The NHL 4Nations Faceoff will showcase four national teams representing Sweden, the United States, Canada, and Finland. These teams are scheduled to participate in the tournament scheduled from February 12th to 20th at TD Garden in Boston and Bell Centre in Montreal. This weekend, the four teams unveiled the initial selection of 6 players, each of who will represent their countries. The remaining roster, consisting of 23 NHL players (20 skaters and three goalies), will be announced later this year. Below are the details of all four teams and links to our Inside the Rink reports on each team so far.
“You’re really not going to get any better product than this,” Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby said. “So, I think that’s something everyone gets excited for across the board, and I think it’s a great opportunity to showcase hockey at its best.”
-Sidney Crosby, NHL.com
Without much question, the NHL 4 Nations Faceoff is already starting off with players that have numerous accolades among them. We take look at each initial six and offer potential additions to each team, which the NHL will announce officially later this year.
Initial Six Players
| CANADA | FINLAND |
| F – Sidney Crosby (PIT) F – Nathan MacKinnon (COL) F- Connor McDavid (EDM) F – Brayden Point (TBL) F – Brad Marchand (BOS) D – Cale Makar (COL) | G – Juuse Saros (NSH) D – Esa Lindell (DAL) D – Miro Heiskanen (DAL) F – Aleksander Barkov (FLA) F – Mikko Rantanen (COL) F – Sebastian Aho (CAR) |
| SWEDEN | UNITED STATES |
| D – Victor Hedman (TBL) D – Erik Karlsson (PIT) D – Gustav Forsling (FLA) F – Filip Forsberg (NSH) F – Mika Zibanejad (NYR) F – William Nylander (TOR) | F – Jack Eichel (VGK) F – Auston Matthews (TOR) F – Matthew Tkachuk (FLA) D – Charlie McAvoy (BOS) D – Quinn Hughes (VAN) D – Adam Fox (NYR) |
Analysis By Team
Canada
This roster has some major talent, with several skaters that have played as a national team before, albeit on the international stage. MacKinnon recently clinched the Hart Trophy, while McDavid boasts three wins and the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the 2024 playoff MVP. Together, the trio has amassed a total of 272 points this season. Crosby, celebrated as an Olympic hero with the “golden goal” in 2010, and Canadian teammate Point both achieved 90 points or more in each of the past two seasons. Marchand brings tenacity to the team, while Makar’s skill in setting up plays makes him a constant threat to the opposition. Combined, these six players have tallied and impressive 221 goals, 392 assists for 613 point in the 2023-24 season. Fans should be excited to see Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon on the ice together, as the trio have never played together for Team Canada. Opponents will face a significant challenge as they try to defend against it.
Potential Additions
(D) Alex Pietrangelo (Las Vegas Golden Knights)
King City, Ontario, Canada
With roster currently chock full of team tournament point leaders, Pietrangelo would be a solid choice on the defensive side of the puck. With two Stanley Cups also to his name, he has a career 144 goals, 460 assists for 604 points. He is also well versed in the leadership side of the game, having been both a Captain for the St. Louis Blues and Alternate Captain for the Vegas Golden Knights. Competing internationally also seems to suit him well. He achieved a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship and a silver in 2010, earning the title of the tournament’s best defenseman that year. In the 2011 IIHF World Championship, he tallied five points in seven games and was once more honored as the top defenseman.
(G) Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues)
Richmond Hill, Ontario, CAN
In the 2023-24 season, Jordan Binnington achieved 28 wins and 21 losses with a goals-against average of 2.84. He finished the season with a save percentage of .913. Opposing teams made repeated attempts to challenge Binnington while in net, but most struggled to find success as Binnington finished the season with a total of 1,630 saves, securing the fourth-highest position among all goaltenders in the league.
Some others to consider:
(D) Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Although the Edmonton Oilers did not achieve the desired outcome in the quest for the Stanley Cup, Bouchard made a noteworthy contribution to maintain the team’s competitiveness. Throughout the playoffs, he accumulated a total of 32 points, comprising six goals and 26 assists. His efforts culminated in a Plus/Minus rating of +14 by the end of the Stanley Cup run.
(F) Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks)
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Notably absent from the initial six, and on a team that is jam packed with talented forwards, this one is almost a given addition. Without a doubt having Crosby and Bedard play on the same team would get most fans up on their collective feet. Simply put, at this point Bedard would be a smart choice for Canada after putting up 61 points in his inaugural NHL season, earning 22 goals and 39 assists, and walking away with the Calder Memorial Trophy for his contributions in his rookie season despite missing 14 games with a broken jaw.
(G) Marc-Andre Fleury (Minnesota Wild)
Sorel, Quebec, Canada
This one may come down to the sentimental choice as his addition may be for no other reason than to give the fans another chance to see both Crosby/Fleury hit the ice as teammates one more time before Fleury retires. By the end of 2023, Fleury achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fourth goalie in NHL history to reach the 1,000 game mark, a feat previously accomplished by legends such as Martin Brodeur (1,266), Roberto Luongo (1,044), and Patrick Roy (1,029). Fleury passed Roy for second in NHL history with his 552nd win, in the 5-0 win against the New York Islanders this past January. With three Stanley Cups, a Vezina, and the William M. Jennings awards under his belt, representing his country before retiring would be another chance for the goalie to leave a lasting impact on the sport.
Finland
Finland was the only nation to announce their choice for a goaltender, and it’s hard to argue against the qualifications of Juus Saros, a two-time All-Star and Vezina finalist. Nevertheless, considering the strong offensive lineups of the other three teams, it seems probable that the Finns will be focusing on bolstering their defense against the talent they will face in the tournament. On the defensive side, they have made a strong start by selecting players like Heiskanen and Lindell.
Potential Additions
(F) Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota Wild)
Karlstad, SWE
Eriksson Ek has had an impressive season with the Wild in 2023-24, showcasing his skills by scoring 30 goals and providing 34 assists. Furthermore, he displayed his talent on an international stage at the IIHF Men’s Worlds where he ranked 4th in goal scoring overall with seven goals and two assists. The team went on to secure the bronze medal in the Championship by defeating Canada.
(F) Matias Maccelli (Utah Hockey Club)
Turku, Finland
Maccelli started his career in the United States Hockey League, showcasing his skills with 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) in 98 games for Dubuque. This past season he would land with 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points for the Arizona Coyotes. Additionally, he served as an alternate captain for Finland during the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games. This was his final performance at the international level, yet we hope to witness him showcase his skills on a national team again this year with this tournament.
Some others to consider:
(F) Marcus Johannsen (Minnesota Wild)
Landskrona, Sweden
In the Men’s Worlds tournament, Johannsson scored a total of 12 points for the Swedish team, with 6 goals and 6 assists, leading his team in points. Throughout the regular season with the Wild, he accumulated 30 points in 78 games, showcasing his skills with 11 goals and 19 assists. Internationally, Johansson achieved success by winning a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. During his time with Boston, he played a pivotal role in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, contributing 11 points – four goals and seven assists – in 22 games. His efforts helped the Bruins reach the Final, although they ultimately fell short to the St. Louis Blues in a thrilling seven-game series.
Sweden
Sweden started with a strong lineup of its own which ha included forwards Mika Zibanejad, William Nylander, and Filip Forsberg, along with defensemen Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, and Gustav Forsling so far. The biggest consideration they need to make is to add to the defensive lines and have a strong netminder tandem in place to help guard against some of the best forwards in the league.
Potential Additions
(F) Elias Lindholm (Vancouver Canucks)
Boden, Sweden
After playing 75 games during this season for the Vancouver Canucks, Lindholm scored 15 goals and provided 29 assists, accumulating a total of 44 points. During the postseason, he managed to score an additional five goals and provide five assists, adding 10 more points to his record. Considering a potential line combination with Karlsson, Eriksson Ek, and Lindholm could prove to be an ideal strategy to neutralize the top forwards of the opposing teams.
(G) Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators)
Lugnvik, Sweden
My pick for a potential goaltender for the Swedes would Linus Ullmark. Recently traded by the Bruins to the Senators, this Vezina Trophy winner was considered the top goalie in the NHL during the 2022-23 season. He achieved an impressive record of 40-6-1 and led the League in both GAA (1.89) and save percentage (.938) in 49 games. This past season, Ullmark ended his season with Boston with 22 wins, 10 losses and a save percentage of .915.
Some others to consider:
(F) Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings)
Kramfors, Sweden
Kempe is a seasoned participant in national team tournaments, having competed in the IIHF Men’s World Championship. He secured the gold in 2018 and won the bronze in 2024. In his regular season with the Kings, the winger would add 28 goals and 47 assists for 75 points and went on to the playoffs where he would add an additional five points (4g, 1a).
United States
All six players announced were involved in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. The program, a two-year residency program, is designed to help develop talented 16 and 17-year-old players in the United States. Collectively, these six players have represented the United States in 29 major world championships and have amassed a total of 19 medals, including eight gold medals, two silver medals, and nine bronze medals. There are two Stanley Cup champions among the first six American players, both occurring in the last two years – one with Jack Eichel in Vegas and the other this season with Matthew Tkachuk in Florida.
Potential Additions
(F) Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild)
Millis, MA
Boldy had a remarkable season with the Wild, amassing 69 points (29 goals, 40 assists). His exceptional displays on the global platform have garnered interest from Team USA for the 4Nations Faceoff. At the Men’s World event in the spring, Boldy participated in 8 games and made a substantial impact for Team USA, tallying a total of 14 points through six goals and eight assists. He was the top scoring leader in the tournament that unfortunately saw Team USA being eliminated from medal contention. The 4 Nations tournament could present a chance for Boldy to possibly seek some payback.
(G) Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)
Commerce Township, MI
Connor Hellebuyck received his fourth nomination as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy during the 2023-24 season and emerged with the win for the second time. He would also go on to claim the William M. Jennings Trophy, presented annually to goaltenders that concedes the fewest goals in the regular season after participating in at least 25 games. Hellebuyck’s outstanding performance also had earned him a spot on the NHL First All-Star Team, culminating with 37 wins and an impressive save percentage of .921 at the end of the 2023-24 regular season. Hellebuyck posted a 37-19-4 record, along with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage, with five shutouts. His performance was instrumental in the Jets allowing the fewest goals in the NHL at 199 (including shootout-deciding goals), leading the team to a second-place finish in the Central Division.
Some others to consider:
(G) Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)
Anchorage, Alaska
Jeremy Swayman has emerged as a top-tier starting goaltender in the NHL. Throughout the 2022-23 season, he appeared in 37 games (33 as a starter) for the Bruins, posting a record of 24-6-4. His performance included a 2.27 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage, contributing significantly to the team’s success, capturing the Jennings Trophy alongside Vezina Trophy recipient and former teammate Linus Ullmark. During the most recent season, he accomplished a total of 25 wins while also sustaining an impressive save percentage of .916. Observing the dynamic of a tandem goalie situation with Hellebuyck would truly be one fans may be looking forward to seeing.
(F) Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Omaha, Nebraska
A skilled winger in his own regard, Guentzel, recently traded to Tampa Bay by Carolina, could significantly enhance the American team. Throughout his stints in Pittsburgh and then Carolina last season, Guentzel showcased impressive statistics, tallying 30 goals, 47 assists, totaling to 77 points. During the Stanley Cup playoff run with the Hurricanes, he contributed four goals and five assists, accumulating a total of nine points.
While there is undoubtedly additional talent that could be added to each team, and more players are likely to emerge as the 2024-25 season gets underway, the anticipation for top-tier international hockey competition is building. While February may appear to be in the distance, there is no doubt that this tournament will dominate the hockey world as the season unfolds and as more roster announcements are made by each team.
