The 4 Nations Face-Off rosters might be full of NHL star energy and some surprises.
Full rosters for the league’s upcoming occasion have been revealed Wednesday for Staff USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy and final season’s Norris Trophy recipient, Quinn Hughes, have been among the many names beforehand introduced for Staff USA. They’re going to be joined now by a top-tier goaltending trio headed by reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, defensemen Zach Werenski (presently third in factors amongst NHL blueliners) and Brock Faber (a 2024 Calder Trophy finalist) in addition to forwards Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor and Matt Boldy.
The U.S. crew prioritized veteran presence with the addition of Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson up entrance. And there might be a pair of brothers suiting up for his or her nation in Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, and Quinn and Jack Hughes.
One identify left off the USA roster was Anthony Stolarz, who has been one of many league’s greatest goaltenders this season for Toronto, with an 8-4-2 document, .924 save share and a couple of.23 targets towards common. The U.S. as an alternative went with Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman, who’s 7-9-2 with an .892 SV% and three.09 GAA.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby headline Canada’s core, and that roster’s ahead group now additionally contains Sam Reinhart (presently seventh in NHL factors) and Mitch Marner (eleventh). Reinhart’s Florida Panthers’ teammate Sam Bennett and 22-year-old Seth Jarvis have been surprising inclusions for the Canadians and can convey some physicality and middle depth, respectively.
Canada tapped Travis Sanheim, who’s having a career-best NHL season, and Colton Parayko, a stable stay-at-home defenseman, to affix their blueline helmed by Cale Makar and Devon Toews. 4 Vegas Golden Knights — defensemen Shea Theodore, Alex Pietrangelo, ahead Mark Stone and goalie Adin Hill — are additionally within the combine for Canada.
One netminder (and former Golden Knight) surprisingly not on Canada’s roster is Logan Thompson. The Washington Capitals goalie has been dominant this season with a 10-1-2 document, .913 SV% and a couple of.52 GAA. Canada did embody Sam Montembeault (7-10-2, .901 SV%, 2.99 GAA).
Sweden goes all-in on talent and velocity up entrance with Lucas Raymond, Leo Carlsson and Elias Pettersson becoming a member of veterans William Nylander, Mika Zibanejad and Filip Forsberg. The roster’s again finish — anchored by Victor Hedman — has one of many sport’s rising stars in Rasmus Dahlin in addition to established Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. Sweden didn’t embody ahead Rickard Rakell on its bench regardless of the stable season he is having (with 16 factors in 28 video games) for Pittsburgh.
Finland has all of the makings of a possible shutdown protection with Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen suiting up. Mikko Rantanen, who’s fifth within the NHL in scoring, leads the way in which up entrance with Aleksander Barkov and Sebastian Aho. They’re going to have riser Kaapo Kakko and the newly wholesome Patrik Laine filling of their ahead depth, and Juuse Saros initiatives to be Finland’s prime goaltender.
The match will happen from Feb. 12-20 at Boston’s TD Backyard and Montreal’s Bell Centre. Will probably be a round-robin format during which every crew performs three video games, with the highest two groups taking part in in a winner-take-all ultimate.
Groups will obtain three factors for a win in regulation, two factors for an time beyond regulation or shootout win, one level for an time beyond regulation or shootout loss and nil factors for a loss in regulation.
Canada is the betting favourite at +135, in line with ESPN BET. The U.S. is the second selection at +190, with Sweden at +450 and Finland at +700. The People have taken an awesome share of bets (66%) and deal with (57%) to win all of it, with the opposite three nations equally splitting deal with (14%) on the sportsbook.
The NHL hasn’t been concerned in best-on-best hockey for the reason that 2016 World Cup, the place Canada was the +200 favourite (and eventual winner). Sweden checked in then at +500, the U.S. was +650 and Finland was +1400.
ESPN’s Doug Greenberg contributed to this report.
