A Closer Look at the 4 Nations Face-Off: Can Anyone Beat Canada?
By Brendan Erick on December 12, 2024
Last Wednesday December 4th, the NHL and NHLPA officially announced the final rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland are the four nations that will be competing come February 12th. Each country has an appointed board who hand picked their 23-man rosters.
I will be ranking each forward, defence and goalie group each country will be bringing one through four.
Forwards – 1st
McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby. Are you kidding me. I’m so fired up to FINALLY see these guys play on the same best on best team. We’re a couple of years late to see this at its peak but beggars can’t be choosers. The depth Canada has surrounding the big three is why hockey is Canada’s game. A perfect mix of every style makes you salivate at the ingredients.
Defensemen – 2nd
Canada is banking on familiarity and so am I with my ranking. It’s a savvy move bringing established pairs to a tournament that only guarantees you three games. The skill is here but to drive home my point, chemistry is the main draw. A third pair of Josh “Norrissey” and Parayko a D-zone nightmare or Sanheim the ultimate utility tool, is also a good bet. Much like the forward group, the D core offers a mix of all styles for all situations.
Goalies – 4th
Two of the three on the roster have Stanley Cup pedigree and in a short tournament that experience could come in very handy. With the roster in front of whoever gets the crease, I won’t be surprised if the ranking looks silly. But to this point in the season, they are the weakest goalie unit coming to the tournament.
Forwards – 2nd
Whatever they are putting in the water at that development program is working, this group rivals Canada’s tightly. Some young talent was snubbed which left some people scratching their heads but minus the Tkachuk brothers they wouldn’t have had much grit otherwise. They won’t have an issue scoring goals so the decision to bring some veteran pests makes sense to me.
Defensemen – 1st
Top to bottom this group runs away with the first ranking. Hanifin as the projected seventh D is silly. Skill jumps out, skating, puck movement, IQ, you name it. Their third pair will be on par with the first pair of any other nation. The only thing missing is the chemistry Canada has but most of the time players this skilled find a way. No reason to believe this won’t be the strength of the team.
Goalies – 1st
Any of the three selected to this team I’d be confident in. I see this as Hellebuyck’s net to lose and if he does, the back up plan is still a top tier option. Easy pick to have them one here with the reigning Vezina winner.
Forwards – 3rd
I love the group, but it feels second tier to the North American nations. This will be a fun unit to watch regardless. A ton of skill rounded out with some very responsible, respected professionals. They lack the star power though. No one stands out to me as a real game breaker. This team mentality will work to their advantage, a meatball is a lot more solid than spaghetti; to use a reference I heard at ranch camp in grade five.
Defensemen – 3rd
Sweden finds themselves in a changing of the guard. This being said there is still juice to squeeze. This group isn’t as deep as the North American nations again but by no means are they an easy out. They’ll play a hard game that is not fun to matchup against especially in their own zone. They aren’t a distant three, I just don’t see enough to vault them over Canada.
Goalies – 2nd
On the surface you’d think it’s the guy a season and a half removed from a Vezina. But after Gustavsson’s campaign I think you have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sweden has an embarrassment of riches in net which is a remarkable problem to have. 1B by a slim margin.
Forwards – 4th
Finland always has a way of making some noise at international competitions. This could be the team mentality, maybe they love the underdog feeling as a country. But the noise is not because of skill compared to other teams. The group is made up of talented NHL players and I’m not trying to take anything away from them but compared to the other three nations, it’s an easy four.
Defensemen – 4th
I feel like I’m ripping on Finland, I promise I’m trying not to but minus Heiskanen I don’t think the rest of the group would make any of the other rosters. Some very good pros on the blue line but compared to the other three nations, again another easy four.
Goalies – 3rd
Juuse Saros. That’s it. I don’t believe that their depth is as strong as any other country, but Saros is a guy who can steal any given game. They will win and lose with Saros, for better or worse.
Each nation will play each other once in a three-point format. Three for a regulation win, two for an overtime/shootout win and one for an overtime/shootout loss.
The two nations with the most points after the round-robin will play for all the marbles.
If you happen to be in Montreal or Boston mid February with some dollars to burn you won’t regret the action this tournament offers.
As far as who will win this… how do I tell you anyone but Canada!
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