With the vast majority of Nationwide Hockey League gamers getting ready to get pleasure from a mid-season break, 92 of them will as an alternative be heading to Montreal & Boston to participate within the NHL & NHLPA’s 4 Nations Face-Off event. Groups representing 4 of the world’s hockey-craziest nations, the 7 sport schedule will permit the highest gamers from Canada, Finland, Sweden, & the United States to point out off their expertise.
As somebody who was sufficiently old to get to benefit from the NHL’s greatest gamers competing in varied tournaments (Olympics, Canada Cup’s, and many others) within the 1980’s, I’m glad that there are indicators that present followers will get that likelihood too. I’ve recollections like Wayne Gretzky organising Mario Lemieux to win the 1987 Canada Cup over the Russians, or a bunch of primarily unknown Individuals surprising the world to win the 1980 Olympic gold medal, or Dominik Hasek main the Czech’s to the identical title in 1998. The youthful generations should have the possibility to fill their very own “hockey reminiscence banks” with equally thrilling performances. Now if the Complete World would simply quiet down a bit & calm down, the children may get an opportunity with this mini-tournament and the upcoming Olympics.
When the puck drops on Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets may have three representatives on two of the 4 competing international locations’ rosters. Defenseman Josh Morrissey is the only real Canadian consultant, whereas goaltender Connor Hellebuyck & sniper Kyle Connor will probably be pulling on the purple, white, & blue. I do know that we now have Canadian & American Jets’ followers right here at Arctic Ice Hockey, so loyalties may be divided between not less than a few groups. I do know I will probably be cheering for my house nation, however I can say that a part of me will probably be hoping Bucky & KFC do exactly as properly on Crew USA.
In case you occur to simply be a fan of all 7 Canadian NHL franchises, chances are you’ll be stunned to seek out out who you’ll be cheering for on the 4 Nations. Crew Canada will even have the least quantity of consultant from the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, & Montreal Canadiens, with solely 4 gamers. The Scandinavian international locations of Finland & Sweden every have 5 gamers from Canadian squads, whereas the Individuals have essentially the most with 6 (33% of them from the Jets).
Here’s a full record of the gamers on every of the 4 competing Nations’ rosters:
CANADA
Forwards (13)
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes
Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Brayden Level, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Defensemen (7)
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings*
Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
Goalies (3)
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
*Added as an damage alternative for Alex Pietrangelo (Vegas Golden Knights).
The Canadian administration workforce has undoubtedly determined measurement & grit have been key elements after they have been filling out their ahead corps, leading to Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (63 pts in 56 gms) being one of many last “cuts“. Whereas #55’s efficiency this season actually warrants a purple & white Maple Leaf jersey, I’m glad that he’ll get to relaxation up for the ultimate push as an alternative.
That being mentioned, I like what Crew Canada is bringing with a mixture of expertise & 2-way play…..nonetheless, like everybody else, I do know the largest query mark is within the crease. Unsure why the bigwigs by no means introduced the Washington Capital’s Logan Thompson on board after his terrific season (2.23 GAA/.921%). Perhaps they didn’t know which goalie to take away? However that appears clear to me….Jordan Binnington has a Cup, Adin Hill has a Cup, and Sam Montembeault has…..nada. Sorry Habs followers.
Early follow pairings recommend that the Peg’s Josh Morrissey will probably be on the 2nd set with the Blues’ Colton Parayko, however it appears that evidently the Flyers’ Travis Konecny may be stealing his 2nd PP spot after yesterday’s scrimmage.
The damage to Alex Pietrangelo is unlucky, however having a veteran like Drew Doughty able to fill in is makes his loss simpler to take.
UNITED STATES
Forwards (13)
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Pink Wings
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
Defensemen (7)
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators*
Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Goalies (3)
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
*Added as an damage alternative for Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks).
The Individuals additionally made positive that they’d loads of measurement up entrance and arguably have the most effective roster on paper. The lack of Quinn Hughes to damage is an enormous one, however the Yanks will nonetheless be capable of discipline a formidable defensive six. Agitation may be part of their sport too with the brothers Tkachuk roaming the ice.
Loads of US scoring energy to associate with the Jets’ Kyle Connor and that ought to permit them to outscore the vast majority of their opponents, particularly with Vezina-lock Connor Hellebucyk guarding the pipes. Whereas Jeremy Swayman is struggling a bit with consistency this season, the Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger is a superb fallback choice for the teaching workers to have (and can hopefully guarantee Bucky doesn’t begin all of the video games).
FINLAND
Forwards (13)
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Joel Armia, Montreal Canadiens
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers
Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens
Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche
Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers
Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
Defensemen (7)
Jani Hakanpaa, Toronto Maple Leafs
Urho Vaakanainen, New York Rangers*
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
Olli Maatta, Utah Hockey Membership
Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers
Nikolas Matinpalo, Ottawa Senators**
Juuso Valimaki, Utah Hockey Membership
Goalies (3)
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
*Added as an damage alternative for Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars).
**Added as an damage alternative for Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers).
Crew Finland’s protection has taken an enormous hit with the Stars’ Miro Heiskanen & Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen being on the shelf. Their replacements received’t be almost as impactful and that can in all probability make protection their weakest unit. Fortuitously, the Finns are recognized for a powerful 2-way type and have loads of high-end expertise up entrance to pop in sufficient offense.
They are going to seemingly want the most effective purpose scorers to snipe usually sufficient to win the purpose differential, placing further stress on the Hurricanes’ Mikko Rantanen & Sebastian Aho, the Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov, and the Canadiens’ Patrik Laine.
Canucks’ goalie Kevin Lankinen has been taking part in properly this yr (2.56 GAA) and everyone knows how properly the Predators’ Juuse Saros can play when he’s on.
SWEDEN
Forwards (13)
Viktor Arvidsson, Edmonton Oilers
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Geese
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins*
Gustav Nyqvist, Nashville Predators
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Pink Wings
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
Defensemen (7)
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins
Goalies (3)
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia Flyers**
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
*Added as an damage alternative for William Karlsson (Vegas Golden Knights).
**Added as an damage alternative for Jacob Markstrom (New Jersey Devils).
The Swedes even have needed to cope with some injury-related modifications to their roster, shedding their greatest performing goaltender within the Devils’ Jacob Markstrom (2.20 GAA/.912%). Fortuitously it appears that evidently the Senators’ Linus Ullmark (2.49 GAA/.915%) has recovered in time to present them an alternative choice, however the Wild’s Filip Gustavsson (2.63 GAA/.915%) can also be taking part in properly.
The Penguins’ Rickard Rakell is having a profession season and appears an excellent filler for the Knights’ William Karlsson, so the offense didn’t take an excessive amount of of successful. Crew Sweden has a bunch of thrilling forwards to observe, however I’ll in all probability be most pumped to observe a younger expertise just like the Sharks’ Leo Carlsson get to play with equally proficient linemates.
A strong defensive unit with heavy guys just like the Flames’ Rasmus Andersson, the Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, & the Bolts’ Victor Hedman. I don’t assume Sweden will probably be any straightforward out for anybody within the tourney.
*****
Okay, so if all that bought you excited to observe all of the 4 Nations’ video games, right here is the complete schedule so you can begin making excuses to your important others:
Unsure what number of of you’ll be watching the matches, however I’ll seemingly be right here at AIH to share my ideas and see what different members must say. Be at liberty to hitch in. Benefit from the motion!!
I’ll finish with a small prayer to the Hockey Gods….please shield Morrissey, Connor, & Hellebuyck from damage and produce them house primed & prepared for an actual Stanley Cup run!!! Amen.
