Approach-too-early projections for the NHL's 4 Nations Faceoff rosters

After hockey followers went a few years with out best-on-best worldwide competitors, the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-off will see the most effective gamers from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the US compete in Montreal and Boston from Feb. 12-20.

Every nation has named six players to its roster, with the remainder to be named nearer to the event. All 4 groups have a plethora of expertise, so for the primary time in almost a decade, followers will get to see the most effective gamers on the earth compete towards one another on the worldwide stage.

Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid skating for Canada. Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and the Tkachuk brothers for Staff USA. The stacked blue line for Sweden, and two-way heart depth for Finland.

Earlier than the NHL season will get rolling, right here is our projection of what every of the 4 rosters will seem like:

United States

The national team development program has carried out a incredible job of growing American superstars. The reigning Rocket Richard, Norris and Vezina Trophy winners and the most effective goaltending depth within the event is an effective begin. The People are nicely arrange at each place to have success, whereas the opposite three groups have weaknesses in a single place.

It actually does not matter which facilities play the wing, however Matthews, Eichel and Dylan Larkin take advantage of sense to be everlasting fixtures within the center for the all-around sport. The posh of a 40-goal man (Brock Boeser) as a spare — ought to any of the American forwards falter — is kind of one thing. The forwards are more likely to come all the way down to who’s in the most effective type with regards to determination time, because the U.S. might take any of Clayton Keller, Cole Caufield or Vincent Trocheck. The hole between these on the group and those that simply missed is razor skinny, and it’s straightforward to see a situation the place any variety of these gamers make the group because of efficiency or harm.

The defensemen have been comparatively straightforward to pick, with the Norris Trophy winners anticipated to the lead the ability play. Charlie McAvoy and Jaccob Slavin carry confirmed shutdown skill, which will likely be key on this event. Brock Faber was sensible in his rookie season and may make the group if that efficiency continues into his sophomore 12 months. Zach Werenski might or is probably not wholesome, probably opening the door for Noah Hanifin or John Carlson to get within the lineup.

The hardest determination was in purpose, the place the People are loaded. To place it in perspective, one among Jake Oettinger, Thatcher Demko or Jeremy Swayman will likely be left off the group. Any a type of goaltenders can be higher than any present Canadian choice — the depth is large. Demko is there now, however thriller surrounding his harm may even see him lose his spot to Oettinger or Swayman if he does not get wholesome and carry out nicely. No matter which three the People select, all three are able to stealing video games, together with reigning Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck.

Canada

Canada is loaded up entrance with the three generational gamers in Crosby, McDavid and Connor Bedard. Bedard will not be a lock within the eyes of Hockey Canada, however he must be on the group if he will get off to a robust begin.

The hardest selection up entrance was Nick Suzuki over Mark Stone, with Steven Stamkos as the additional. Stone’s accidents are an element, and he’ll get vital consideration if wholesome. Suzuki brings a priceless two-way sport, can play a number of roles and may match properly in Canada’s backside six. Stamkos is the spare, however nobody must be shocked if he takes a spot within the backside six to spice up the ability play. Different gamers who probably will likely be thought-about up entrance are Travis Konecny and Wyatt Johnston.

Issues get sophisticated on the blue line, with Canada having fairly a couple of elite defensemen on the correct facet. Cale Makar and Devon Toews make sense as a pure high pairing. Noah Dobson had a incredible 2023-24 season, is healthier defensively and has flown beneath the radar. Shea Theodore and Josh Morrissey make sense on the left facet, with Owen Power and Morgan Rielly more likely to get consideration.

Evan Bouchard is essentially the most attention-grabbing debate, given his ascension to stardom final season. Having 4 members of the electrical Oilers energy play should be engaging, however Makar is more likely to run the highest unit. If Canada does not see Bouchard operating an influence play, they could look to the likes of Alex Pietrangelo or Aaron Ekblad for his or her defensive sport, with Bouchard because the spare. Shaping the protection will definitely be the hardest for Canada’s mind belief, given the plethora of expertise obtainable.

The goaltending is … not nice. Whereas Canada has an overabundance of expertise within the skater class, they lack in goaltending. Jordan Binnington, Stuart Skinner and Adin Hill have demonstrated they’re able to profitable high-pressure video games. Nonetheless, all three have had moments or lengthy stretches of video games the place they can’t be trusted. Canada can in poor health afford to decide on pedigree over which goaltender is taking part in the most effective given who they may face on this occasion. If Tristan Jarry and Joel Hofer play nicely to start out the season, Canada can have no selection however to contemplate them right here, as having a goalie in type is important.

Sweden

Sweden has some attention-grabbing choices to make throughout their lineup. Elias Pettersson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Mikael Backlund characterize sturdy two-way play with scoring prowess. If Gabriel Landeskog returns with out setback, it’s straightforward to see how Sweden would take into account bringing him to the event. Rickard Rakell will get consideration if he performs nicely to start out the season, and will take a spot from Gustav Nyquist, Lucas Raymond or Leo Carlsson.

Sweden has the choice to go younger or give veterans one final kick at worldwide competitors; a mixture of each is probably going the most effective route.

About that blue line: Victor Hedman, Gustav Forsling, Erik Karlsson and Rasmus Dahlin is a few form of high 4. The Swedish defensemen are a who’s who of Norris Trophy conversations over the previous decade. Behind that group, Mattias Ekholm has been persistently regular, and Hampus Lindholm performs a key shutdown position on a terrific group. Their inclusion frees up Karlsson and Dahlin from penalty killing, and may enable them to thrive offensively. Jonas Brodin will likely be within the combine too, with Rasmus Andersson and Adam Larsson more likely to get consideration for bottom-pair roles. Sweden’s depth on the blue line will likely be a serious power.

If Jacob Markstrom performs the best way he is able to in New Jersey, he’s more likely to again up Linus Ullmark. Each goalies have been within the Vezina dialog in current seasons, with Ullmark taking part in extra persistently over the previous few seasons. Lucas Wallstedt goes in favor of Sam Ersson, provided that Sweden views him as a key piece of their worldwide panorama sooner or later. If Ersson vastly outplays Wallstedt within the early season, he might get the nod, however it’s unlikely both sees motion within the event if Ullmark and Markstrom are wholesome.

Finland

Finland’s power is up entrance, the place its heart depth consists of Aleksander Barkov, Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz and Anton Lundell. Different nations have extra scoring depth, however Finland has three facilities who’re elite two-way gamers, whereas Lundell is growing right into a two-way stud.

Outdoors of Mikko Rantanen, Finland lacks elite scoring expertise on the wings. If Patrik Laine can discover his type in Montreal, he is more likely to play increased within the lineup and rating. Eeli Tolvanen and Joel Armia are on the bubble up entrance, if gamers like Laine or Mattias Maccelli do not have good begins to the season. Count on Finland to play a good checking sport and depend on their elite two-way gamers to win low-scoring video games. It is a nation that has had vital success in current worldwide tournaments, in order that they should not be missed regardless of that relative lack of pop.

On the blue line, Finland is led by Miro Heiskanen — the one true star on the again finish. He’ll log main minutes, play in all conditions and quarterback the ability play. Olli Maatta and Juuso Valimaki might commerce locations relying on their efficiency. Count on Esa Lindell, Rasmus Ristolainen and Niko Mikkola to be key penalty killers and produce a bodily component to the defensive zone.

Juuse Saros will likely be an enormous a part of Finland’s skill to contend on this event, and is a shoo-in to be the starter. Saros will probably be backed up by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Kaapo Kahkonen, however is more likely to stay Finland’s starter for the whole event.