(All opinions expressed in this article are my own.)
The NHL is set to host the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament from Feb. 12 to Feb. 20, 2025, replacing this season’s NHL All-Star Weekend. The tournament will feature the best players from Canada, Sweden, Finland and the United States as they compete to see which hockey country reigns supreme. Let’s take a look at the rosters and see who’s primed to win it all.
4 NATIONS FACE-OFF ROSTERS
The rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off were selected by each country’s national hockey association and not by the NHL. These rosters are not necessarily the rosters that the countries will send to the 2026 Olympics, but there’s a high probability that the rosters will be very similar when the time comes.
(Rosters are from ESPN and listed in alphabetical order. These are not projected lineups.)
TEAM CANADA
Forwards:
Sam Bennett (FLA) – Anthony Cirelli (TBL) – Sidney Crosby (PIT)
Brandon Hagel (TBL) – Seth Jarvis (CAR) – Travis Konecny (PHI)
Nathan MacKinnon (COL) – Brad Marchand (BOS) – Mitch Marner (TOR)
Connor McDavid (EDM) – Brayden Point (TBL) – Sam Reinhart (FLA)
Mark Stone (VGK)
Defensemen:
Cale Makar (COL) – Josh Morrissey (WPG)
Colton Parayko (STL) – Alex Pietrangelo (VGK)
Travis Sanheim (PHI) – Shea Theodore (VGK)
Devon Toews (COL)
Goaltenders:
Jordan Binnington (STL)
Adin Hill (VGK)
Sam Montembeault (MTL)
Notable snubs: Connor Bedard (CHI), Nick Suzuki (MTL)
TEAM FINLAND
Forwards:
Sebastian Aho (CAR) – Joel Armia (MTL) – Aleksander Barkov (FLA)
Mikael Granlund (SJS) – Erik Haula (NJD) – Roope Hintz (DAL)
Kaapo Kakko (NYR) – Patrik Laine (MTL) – Artturi Lehkonen (COL)
Anton Lundell (FLA) – Eetu Luostarinen (FLA) – Mikko Rantanen (COL)
Teuvo Teräväinen (CHI)
Defense:
Jani Hakanpää (TOR) – Miro Heiskanen (DAL)
Esa Lindell (DAL) – Niko Mikkola (FLA)
Olli Määttä (UTA) – Rasmus Ristolainen (PHI)
Juuso Välimäki (UTA)
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen (VAN)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF)
Juuse Saros (NSH)
Notable snubs: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (CAR), Henri Jokiharju (BUF)
TEAM SWEDEN
Forwards:
Viktor Arvidsson (EDM) – Jesper Bratt (NJD) – Leo Carlsson (ANA)
Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN) – Filip Forsberg (NSH) – William Karlsson (VGK)
Adrian Kempe (LAK) – Elias Lindholm (BOS) – William Nylander (TOR)
Gustav Nyquist (NSH) – Elias Pettersson (VAN) – Lucas Raymond (DET)
Mika Zibanejad (NYR)
Defensemen:
Rasmus Andersson (CGY) – Jonas Brodin (MIN)
Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) – Mattias Ekholm (EDM)
Gustav Forsling (FLA) – Victor Hedman (TBL)
Erik Karlsson (PIT)
Goaltenders:
Filip Gustavsson (MIN)
Jacob Markström (NJD)
Linus Ullmark (OTT)
Notable snubs: Mikael Backlund (CGY), William Eklund (SJS)
TEAM UNITED STATES
Forwards:
Matt Boldy (MIN) – Kyle Connor (WPG) – Jack Eichel (VGK)
Jake Guentzel (TBL) – Jack Hughes (NJD) – Chris Kreider (NYR)
Dylan Larkin (DET) – Auston Matthews (TOR) – J.T. Miller (VAN)
Brock Nelson (NYI) – Brady Tkachuk (OTT) – Matthew Tkachuk (FLA)
Vincent Trocheck (NYR)
Defensemen:
Brock Faber (MIN) – Adam Fox (NYR)
Noah Hanifin (VGK) – Quinn Hughes (VAN)
Charlie McAvoy (BOS) – Jaccob Slavin (CAR)
Zach Werenski (CBJ)
Goaltenders:
Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)
Jake Oettinger (DAL)
Jeremy Swayman (BOS)
Notable snubs: Cole Caufield (MTL), Clayton Keller (UTA)
So, the question remains: which team is going to win? While all four teams are stacked, I think the tournament being hosted in Boston and Montreal will give the United States and Canada the boost they need to be the final two teams standing. The championship is honestly a toss-up, but I think whichever city hosts the championship game will determine the winner. Home-rink advantage is a very real thing, and it could be the difference maker with a matchup this close.
ESPN Four Nation Face-Off Rosters: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/42755874/nhl-4-nations-faceoff-schedule-rosters-how-watch-news-broadcast-information
