Starting February 12, the NHL’s best will hit the ice to represent their countries in the highly anticipated “4 Nations Face-Off.” As the name suggests, the four nations Canada, US, Sweden, and Finland will compete in the inaugural tournament.
Due to the pandemic and insurance issues between the NHL, NHLPA, and the International Ice Hockey Federation, NHL players have not had the opportunity to play internationally for their countries since the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships.
The tournament will replace the 2025 All-Star Game, as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced last season in June. The NHL is calling this unique and highly anticipated event the “best on best,” as the top NHL players will represent their teams.
The tournament will be played in both Montréal and Boston. The first four games will be played at the Bell Centre in Montréal, while the final three knockout rounds, including the final, will be held at TD Garden in Boston.
Tournament rules
The “4 Nations Face-Off” games will be played under NHL rules, with each team playing three group-stage games against each other in a round-robin tournament before the top two teams face each other in a do-or-die final.
The point system includes: three points for a regulation win; two points for a win in overtime or shootout; one point for a loss in overtime or shootout; and zero points for a regulation loss. The two teams with the best tournament records will advance to a one-game final.
Overtime rules for the round-robin will be three-on-three sudden death for 10 minutes, followed by a three-round shootout if needed. For the final, overtime will consist of a five-on-five sudden death in 20-minute periods until a goal is scored.
The future
The “4 Nations Face-Off” will be a history-making event, as it marks the first time since the 2018 IIHF World Championships that NHL players will represent their national teams. The 2014 Sochi Olympic was the last event in which all NHL eligible players participated in best-on-best hockey.
With many up-and-coming players from around the world, this tournament is a step in the right direction for increasing international participation in such events.
Bettman’s announcement of the “4 Nations Face-Off” was followed by the confirmation that NHL players will also be allowed to participate in the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics. The last time NHL players competed in the Olympics was at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
This is massive development for the future of NHL players, as it gives them the opportunity to represent their countries. For Olympics hockey, it means that the best players will be able to compete against each other, making for a thrilling Winter Olympics. NHL players will face some of the world’s top talent from other leagues, including the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, Swedish League, Finnish Elite League, and many more.
Tournament predictions
The “4 Nations Face-Off” will showcase the NHL’s best players going head-to-head. As the final rosters were revealed on December 4, 2024, fans now know which players from each country will compete for the title of best nation.
Finland and Sweden boast impressive rosters, featuring the likes of forwards Mikko Rantanen, Patrik Laine, William Nylander, and Mika Zibanejed. However, they may struggle to match the strength of Canada and the US.
The tournament will likely come down to a showdown between two of the biggest rivals in international hockey history: Canada and the US. The US holds the edge when it comes to goaltending, with last year’s Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, along with Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger playing for Team USA — a formidable trio.
The defensive matchup is closer than expected, with Canada’s Cale Makar going up against last year’s Norris Trophy winner, Quinn Hughes of the US, promising an elite battle on the blue line.
As for the forward groups, the potential of having Connor McDavid, Nathan Mackinnon, and captain Sidney Crosby on the same line presents a daunting challenge for any opponent. In what could be his final international tournament, expect a standout performance from ‘Sid the Kid’ as he looks to lead Team Canada as captain to victory in the “4 Nations Face-Off.”
The Varsity predicts Team Canada to be crowned champion and Crosby as the most valuable player.
