Canada, USA unveil rosters for 4 Nations Face-Off
Canada and the United States unveiled their rosters Wednesday for the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off.
The tournament runs Feb. 12-20 in Boston and Montreal and replaces the 2025 NHL All-Star Game.
Bolded players were named to the teams in June.
Sweden and Finland revealed their rosters earlier Wednesday. They can be found here.
Canada
Forwards
Canada's forward group projects to be the team's driving force. McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby - the likely captain - have six Hart Trophies between them, and MacKinnon entered Wednesday tied for first among NHL skaters with 39 points this season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the most represented NHL team up front for Canada. Head coach Jon Cooper will be familiar with Point, Hagel, and Cirelli.
Eight of Canada's forwards are Stanley Cup winners.
Defensemen
Makar was the lone defenseman to make Canada's first six, and he'll have teammate Toews by his side at five-on-five. The Colorado Avalanche's top pairing has been one of the league's best duos for years, so it's no surprise the two players are getting the chance to shine together on the international stage.
The Vegas Golden Knights' Pietrangelo and Theodore provide another elite pairing with preexisting chemistry. Both players are Stanley Cup champions and can be deployed in a variety of situations.
Parayko and Sanheim might be surprise choices to some, but Canada doesn't need more offense from the back end with Makar, Theodore, and Morrissey on the roster. Parayko is still a strong shutdown defender, and Sanheim has quietly become one of John Tortorella's most dependable players for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Goaltenders
What Canada lacks in star power between the pipes it makes up for in championship pedigree. Binnington and Hill aren't having the strongest of seasons, but they're both Stanley Cups champions. That ability to shine when the lights are brightest almost certainly played a part in them making the team.
Montembeault is the most unknown of the group. His surface stats are nothing to write home about, but he's performing admirably for a poor Montreal Canadiens team this season with 3.05 goals saved above expected, per Evolving-Hockey.
United States
Forwards
USA filled out the forward corps with an impressive blend of skill and experience. Hughes, Guentzel, and Connor can provide elite offensive instincts, while veterans Trocheck, Miller, and Nelson are dependable two-way players that can be used in all situations. At the 2016 World Cup - the last time we saw a best-on-best hockey tournament - the States were criticized for an overemphasis on grit. The team seems to have learned from its mistake.
It's no surprise Brady Tkachuk was added to the roster after brother Matthew made the initial cut in June. Those two playing on a line together would surely be one of the stories of the tournament.
Defensemen
Fox, Hughes, and McAvoy are all firmly in their primes and will drive the United States from the back end. Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner, and Fox won the award in 2021.
Faber is the youngest of the group at just 22 years old, but his inclusion should come as no surprise. Beyond his mature defensive game, Wild GM Bill Guerin was tasked with picking the team.
Goaltenders
The Americans have been lauded for their goalie depth since this tournament was confirmed, and they picked the expected trio of star netminders. All three are capable of winning games on their own, but Hellebuyck will be the guy for USA. He proved himself as a top goalie over the past two seasons and is in incredible form at the moment.
Oettinger and Swayman haven't been as good as Hellebuyck this season but are playoff-proven and shouldn't have any issue behind such a deep roster. It remains to be seen if Oettinger and Swayman will get ice time over the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, but they're terrific security blankets.