The hockey world is excitedly buzzing as the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament begins on February 12, 2025. This best-on-best competition brings together the top NHL talent from four hockey powerhouses: the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. With star-studded rosters and national pride on the line, the tournament promises to deliver thrilling action for fans around the globe.
The tournament will be held in two iconic NHL arenas. The first four games will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal, home of the Montreal Canadiens. The final two round-robin games and the championship match will be played at TD Garden in Boston, home of the Boston Bruins.
The format is straightforward: each team will play three round-robin games, earning points based on performance. Teams receive three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero points for a regulation loss. The two teams with the most points after the round-robin stage will advance to the championship game on February 20.
Let’s examine each team’s roster, coaching staff, and betting odds as they prepare to compete in this exciting new tournament.
Canada
Canada enters the tournament as the betting favorite, with crazy time game odds of +140 to win it all. The team is led by head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, assisted by Bruce Cassidy, Peter DeBoer, Rick Tocchet, and Misha Donskov. Canada’s roster is a who’s who of NHL superstars, featuring:
Forwards: Sidney Crosby (C), Connor McDavid (A), Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, Mark Stone, Sam Reinhart, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny, and Seth Jarvis.
Defensemen: Cale Makar (A), Devon Toews, Shea Theodore, Josh Morrissey, Colton Parayko, Travis Sanheim, and Drew Doughty.
Goaltenders: Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault.
Canada’s lineup is arguably the most formidable in the tournament, with a potent mix of veteran leadership and young talent. The combination of Crosby, McDavid, and MacKinnon on the same team is a dream come true for hockey fans and a nightmare for opponents.
United States
The United States is a close second favorite, with odds of +150 to win the tournament. Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the head coach, and David Quinn, John Hynes, and Jeff Blashill are his assistants. Team USA’s roster includes:
Forwards: Auston Matthews (C), Matthew Tkachuk (A), Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Chris Kreider, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Brady Tkachuk, Vincent Trocheck, and Matt Boldy.
Defensemen: Charlie McAvoy (A), Adam Fox, Zach Werenski, Jaccob Slavin, Noah Hanifin, Jake Sanderson, and Brock Faber.
Goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman.
The Americans boast a dynamic offense led by Matthews and the Tkachuk brothers, with a solid defensive core anchored by McAvoy and Fox. Their goaltending trio is arguably the strongest in the tournament, with the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Hellebuyck, giving them a significant advantage in close games.
Sweden
Sweden enters the tournament as the third favorite with odds of +425. Sam Hallam coaches the team, with Stefan Klockare, Nicklas Rahm, and Daniel Alfredsson as assistant coaches. Sweden’s roster consists of:
Forwards: Filip Forsberg, William Nylander, Mika Zibanejad, Elias Pettersson, Adrian Kempe, Elias Lindholm, Joel Eriksson Ek, Lucas Raymond, Viktor Arvidsson, Jesper Bratt, Gustav Nyquist, Rickard Rakell, and Leo Carlsson.
Defensemen: Victor Hedman (C), Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Ekholm, Rasmus Andersson, Jonas Brodin, and Gustav Forsling.
Goaltenders: Linus Ullmark, Filip Gustavsson, and Samuel Ersson.
Sweden’s strength lies in its balanced attack and formidable defensive corps. With Hedman and Karlsson leading the blue line and a mix of established stars and emerging talents up front, the Swedes have the potential to surprise their higher-ranked opponents.
Finland
Finland rounds out the tournament field with odds of +1000, making them the underdogs. The team is led by head coach Antti Pennanen, with Mikko Manner, Ville Peltonen, and Kalle Kaskinen as assistant coaches. Finland’s roster includes:
Forwards: Aleksander Barkov (C), Sebastian Aho (A), Mikko Rantanen (A), Patrik Laine, Roope Hintz, Kaapo Kakko, Teuvo Teravainen, Artturi Lehkonen, Joel Armia, Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, Erik Haula, and Mikael Granlund.
Defensemen: Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Rasmus Ristolainen, Henri Jokiharju, Olli Maatta, Urho Vaakanainen, and Niko Mikkola.
Goaltenders: Juuse Saros, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Kevin Lankinen.
While Finland may lack the star power of the other teams, it has a history of punching above its weight in international competitions. Its roster features a solid mix of two-way forwards and reliable defensemen, with Saros providing stability in the net.
Global Appeal
As the tournament approaches, hockey fans worldwide eagerly anticipate the clash of these hockey titans. The 4 Nations Face-Off represents a unique opportunity to see some of the best players compete for national pride outside the Olympics or World Cup of Hockey. The round-robin format ensures that each team will face every other team once, providing an actual test of skill and strategy. With only the top two teams advancing to the final, every game will be crucial, and the margin for error will be slim.
While Canada and the United States are the favorites, Sweden and Finland have the talent and experience to pull off upsets. The compact nature of the tournament means that a hot goaltender or a timely scoring streak could be the difference between playing for gold and watching from the sidelines.
As the puck drops on February 12, hockey fans will be treated to a showcase of the sport’s elite talent. Whether it’s the high-flying offense of Canada, the United States goaltending prowess, Sweden’s defensive acumen, or the team-first mentality of Finland, the 4 Nations Face-Off promises to deliver unforgettable moments and world-class hockey action.