This coming winter four national teams will take to the ice in the NHL 4Nations Faceoff. Sweden, the United States, Canada and Finland will play in the tournament, scheduled for Feb. 12-20 at TD Garden in Boston and Bell Centre in Montreal. Earlier today the four teams each announced their first 6 players selected to represent their respective countries. The rest of the lineup, comprising 23 NHL players (20 skaters and three goalies), will be announced later this year.
Sweden has decided the initial six players who will represent them in the tournament, as outlined below:
D Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers)
D Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
D Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
F Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators)
F William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)
F Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers)
Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers)
Claimed off waivers by the Panthers in 2021, there is no question that his most recent Stanley Cup victory will be a memorable highlight for the defensemen. He played a key role on the Panthers’ defense throughout the season, accumulating 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 79 games. During the playoffs, he showcased his skills by scoring 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 24 games, ultimately playing a key role in helping the team secure the Cup victory.
Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Hedman finished the season as the fifth-highest scoring NHL defenseman, recording 76 points (13 goals, 63 assists) in 78 games. During the playoffs, he contributed seven points (one goal, six assists) in five games. Hedman is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having hoisted the Cup in both 2020 and 2021. In addition, he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is a five-time finalist for the Norris Trophy and won the award in 2018 after helping the Lightning win the Atlantic Division and finish first in the Eastern Conference.
Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Karlsson was the top point producer among Penguins defensemen this season, registering 56 points (11 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games. At the IIHF Men’s World Championship, Karlsson contributed nine points, scoring 7 goals and assisting on two others to support Team Sweden in their medal hunt. Sweden’s team managed to secure the Bronze medal in the tournament. Karlsson was also honored this season after he made his 1000 NHL games mark. He now has 1002 games played with 189 career goals, 628 assists, for a total of 817 points.
Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators)
Traded to the Predators in April 2013 by the Washington Capitals, Forsberg has made an impact in Nashville. During this season, Forsberg established a new record for the Predators by scoring 48 goals and also topped the team with 94 points in 82 games. Additionally, he contributed six points, with two goals and four assists, in a span of six playoff games. During his time with the Predators, he has accumulated a total of 605 points in 698 games, showcasing his skill with 287 goals and 318 assists to his name to date.
William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Selected 8th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nylander has had a remarkable career in the NHL. During the 2023-24 season, he reached a career milestone by scoring 98 points, including 40 goals and 58 assists, in 82 games. Nylander’s impact was felt in the playoffs as well, where he contributed three goals in just four games to drive the Maple Leafs forward. With a total of 603 regular-season games played for Toronto, Nylander has amassed an impressive record of 217 goals, 311 assists, resulting in a grand total of 528 points.
Mika Zibaneejad (New York Rangers)
Selected as the sixth overall pick by the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 NHL Draft before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2016, Zibanejad has enjoyed a remarkable career trajectory. In the most recent season, he amassed an impressive 72 points from 26 goals and 46 assists across 81 regular-season games, further adding 16 points comprising three goals and 13 assists in 16 playoff appearances. His career tally stands at 678 points achieved through 848 games played, with 294 goals and 384 assists to his name.
All seven matches in the 4 Nations Face-Off will adhere to NHL rules. Each team will compete in three tournament games utilizing a Round Robin format. Teams will earn 3 points for a regulation victory, 2 points for an OT/shootout win, and 1 point for an OT/shootout loss. The top two teams based on their performance will progress to the Final Championship Game.
