4 Nations hindsight picks: Roster do-overs for Canada, USA

The 4 Nations Face-Off rosters were always going to include some eyebrow-raising choices when they were announced more than two months ago. But what if teams were instead able to select their squads in the week leading up to the tournament? How different would the rosters look?

Sweden and Finland would mostly look the same. They have smaller player pools to choose from. But both nations already made several injury-related changes, and Sweden, notably, was able to rectify its most egregious snub by adding Rickard Rakell to the roster.

Canada and the United States, meanwhile, surely want some do-overs - even if general managers Don Sweeney and Bill Guerin never admit it. We examine those below.

Hyman, Scheifele, or Wilson over Bennett 🇨🇦

Sam Bennett was a surprise pick. He's never hit the 50-point mark in his career and isn't a defensive whiz, either. Bennett was chosen for his tenacity, competitiveness, and physicality. He elevated his game in each of the last two playoff runs and got off to a great start in the 2024-25 season. However, since being named to the team Dec. 4, Bennett has been ice cold with just five goals and six assists in 30 games. It's clear there are at least three players who are more deserving.

Enter Zach Hyman, who, in the offseason, was seemingly a lock to flank Connor McDavid on Canada's top line due to their chemistry with the Edmonton Oilers. But even after scoring a combined 70 goals in the 2023-24 regular season and playoffs, Hyman was left off the team after a slow start to the new season. He's picked it up, though, with 16 goals in 30 games since the roster announcement. Hyman doesn't play with the same physical edge as Bennett, but he's a grinder who fits on any line thanks to his forechecking and puck-hounding ability.

Mark Scheifele, meanwhile, was always going to be an awkward fit for a bottom-six role on Canada since he doesn't play with a ton of pace and isn't strong defensively. But 31 goals - tied for the most among all Canadian skaters - and 32 assists in 56 games is tough to ignore.

If Canada's brass insisted on a tone-setter for the bottom six, Tom Wilson would've been a better pick than Bennett. Wilson has scored four more goals, is three inches taller and 27 pounds heavier, better defensively, and a more feared forechecker.

Thompson over Montembeault 🇨🇦

This is a pick that doesn't require hindsight. Logan Thompson was outplaying Sam Montembeault at the time the roster was announced and boasts a longer track record of success.

Now months removed from the decision, the pick looks even worse.

Montembeault isn't even the best goalie on the Montreal Canadiens following the emergence of Jakub Dobes, and he's posted a mediocre .896 save percentage in 41 games this season. He has, however, stopped an impressive 11.33 goals above expected.

Thompson, meanwhile, would likely be the favorite to start for Canada had he been named to the team. He's the nation's best goalie by far this season with a 24-2-4 record, .923 save percentage, and 26.7 goals saved above expected.

Keller, Robertson, or Thompson over Kreider 🇺🇸

What Team USA likely thought was just a slow start for Chris Kreider may have ultimately been the beginning of his decline. The power forward has tallied only four assists this season, and his underlying numbers are dreadful. He'll provide veteran leadership for the United States, but there are three players who are far more deserving of the roster spot.

Clayton Keller is an undersized playmaker with a completely different style of game, but he's been excellent this season with 59 points in 54 games as Utah's captain. His 5-foot-10, 178-pound frame likely played a part in keeping him off Team USA.

The same can't be said for the 6-foot-3, 202-pound Jason Robertson. Offseason foot surgery contributed to his slow start to the year, but he's rebounding nicely with 37 points in 31 games since the roster announcement.

Tage Thompson was arguably the most egregious omission. The towering Buffalo Sabres forward has tallied 26 goals and 22 assists in 48 games this season.

Omitting this type of game-breaking offensive talent has backfired for USA in past best-on-best competitions, most notably during the nation's winless showing at the 2016 World Cup. Remember Justin Abdelkader over Phil Kessel? The United States is far deeper this time around, but Kreider looks like a wasted pick.

Sanderson over Hanifin 🇺🇸

Guerin opted to go with 28-year-old Noah Hanifin for the No. 7 defenseman job, but 22-year-old Jake Sanderson is proving to be poised beyond his years. Experience appears to be the only thing Hanifin has a leg up on.

Sanderson has been better in virtually ever facet of the game. He boasts 35 points and 5.3 defensive goals above replacement, while Hanifin has 23 points and minus-3.3 defensive goals above replacement. Sanderson has also put up those numbers while tackling top-line assignments - Hanifin logs second-pair minutes - and, more importantly, is the better defender.

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)