Colton Parayko, Noah Hanifin, Mike Matheson, Jacob Trouba and Matt Dumba.

It is by no means a lock, but Ceci has shown an ability to kill penalties, and at this tournament has also had opportunities to run the power play, something he hasn't gotten a lot of chance to show with some guy named Karlsson hogging most of the PP minutes in Ottawa.

Will poilitics (Canada vs USA representation) play a factor? Of the top 4 only 1 is American and you have to think there will be a second in Gostisbehere, but will Hanifin or Trouba get a spot over Ceci or Matheson based on equal representation.

I don't even know if I would have Ceci in my top 7, because Parayko has been a stud in the playoffs, but he certainly has a taken advantage of this opportunity.

I will hesitate to say it is a "breakout performance" because there was a lot said about another member of the Senators blueline who had that tag at last year's tournament but fizzled dramatically this season and I don't want to put any jinx on Ceci.

Join the Discussion: » 44 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye, and good luck!

» Can Colin White fill the #2C role as early as next year?

» Boucher staying put, at least for now

» Boucher Day

» Sens fall to #4 in draft lottery