NHL Stars and Surprises Highlight 4 Nations Face-Off Rosters
The hockey world is buzzing as the full rosters for the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off were unveiled on Wednesday. Teams USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland are set to bring a mix of NHL star power and unexpected inclusions to the ice, making this tournament a must-watch for fans everywhere.
Team USA: A Blend of Youth and Experience
Team USA’s roster is stacked with talent, headlined by big names like Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy, and reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes. Joining them is a stellar goaltending trio led by Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. The defense will also feature Zach Werenski, currently third in points among NHL defensemen, and Brock Faber, a 2024 Calder Trophy finalist. Up front, forwards Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor, and Matt Boldy will add firepower.
Veteran leadership will come from Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson, while family ties will be on full display with brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, as well as Quinn and Jack Hughes, suiting up together.
However, one notable omission is Anthony Stolarz, who has been stellar for Toronto this season with an 8-4-2 record, a .924 save percentage, and a 2.23 goals-against average. Instead, the U.S. opted for Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman, whose numbers (7-9-2, .892 SV%, 3.09 GAA) have raised some eyebrows.
Canada: A Powerhouse with Surprises
Canada’s roster is as star-studded as it gets, with Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby leading the charge. Joining them are Sam Reinhart, currently seventh in NHL points, and Mitch Marner, who sits 11th. Unexpected additions include Sam Bennett and 22-year-old Seth Jarvis, who bring physicality and center depth, respectively.
On defense, Cale Makar and Devon Toews will anchor the blue line, supported by Travis Sanheim and Colton Parayko. Four Vegas Golden Knights players, including Shea Theodore and Adin Hill, also made the cut.
Surprisingly, Logan Thompson, who boasts a 10-1-2 record, .913 SV%, and 2.52 GAA, was left off the roster in favor of Sam Montembeault (7-10-2, .901 SV%, 2.99 GAA).
Sweden and Finland: Skill and Defense
Sweden’s roster is built for speed and skill, with forwards like Lucas Raymond, Leo Carlsson, and Elias Pettersson joining veterans William Nylander and Mika Zibanejad. On defense, Victor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin will lead the charge.
Finland, meanwhile, boasts a shutdown defense featuring Miro Heiskanen and Rasmus Ristolainen. Up front, Mikko Rantanen, fifth in NHL scoring, will team up with Aleksander Barkov and Sebastian Aho.
Tournament Details and Betting Odds
The tournament will run from February 12-20, with games held at Boston’s TD Garden and Montreal’s Bell Centre. The round-robin format will see each team play three games, with the top two advancing to a winner-take-all final. Teams earn three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime or shootout win, one for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero for a regulation loss.
Canada enters as the +135 betting favorite, followed by the U.S. at +190, Sweden at +450, and Finland at +700. Interestingly, 66% of bets and 57% of the handle have been placed on the Americans to win it all.
It’s been a long time since the NHL participated in a best-on-best tournament, with the last being the 2016 World Cup. Back then, Canada was the +200 favorite and eventual winner, while Sweden, the U.S., and Finland had longer odds.
Originally Written by: Doug Greenberg
