In February, the hockey world will witness the first best-on-best international tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The event, named the 4 Nations Face-Off, will be hosted in Montreal and Boston, featuring teams from Canada, the U.S., Finland, and Sweden. Today, these nations announced the first six players for their respective teams, and two Toronto Maple Leafs stars are among them.
No Surprise: Matthews and Nylander Among the First Batch
Toronto Maple Leafs stars Auston Matthews and William Nylander have been selected for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Matthews will represent Team USA, chosen by Bill Guerin, while Nylander will play for Sweden under Anders Lundberg. Although both players have represented their nations at the World Championships, this will be their first best-on-best tournament. Matthews had a taste of this experience when he played for Team North America in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, alongside stars like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Brayden Point.
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Incredible Seasons Lead to Selection
Matthews and Nylander are coming off remarkable seasons, making them obvious choices for the tournament. Matthews won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal-scorer with 69 goals. Nylander had a career year, finishing just two points shy of the century mark. Team USA and Team Sweden will be loaded with talent, but this Leafs duo will undoubtedly be key players for their respective teams at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Marner Yet to Be Selected
One notable absence from the initial selections is Mitch Marner. Although he didn’t have as standout a season as Matthews and Nylander, Marner remains a crucial part of Toronto’s formidable trio. It will be interesting to see if Doug Armstrong selects him for Team Canada later in the year.
Stay tuned as more players are announced and the excitement builds for the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament!
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