I think there is a case for a guy like Wilson. Look, we took Brendan Morrow in 2010 for this very same reason. Canada won a whole slew of World Juniors by putting together an energy line. That being said, they have to be able to score very well if we are thinking about a line. A guy like Morrow had a purpose and so did Bergeron at that time. Hard to believe, but Bergeron had come off a weak year in 2009 and there was a specific reason he was picked for Canada in 2010. They wanted a right handed faceoff specialist. This was a risky pick to be honest. He missed most of the 2008 season, had a lousy 2009 season and then in 2010 finished 5th in Selke voting. So he was arriving by this time. So we picked a team like that by leaving out Stamkos, St. Louis and others. It was a risk.
I think 2004 comes to mind as picking maybe not necessarily a "grind line" so much as a specific line for checking and that was Doan and Draper who were controversial picks for that team. Joe Thornton if I recall centred that line that tournament. Bottom line is, it worked out well. Some skilled guys were missing on the 2004 team, I thought, but they rolled the dice and took a shutdown line and to be honest they scored a good chunk that tournament.
The 1987 Canada Cup had the likes of Tocchet, Sutter, etc. starting the comeback in the final game against the Soviets.
You do need those guys with sandpaper. For my money I'd make sure they can chip in with the best of them offensively as well. But it is no different than picking a stay at home guy specifically (Vlasic comes to mind) while leaving a more offensive defenseman at home.