Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon have never teamed up for Canada, and the same goes for Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Matthew Tkachuk for the USA. However, that’s about to change at next year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. This international tournament will also feature Finland and Sweden, with games slated for February in Montreal and Boston. It will serve as a prelude to the 2026 Milan Olympics, marking the return of NHL players since 2014.
“This will be great preparation,” said Crosby, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Canada. “Having the events so close together is beneficial, and with this tournament followed by the Olympics, there’s a lot to look forward to.”
Team USA announced Matthews, Eichel, Tkachuk, and defensemen Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, and Adam Fox. Canada selected Crosby, McDavid, MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brad Marchand, and Brayden Point.
“These six bring tremendous talent and will form a solid core for our team,” said U.S. general manager Bill Guerin.
More players will be named later, as each team can include 23 NHL players, including three goalies.
“I think it’s going to be extremely competitive,” said Matthews. “Players have been eager for best-on-best competition. It’s fantastic for the sport.”
Guerin, who also manages the Minnesota Wild, faces a welcome challenge in selecting a goalie, with options like Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger, Thatcher Demko, and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.
Canada will also have tough choices in goal, especially following Carey Price’s stellar performance in Sochi.
“There will be difficult decisions at every position, and goaltending is always under scrutiny, especially for Canada,” Crosby said. “Replacing Carey is no easy task, but we have talented players who can step up.”
Offense should be a strength for these teams.
“These six players are world-class and leaders on their NHL teams, forming the foundation for a strong international squad,” said Don Sweeney, GM of the Boston Bruins. “We expect them to be key contributors as we aim for victory on the international stage.”
Finland, the reigning Olympic champion from 2022, named Aleksander Barkov, fresh off leading the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup, along with Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Juuse Saros, Miro Heiskanen, and Esa Lindell.
Sweden’s roster includes Mika Zibanejad, William Nylander, Filip Forsberg, and defensemen Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, and Gustav Forsling, who also celebrated a Cup win with Barkov and Tkachuk.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Forsling. “Being part of this tournament is surreal. It’s something I’ve worked hard for over the years, and I’m incredibly proud.”
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