4 Nations Face-Off roster anticipation creates excitement among current contestants

The players with secured spots are eagerly looking forward to getting to know the rest of their teammates.

“You start to picture in your mind who I would play with and what the lines would look like,” said Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes, who will skate for Finland.

The tournament will be the first best-on-best competition since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, an experience the players cherish and look forward to repeating.

“It’s going to be a great event,” said Jack Eichel, who played for Team North America at the World Cup and will represent the United States in February. “I think we all feel the same way when it comes to wearing the red, white and blue. It’s going to be super competitive and just a great event for our league in general and hopefully the hockey fans in the hockey world are enjoying it.”

Although most of the players have been absorbed in their day jobs, the ins and outs of the regular season, the excitement is building.

And fingers are crossed that certain teammates make the list.

For Matthews, it’s New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes. He also knows that the decisions are tough, the level of talent across the board is high, and that some worthy names will have to bid and try again for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

“There’s so much talent to choose from,” said Matthews, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “It’s just really exciting that we get the chance to represent the country again,”

That goes for every team in the tournament, including Canada, which won the 2016 World Cup on a short-handed goal from Brad Marchand. The Boston Bruins captain was among the first six named to Canada’s team, along with Nova Scotia natives Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

“It’s always a lot more fun to play with them than against them,” Marchand said. “They’re a lot of fun tournaments, ones you’re really proud to be a part of, going through it with guys from my hometown and guys that we know and skate with will make it a little more exciting and a little more meaningful.”

The others have been waiting to hear about their future since June. While the 24 players learned their fate early on, the rest of the 4 Nations eligible players went into the 2024-25 season to prove themselves to ensure their names made the cut.

Mikael Granlund is one. The San Jose Sharks forward is not yet officially on Finland’s roster, but seems a likely candidate with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists).

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve always loved playing in national tournaments. I’ve always loved playing for Team Finland. As a young player in Finland, it’s one of the biggest things you can have in a hockey career to play for your country and I’ve actually always loved those moments and I’ve had good success in the national team.

“It’s really cool and with the 4 nations it’s the best against the best so it’s definitely special.”

Sharks forward William Eklund is in the same position, waiting and hoping. The 22-year-old has 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) and looks to be on the bubble for Sweden.

“It’s always great to play for Sweden,” Eklund said. “That’s probably the biggest thing you can do as a player, other than maybe win the Stanley Cup. Those two are up there. Playing for your team, your country, that’s huge, and if I ever get the chance to do that , I will be more than happy.”

It’s not long before Eklund knows it, before they all know it.

Are they in or are they out? Which friends made the list? Who could be on their line or pairing?

Is this a team that could win?

“Tomorrow will be a great opportunity to find out who’s in the team,” McAvoy said. “I know I have a ton of friends through USA Hockey, a ton of guys that I’m extremely close to. I’m looking forward to a chance to play with a lot of them again.

“Playing for USA Hockey is always an incredible honor. It tends to be some of the best experiences I’ve had in hockey and some of the best moments and memories. I can’t wait for another opportunity to do it. Really and truly, it’s one of the most special things you can do, and I’m incredibly proud of it.”

Fortunately, February will be here before they know it, and the players aren’t the only ones eagerly anticipating the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“Ticket sales are brisk,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said while in Boston celebrating the Bruins’ Centennial Game on Sunday. “To the extent that there are a limited number of tickets left, they go quickly. They make great stocking stuffers.

“But the excitement is palpable, not just among the fans but among the players. And that’s one of the reasons we brought back international best-versus-best. We know how important it is to our players to represent their countries and so we’re really looking forward to it.”

NHL.com senior writer Tom Gulitti and independent correspondents Paul Delos Santos, Kurt Dusterberg, Corey Long and Dave McCarthy contributed to this report