Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said Tuesday that the list of players still in the mix for the Olympic team is down to the “low 30s” with all of the skaters from the 4 Nations squad still in consideration.

The deadline to submit the roster is Dec. 31, with forwards Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Sam Reinhart and Brayden Point, as well as defenceman Cale Makar, already locked into the roster as the first six players announced in June.

“I spoke to Doug Armstrong, the GM of Team Canada, after they wrapped up their three days of meetings, and what Doug Armstrong said is that they whittled down the list that they had [of] around 40 on Nov. 10 when they met in Toronto. That list is now in the low 30s,” said TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading.

“They’ve got more players on the list that they’re continuing to scout between now and Dec. 31, and what they’re going to do now is send their GMs on the road and look at those final seven or so roster decisions they have left in terms of the bubble guys.

“He made the point of telling me that they haven’t written off anyone from the 4 Nations yet. I find that hard to believe when it comes to Sam Montembeault myself, but I think he was referring to the skaters. So, almost there – they’ve cut that list down again.”

The three goaltenders from the 4 Nations team – Montembeault, Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill – have all had their challenges this season.

Of all the goaltenders who have appeared in at least 10 games this season, Montembeault has the second-worst save percentage (.857) and the third-worst goals-against average (3.65). His last start came on Dec. 2 against Ottawa, where he let in five goals in a 5-2 loss.

Binnington, who backstopped Canada to gold at the tournament in February, has also struggled mightily this season. He has just seven wins in 20 appearances with an .875 save percentage and 3.29 GAA.

In Hill’s case, a lower-body injury has kept him out of the lineup since Oct. 20 and he has appeared in just five games.

Up front, a couple players from the 4 Nations team have gotten off to slow starts.

Reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett had just two points in his first 11 games but has pulled his numbers up to seven goals and 17 points in 28 games with the Panthers.

While Point is already on the Olympic team, he has struggled with the Lightning this season, with four goals and 13 points in 23 games and is a -10.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone has hit the scoresheet in every game he’s played this season, with four goals and 22 points, but he missed about a month with a wrist injury, limiting his season to 13 games so far.

On the other end of the spectrum is Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel and Carolina’s Seth Jarvis, who have had strong starts to the season as they look to crack the Canadian roster again.

Hagel has 17 goals with 29 points in 29 games this season, while Jarvis also has 17 goals with 25 points in 29 contests with the Hurricanes.

Other forwards who missed out on the 4 Nations team but are having strong seasons include Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard and Mark Scheifele.

Celebrini is third in the NHL in points this season with 43 points in 31 games for the San Jose Sharks, while Bedard is sixth with 40 points in 29 games with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Scheifele has 16 goals with 38 points, good for eighth in NHL scoring.

Wyatt Johnston (16 goals and 36 points), Nick Suzuki (eight goals and 33 points) and Tom Wilson (17 goals and 32 points) are the other non-4 Nations Canadian forwards currently in the top 20 in NHL scoring.

While he remains a longshot, Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie has exploded this season with 22 goals (second in the NHL) and 32 points in 31 games.

Confirm or Deny: Bedard should make Team Canada over Wilson Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jason Strudwick play OverDrive favourite Confirm or Deny.

On the blueline, there are two defencemen who are making a case for Olympic inclusion.

Jakob Chychrun, who was not on the 4 Nations roster, has had a big season for the Washington Capitals, scoring 11 goals with 25 points in 30 games and is a +24 while averaging 23:22 of ice time.

A dual citizen, Chychrun last suited up for Canada at the U18s in 2016.

Star rookie defenceman Matthew Schaefer also remains a candidate for the Olympic team as he was added to the IOC’s long list of potential candidates in November.

The 18-year-old, who was taken first overall by the New York Islanders in June’s draft, is third in rookie scoring with 22 points while averaging 23:36 of ice time.

Team Canada begins its journey to win Olympic gold for the first time since 2014 on Feb. 12 against Czechia.