4 Nations Face-Off 2025: Top five bubble players for Team Canada

Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Let the speculation begin.

On Tuesday, Matt Larkin and I revealed our projections for Canada’s 2025 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. We’re just under a full calendar year away from the first – and potentially last – running of the stopgap event before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Depending on whom you talk to, the United States of America looks like the team to beat for gold. But Canada’s offense is downright dominant, and having arguably the best defenseman in the world in Cale Makar doesn’t hurt, either.

But with so much depth, some quality NHL stars had to be cut. Both of us focused on skill over anything, but depending on the coach, they could look to bring guys who fill roles better than others instead.

Let’s take a look at five players we both kept off our rosters who could fight their way on when the official lineup is announced next winter:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, LW (Edmonton Oilers)

If this tournament was held last year, RNH was a shoo-in – maybe even to play on the first line. But the 30-year-old’s production has tapered off by a pace of about 30 points – still, it’s looking like he’ll break the 70-point mark for just the second time in his NHL career. Both Matt and I left Nugent-Hopkins off, largely due to the hot play of Sam Reinhart and Mathew Barzal, but RNH is a stout playmaker who can be thrown in any situation thanks to his great hockey sense. He’s the type of player you deploy as the 13th forward, use him on special teams, and he’ll make you happy.

Jordan Kyrou, RW (St. Louis Blues)

Kyrou will never be a 90-point player – but few wingers are as good transitionally as the 25-year-old forward. Kyrou is so dynamic. He’s having a down year offensively after registering 75 and 73 points the past two years, respectively, but we’re still talking about a 65-point pace this season on a poor team. Kyrou creates so many high-danger shot attempts and is a great playmaker with good defensive instincts – so much so that he’d be perfect as an energy winger who can do a bit of everything.

Morgan Rielly, D (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Rielly, a noted goon, has played some tremendous hockey this season. He was on pace for a career-best 70-point pace before his suspension for cross-checking Ridly Greig. Rielly has represented Canada at numerous levels and was one of Team North America’s best players at the 2016 World Cup. He hasn’t played internationally since then, but he has established himself as a minute-hungry two-way defenseman who can run a power play. The issue? There’s no shortage of other options who can also play better defensively.

Aaron Ekblad, D (Florida Panthers)

Ekblad can do a bit of everything. He’ll flatten you. He’ll block shots. He’s capable of putting up 50 points in a full season. He’s one of the last players you’d want to go 1-on-1 with. But with breakout performances from Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard, we both felt Ekblad was the odd man out. If the team needed a physical, in-your-face specimen, Ekblad makes this team, no question. But when it comes to pure skill, capitalizing on young, speedy, puck-moving blueliners felt like the play.

Connor Ingram, G (Arizona Coyotes)

Some of the hype surrounding Ingram’s hot start has been erased in recent weeks as he has struggled to be the game-changer he was early on. But when Ingram was hot, he was downright dominant. And while Darcy Kuemper would have the edge among players left off our rosters due to experience, Ingram has been so valuable for the Coyotes this year. So much so, that, at times, he looks like a legitimate No. 1 in the NHL. Given the route to get to where he is hasn’t been straightforward, it’s been great to see Ingram have some game-stealing performances – and a good start with a (hopefully) better Coyotes team next year could help him earn a look as the team’s third goaltender.

Other notables: Anthony Cirelli, C (Tampa Bay Lightning), Nick Suzuki, C (Montreal Canadiens), Thomas Harley, D (Dallas Stars), Drew Doughty, D (Los Angeles Kings), Shea Theodore, D (Vegas Golden Knights), Brandon Montour, D (Florida Panthers), Darcy Kuemper, G (Washington Capitals)

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