The NHL common season will take a virtually two-week lengthy hiatus to host the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off. The round-robin event will run Feb. 12-20, splitting time between Boston and Montreal and that includes nationwide groups from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the US.
Lots of the NHL’s high stars will go well with up for his or her respective international locations for the primary time in a world setting for the reason that World Cup of Hockey again in 2016. Every workforce will compete in three video games, and the highest two international locations will face off within the championship recreation.
With a number of the sport’s greatest expertise on show for the world to see, there are various gamers which are going to assist determine the destiny of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Here is a have a look at a number of the most impactful gamers that can take heart stage in a protracted anticipated event of worldwide proportions.
Auston Matthews (United States)
It is wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Auston Matthews would play within the 4 Nations Face-Off after coping with accidents earlier this season. Nonetheless, Matthews seems as if he’ll be a full go within the round-robin event, and he could possibly be an important piece for his dwelling nation. No NHL participant has racked up extra targets (160) than Matthews has over the previous three NHL seasons, and he is completed that feat in simply 226 video games. Apart from Connor McDavid, there might not be a extra deadly purpose scorer than Matthews, who will function the US’ captain. Former San Jose Sharks star Joe Pavelski earned the nickname of “Captain America” when he was one of many league’s high stars, however it will not be an enormous shock if we’re calling Matthews “Captain America” if he leads the US to worldwide glory.
Matthew Tkachuk (United States)
Over the Florida Panthers’ final two Stanley Cup runs, Matthew Tkachuk has showcased his capability to affect the sport in many various methods. Tkachuk is a proficient ahead with a knack for scoring targets in massive spots, but additionally is not afraid to offer some physicality to the opposition. The Panthers star can lay heavy hits with the perfect of them and is not afraid to be an agitator. In truth, Tkachuk tallied 46 factors (17 targets, 29 assists) in every of Florida’s final two playoff runs, but additionally racked up 105 penalty minutes throughout that span. If the People are in want of a spark, Tkachuk could possibly be simply the kind of participant coach Mike Sullivan may deploy to assist flip the tide at varied moments in the course of the event.
Quinn Hughes (United States)
Quinn Hughes will assist anchor a star-studded United States blue line that additionally options Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy and Zach Werenski. When it comes to the NHL’s high defensemen, it is seemingly a race that is too near name and is only a matter of desire. Hughes has developed into an elite puck mover on the again finish since debuting with the Vancouver Canucks again in 2018. The American blue-liner has recorded a league-best 227 factors (38 targets, 189 assists) over the previous three seasons, main all NHL defensemen over that stretch. Hughes can be on tempo to shatter his career-high in targets (17) this season as he already has tallied 14 targets with 30 extra video games to go. He supplies a powerful quantity of management, grit and offensive prowess on the American blue line, and could possibly be one of the crucial important gamers to the US success within the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Connor McDavid (Canada)
Maybe Canada’s greatest edge on this event is that it has the perfect participant on the planet. Connor McDavid merely performs the sport of hockey at a unique pace than everybody else. Because the begin of the 2016-17 season, McDavid leads the NHL in assists (663) and factors (1,004). The following closest level complete belongs to Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl at 869. At his peak, McDavid has no friends, and that confirmed final postseason. Throughout Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Last, McDavid broke Wayne Gretzky’s document for assists in a single postseason with 34. His 42 playoff factors rank fourth all-time. That efficiency made McDavid simply the sixth participant in historical past to win the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of shedding the Stanley Cup. This would be the first time McDavid has performed on the worldwide stage for the reason that 2018 IIHF World Championship, so followers are in for a deal with.
Cale Makar (Canada)
Along with rostering the perfect hockey participant on this spinning rock, Canada additionally has a case that the perfect defenseman on the planet patrols its blue line. Earlier than he turned 24 years outdated, Cale Makar had received a Norris Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup. Since then, Makar has remained one of the crucial electrifying gamers within the league, and he’s the uncommon defenseman who can take over a recreation. This season, Makar ranks first amongst defensemen in targets (19) and second in factors (58). On high of that, Makar has been his often dominant self at five-on-five with a 55.9% anticipated targets share. He and fellow Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews would make for a formidable pairing on this event.
Adin Hill (Canada)
Essentially the most obtrusive weak point on Canada’s roster is between the pipes. If I had been to guess, Hill most likely will get the primary crack at tending purpose, however not one of the three Canadian netminders are having banner years. Hill, who backstopped the Vegas Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup in 2023, must get again to that stage to guide the Canadians to a 4 Nations title. This season, Hill has allowed 1.76 targets above common, per Pure Stat Trick. That ranks 56th within the league, and it will not get the job performed in opposition to the perfect shooters on the planet. Hill is on this checklist as a result of he appears to be the projected starter, however we’ll see how lengthy that leash is. Canada’s total goaltending state of affairs will probably be one thing to control when the puck drops in Montreal.
Victor Hedman (Sweden)
Very similar to the US, Sweden possesses an abundance of expertise in its defensive core. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman will function Sweden’s captain within the event and brings a ton of expertise to the desk. Hedman was an integral a part of the Lightning groups that went to a few consecutive Stanley Cups, together with profitable all of it in 2020 and 2021. The 34-year-old might not be fairly as elite of a defensive possibility as he as soon as was, however Hedman nonetheless brings the defensive acumen essential to shut down a number of the world’s high offensive threats. Hedman is not afraid to get in entrance of the puck, as he is racked up a minimum of 100 blocked pictures in eight of his final 11 skilled seasons.
Jesper Bratt (Sweden)
New Jersey Devils star Jesper Bratt could possibly be the highest playmaker on Sweden’s roster. Bratt is within the midst of a sensational season during which he’s giving teammate Jack Hughes a run for his cash for the workforce factors lead. The Devils winger has been an help machine in the course of the common season, and it is arduous to think about that not persevering with whereas taking part in with proficient Swedish forwards like Filip Forsberg, Adrian Kempe and Elias Pettersson. Bratt has super imaginative and prescient on the ice, which persistently permits him to seek out the open possibility. He could possibly be one of many extra underrated gamers in all the event.
Aleksander Barkov (Finland)
Accidents to Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpaa have weakened the Finnish blue line earlier than the 4 Nations Face-Off even begins, and meaning Aleksander Barkov will probably be leaned on much more closely to close down opponents’ high weapons. Fortunately for Finland, Barkov occurs to be probably the greatest on the planet at doing simply that. The 2-time Selke Trophy winner simply guided the Florida Panthers to their first Stanley Cup along with his elite two-way recreation, and that has continued this season. Barkov’s 58.2% anticipated targets share at five-on-five is absurd, and he is maintained a point-per-game tempo whereas taking part in a accountable defensive recreation. There most likely will not be many gamers who get extra ice time than Barkov in all the event, however he is confirmed he can deal with that workload.
Juuse Saros (Finland)
Coming into the season, Juuse Saros would have been the slam-dunk starter for Finland on this event. Now, he is most likely nonetheless the go-to man, however a poor season with the Nashville Predators has forged some doubt on his capability to guide the Finnish to a title. The often dependable Saros has posted a .901 save proportion and 1.64 targets allowed above common, in accordance with Pure Stat Trick. Can he shake that off? It will be robust when all three of his opponents can ice 4 harmful ahead strains. The constructive aspect of this for Saros and Finland is that he has a historical past of being probably the greatest goalies within the NHL. From 2021-2024, Saros ranked fifth in targets saved above common (58.5) and completed within the high 5 of Vezina Trophy voting for 3 straight years. If Finland will get that model of Saros, it is going to be very robust to beat.
