The final rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off international tournament were unveiled on Wednesday as the NHL prepares for its first best-on-best tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden announced their initial six players in June and there has been plenty of speculation since about who would make the final cut. The rest of the 23-player teams (20 skaters, three goaltenders) were announced in two phases.
First up were Sweden and Finland, followed by the USA and Canada.
All of the players named had to have been on NHL rosters as of Monday. Here is who has been named to the February tournament (listed alphabetically):
Initial six players
F Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden KnightsF Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple LeafsF Matthew Tkachuk, Florida PanthersD Adam Fox, New York RangersD Quinn Hughes, Vancouver CanucksD Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
Rest of the roster
F Matt Boldy, Minnesota WildF Kyle Connor, Winnipeg JetsF Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay LightningF Jack Hughes, New Jersey DevilsF Chris Kreider, New York RangersF Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red WingsF J.T. Miller, Vancouver CanucksF Brock Nelson, New York IslandersF Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa SenatorsF Vincent Trocheck, New York RangersD Brock Faber, Minnesota WildD Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden KnightsD Jaccob Slavin, Carolina HurricanesD Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue JacketsG Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg JetsG Jake Oettinger, Dallas StarsG Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Analysis
Goaltending is a strength with two-time Vezina Trophy winner Hellebuyck, Oettinger reaching the Western Conference final for two consecutive years and Swayman having a .933 save percentage in the 2024 playoffs. They’ll be playing behind a strong defense that features former Norris Trophy winners Quinn Hughes and Fox and a good mix of two-way players.
The forward group is strong, too. Matthews had 69 goals last season, Eichel is fourth in the NHL in points this season and Jack Hughes is 10th. Connor is a six-time 30-goal scorer on pace for 40 this season. In addition to the Hughes brothers, the Tkachuk brothers also are on the team. Guentzel complements stars well. Though the Rangers are struggling recently, Trocheck and power-play specialist Kreider made the team. So did Miller, who’s taking a personal leave of absence from the Canucks.
Canada 4 Nations Face-Off roster
Initial six players
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh PenguinsF Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado AvalancheF Brad Marchand, Boston BruinsF Connor McDavid, Edmonton OilersF Brayden Point, Tampa Bay LightningD Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Rest of the roster
F Sam Bennett, Florida PanthersF Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay LightningF Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay LightningF Seth Jarvis, Carolina HurricanesF Travis Konecny, Philadelphia FlyersF Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple LeafsF Sam Reinhart, Florida PanthersF Mark Stone, Vegas Golden KnightsD Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg JetsD Colton Parayko, St. Louis BluesD Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden KnightsD Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia FlyersD Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden KnightsD Devon Toews, Colorado AvalancheG Jordan Binnington, St. Louis BluesG Adin Hill, Vegas Golden KnightsG Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
Analysis
Canada will be a favorite, especially with tons of offense (McDavid, MacKinnon, Reinhart, Makar, Crosby, etc.), depth down the middle and snarly players (Marchand, Bennett). The defense is mobile and Parayko is 6-6. Plenty of familiarity: Makar and Toews are Avalanche defensive partners and Cirelli and Hagel are Lightning linemates. Point, Cirelli and Hagel play on the Tampa Bay power play. The goaltending might be considered a weakness, but Binnington and Hill have won Stanley Cup titles.
Finland 4 Nations Face-Off roster
Initial six players
F Sebastian Aho, Carolina HurricanesF Aleksander Barkov, Florida PanthersF Mikko Rantanen, Colorado AvalancheD Miro Heiskanen, Dallas StarsD Esa Lindell, StarsG Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Rest of the roster
F Joel Armia, Montreal CanadiensF Mikael Granlund, San Jose SharksF Erik Haula, New Jersey DevilsF Roope Hintz, Dallas StarsF Kaapo Kakko, New York RangersF Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado AvalancheF Anton Lundell, Florida PanthersF Patrik Laine, Montreal CanadiensF Eetu Luostarinen, Florida PanthersF Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago BlackhawksD Jani Hakanpaa, Toronto Maple LeafsD Niko Mikkola, Florida PanthersD Olli Maatta, Utah Hockey ClubD Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia FlyersD Juuso Valimaki, Utah Hockey ClubG Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver CanucksG Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Analysis
It’s a strong, two-way team, led by Panthers captain Barkov, who has won the Selke Trophy twice as the NHL’s top defensive forward. There’s plenty of offense with Rantanen, Aho, Hintz, Granlund, Teravainen and Laine. The defense, outside of Heiskanen, lacks the big names from other countries but will be solid enough. Saros is probably the No. 1 goalie based on reputation, but Lankinen and Luukkonen have nearly similar statistics. Lankinen has been impressive filling in for an injured Thatcher Demko in Vancouver.
There is also built-in chemistry because the Panthers bring in four players and the Stars have three. Rantanen and Lehkonen are linemates in Colorado.
Sweden 4 Nations Face-Off roster
Initial six players
F Filip Forsberg, Nashville PredatorsF William Nylander, Toronto Maple LeafsF Mika Zibanejad, New York RangersD Gustav Forsling, Florida PanthersD Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay LightningD Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rest of the roster
F Viktor Arvidsson, Edmonton OilersF Jesper Bratt, New Jersey DevilsF Leo Carlsson, Anaheim DucksF Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota WildF William Karlsson, Vegas Golden KnightsF Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles KingsF Elias Lindholm, Boston BruinsF Gustav Nyquist, Nashville PredatorsF Elias Pettersson, Vancouver CanucksF Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red WingsD Rasmus Andersson, Calgary FlamesD Jonas Brodin, Minnesota WildD Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo SabresD Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton OilersG Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota WildG Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey DevilsG Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
Analysis
Plenty of speed and scoring possibilities, with Bratt and Raymond among the NHL’s hottest players at the moment and Pettersson’s play picking up. Nylander has 15 goals and Kempe is a pure scorer. Eriksson Ek is used against other teams’ top centers and William Karlsson is a strong penalty killer. Originally named forwards Forsberg and Zibanejad are having down seasons, though they could change that in a short tournament.
The defense is dynamic, led by Hedman and Dahlin. Ekholm is steady on the blue line, though Erik Karlsson has struggled this season.
You can’t go wrong in net. Gustavsson is the best of the group this season, and he and Markstrom are tied with 12 wins. Ullmark’s numbers are down since being traded to Ottawa, but he’s a former Vezina Trophy winner.
4 Nations Face-Off schedule
(Times p.m. ET)
Wednesday, Feb. 12: Canada vs. Sweden at Montreal, 8, TNTThursday, Feb. 13: USA vs. Finland at Montreal, 8, ESPNSaturday, Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden at Montreal, 1, ABCSaturday, Feb. 15: USA vs. Canada at Montreal, 8, ABCMonday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland at Boston, 1, TNTMonday, Feb. 17: Sweden vs. USA at Boston, 8, TNTThursday, Feb. 20: Championship game at Boston, 8, ESPN