4 Nations Face-Off Rosters Revealed: Kreider and Trocheck Named to Team USA, Kakko to Finland
In lieu of the All-Star Game this year, NHL fans will be treated to the 4 Nation Face-Off, the league’s attempt at an international best on best. This tournament will consist of you guessed it, four different nations: Finland, Sweden, USA, and Canada. I laid out some thoughts on what an international best-on-best tournament means without countries such as Czechia or Russia, and you can read about that here. The teams will play each other once in a round-robin series, with the top two teams playing each other for the winner-take-all game. The games are in North America, split between the TD Garden in Boston and the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Earlier this year, the NHL announced the first six players for each roster, and two Rangers happened to make their respective teams. Both Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad will be representing their home nation in the tournament. Today, the NHL staggered the announcement of the remaining players for each roster. First up were the full Swedish and Finnish rosters, which came with another familiar face. Aside from Zibanejad, Sweden had no other Rangers, but Kaapo Kakko will be representing his home country, Finland, in the tournament. Don't look now but Kakko has been excelling this year, which Avery wrote about here.
A Swede team, indeed. 🇸🇪
— NHL (@NHL) December 4, 2024
Sweden's roster for #4Nations Face-Off is here!
Presented by #svenskaspel pic.twitter.com/zmV0E3CTo7
Introducing... The Fins! 🇫🇮
— NHL (@NHL) December 4, 2024
Thoughts on Finland's roster for the #4Nations Face-Off? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PQle066fcQ
Team Canada and Team USA, were announced a few hours later in the day, and again the Rangers will be well represented. While the NHL will learn to regret not naming Lafrenière to Team Canada, both Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider were named to play for Team USA.
USA's roster for the #4Nations Face-Off has landed! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/DXeSBqLO30
— NHL (@NHL) December 4, 2024
Presenting Canada's #4Nations Face-Off roster! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/zXeAOg4nsG
— NHL (@NHL) December 4, 2024
The tournament kicks off February 12th at the Bell Centre:
Wednesday, February 12: Canada vs Sweden 8 PM TNT
Thursday, February 13: USA vs Finland, 8 PM ESPN
Saturday, February 15: Finland vs. Sweden, 1 PM ABC
Saturday, February 15: USA vs. Canada, 8 PM TNT
The rest of the tournament will take place at TD Garden:
Monday, February 17: Canada vs. Finland, 1 PM TNT
Monday, February 17: Sweden vs. USA, 8 PM TNT
Thursday, February 20: Championship game, 8 PM ESPN
Which team do you think is the best? Which team will you be cheering for? Let us know in the comments.
