NHL 4 Nations Face-Off: Final roster predictions for USA, Canada

The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, scheduled Feb. 12-20 in lieu of the All-Star Game, will be the first international tournament to feature the best-on-best NHLers since the World Cup in 2016.

The United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland each named six initial players to their rosters in June. With final rosters set to be announced Wednesday, let’s take a look at potential selections for the United States and Canada.

Each team will have 20 skaters and three goaltenders. (Statistics are through Monday’s play.)

TEAM CANADA

Already named: F Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), F Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), F Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), F Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins), F Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning), D Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)

Forwards

Locks: Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs), Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers)

Likely: Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights), Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers), Matt Duchene (Dallas Stars), Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens)

Has a chance: Dylan Strome (Washington Capitals), Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues), Zach Hyman (Edmonton Oilers), Alexis Lafreniere (New York Rangers), Mat Barzal (New York Islanders)

Dark horse: Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks)

Canada’s forward group is arguably the most star-studded of any in this tournament with Crosby, McDavid and MacKinnon. Two-way winger Stone should add some defense to the bottom six. 

Hyman, who scored 54 goals last season, had been a near-guarantee to make the team, but a slow start may see him left off the roster. For the last spot, Canada may swing toward youth with 19-year-old Bedard.

Defense

Locks: Josh Morrisey (Winnipeg Jets), Alex Pietrangelo (Vegas Golden Knights), Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey Devils)

Likely: Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers), Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights), Noah Dobson (New York Islanders)

Has a chance: Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche), Jakob Chychrun (Washington Capitals)

Dark horse: Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres)

Morrisey is sixth among all NHL defensemen in points with 22 in 25 games, while Hamilton has 21 in 28. Pietrangelo will be looked to in a two-way role and could partner with his teammate, Theodore. 

Bouchard had a slow start, but with 12 points in his past 14 games, he should be added to run Canada’s power play. Toews, Makar’s defense partner in Colorado and a solid defender, could make the team because of his chemistry with Makar.

Goalies

Likely: Cam Talbot (Detroit Red Wings), Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals), Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues)

Has a chance: Adin Hill (Vegas Golden Knights)

Dark horse: Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers)

Goaltending is a major weakness for Canada, with no clear front- runners to take the net. Canada has gone as far as inquire if Massachusetts-born Joey Daccord (Seattle Kraken) can obtain a Canadian passport through his mother.

Talbot is a top goalie this season, and although he just went down with an injury in Detroit’s Sunday game against Vancouver, he may be Canada’s best option.

TEAM USA

Already named: F Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), F Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), F Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers), D Adam Fox (New York Rangers), D Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins), D Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)

Forwards

Locks: Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils)

Likely: Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings), Clayton Keller (Utah Hockey Club), Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild)

Has a chance: Alex Tuch (Buffalo Sabres), Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens), Alex DeBrincat (Detroit Red Wings), Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres), Conor Garland (Vancouver Canucks), J.T. Miller (Vancouver Canucks), Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars)

Dark horse: Logan Cooley (Utah Hockey Club)

The USA forward group is deep at center, led by Matthews and Eichel. Connor, with 29 points in 25 games, should slot in on the top line. 

Team USA will likely add one smaller statured goal scorer in either Caufield (5-foot-8, 175 pounds) or DeBrincat (5-foot-8, 180 pounds). Miller, who recently stepped away from his team, may be questionable due to his absence; however, FanDuel rinkside reporter Andy Strickland reported he is expected to be available for the tournament.

Defense

Locks: Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Likely: John Carlson (Washington Capitals)

Has a chance: Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators), Neal Pionk (Winnipeg Jets), Shayne Gostisbehere (Carolina Hurricanes)

Dark horse: Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars)

Team USA will have plenty of talent at its blue line, with a top four to consist of Norris Trophy winners Hughes and Fox alongside McAvoy and Slavin.

Carlson should be added as a power-play quarterback and youngsters Faber and Sanderson could play a depth role. 

Goalies

Locks: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars)

Likely: Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)

Has a chance: Thatcher Demko (Vancouver Canucks)

Dark horse: Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames)

The United States biggest strength will be in net with Vezina Trophy winner Hellebuyck. Oettinger should back up with Swayman as the third goalie.

Demko, who suffered a knee injury in the 2024 playoffs and hasn’t played since, has an outside shot.