Updated 4 Nations Face-Off roster projections, 10 days before teams are finalized
We’re down to just 10 days remaining for the best NHLers from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States to make impressions if they want to play in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. On Dec. 2, the management teams for each country will cement their full rosters of 20 skaters and three goaltenders for the tournament, which takes place Feb. 12-20, 2025 in lieu of an All-Star Game this season. The teams will be announced to the public Dec. 4.
Three weeks ago, we issued roster projections for all four countries. We’ve made changes, just as the four management teams surely have done. Here’s an updated look at how we see the rosters playing out.
The team builders:
Canada – Matt Larkin
Finland – Steven Ellis
Sweden – Uffe Bodin
USA – Frank Seravalli
Players already named to the First Six and thus locked in are tabbed with asterisks.
CANADA – By Matt Larkin
Forwards
| Zach Hyman | Connor McDavid* | Nathan MacKinnon* |
| Brandon Hagel | Brayden Point* | Mitch Marner |
| Brad Marchand* | Sidney Crosby* | Sam Reinhart |
| Alexis Lafreniere | Nick Suzuki | Travis Konecny |
| Connor Bedard |
Defensemen
| Devon Toews | Cale Makar |
| Noah Dobson | Evan Bouchard |
| Shea Theodore | Alex Pietrangelo |
| MacKenzie Weegar |
Goaltenders
| Jordan Binnington |
| Adin Hill |
| Logan Thompson |
IN: Travis Konecny, Brandon Hagel
OUT: Mark Stone, Steven Stamkos
Why: Is this a psychological experiment in which the amount of tinkering reveals something about each prognosticator’s personality? I had a fair amount of reactionary second-guessing here. With the Vegas Golden Knights’ Mark Stone already taking up his customary spot on injured reserve and needing to ensure he’s fresh for the Stanley Cup playoffs, competing for Canada is a risky proposition for team and player, so he’s out. Travis Konecny has been great for the Philadelphia Flyers so far this season and brings an element of jam to an exciting Canadian fourth line. It pained me removing Steven Stamkos’ power-play threat, but Brandon Hagel is just too versatile as an all-situations piece, so he slides in. Connor Bedard hangs on as my 13th forward; remember, this tourney is an audition for the Olympics, so Canada would be wise to give him some reps in a medium-stakes event ahead of Milan 2026, even if he’s had a tough sophomore year.
FINLAND – By Steven Ellis
Forwards
| Artturi Lehkonen | Aleksander Barkov* | Mikko Rantanen* |
| Mikael Granlund | Roope Hintz | Teuvo Teräväinen |
| Erik Haula | Sebastian Aho* | Patrik Laine |
| Eetu Luostarinen | Anton Lundell | Kaapo Kakko |
| Jesperi Kotkaniemi |
Defensemen
| Esa Lindell* | Miro Heiskanen* |
| Juuso Valimaki | Rasmus Ristolainen |
| Niko Mikkola | Henri Jokiharju |
| Olli Määttä |
Goaltenders
| Juuse Saros* |
| Kevin Lankinen |
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen |
IN: Jesperi Kotkaniemi
OUT: Matias Maccelli
Why: This roster doesn’t look too different – with the one change swapping Matias Maccelli out for Jesperi Kotkaniemi. I think you can’t go wrong with either of them, but JK has been great analytically and playing some solid hockey. He also has the edge in points in fewer games, which doesn’t hurt. Granted, he plays on a better team, but it feels like Kotkaniemi is just playing good enough hockey to give himself a legitimate shot.
SWEDEN – BY Uffe Bodin
Forwards
| Filip Forsberg* | Elias Pettersson | William Nylander* |
| Jesper Bratt | Mika Zibanejad* | Lucas Raymond |
| Adrian Kempe | Joel Eriksson Ek | Elias Lindholm |
| Rickard Rakell | William Karlsson | Fabian Zetterlund |
| Leo Carlsson |
Defensemen
| Victor Hedman* | Rasmus Dahlin |
| Gustav Forsling* | Erik Karlsson* |
| Mattias Ekholm | Rasmus Andersson |
| Hampus Lindholm |
Goaltenders
| Linus Ullmark |
| Jacob Markstrom |
| Filip Gustavsson |
IN: Rickard Rakell
OUT: Nils Höglander
Why: I’m exchanging Nils Höglander for Rickard Rakell on the fourth line as Höglander has been struggling of late, while Rakell is a proven veteran who can play both wings. The D-corps and goaltending group remain the same.
USA – By Frank Seravalli
Forwards
| J.T. Miller | Auston Matthews* | Matthew Tkachuk* |
| Kyle Connor | Jack Eichel* | Brady Tkachuk |
| Dylan Larkin | Jack Hughes | Jason Robertson |
| Jake Guentzel | Vincent Trocheck | Matt Boldy |
| Tage Thompson |
Defensemen
| Quinn Hughes* | Charlie McAvoy* |
| Jaccob Slavin | Adam Fox* |
| Zach Werenski | Brock Faber |
| Noah Hanifin |
Goaltenders
| Connor Hellebuyck |
| Jake Oettinger |
| Jeremy Swayman |
IN: Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, Noah Hanifin
OUT: Chris Kreider, Jake Sanderson, Brett Pesce
Why: In the end, GM Bill Guerin and his staff are trying to ice the best lineup for 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, not what is to come in 2026. That means leaving off Jake Sanderson, who has been a little inconsistent this season, in favor of a more experienced and well-rounded Zach Werenski. Brett Pesce has started slow coming off injury, so I’ll swap him for Noah Hanifin as the Americans’ seventh defenseman – a role in which Hanifin won’t pout or complain if asked. That’s half the battle when selecting that player. And up front, it became impossible to deny Tage Thompson with his start. North of a point per game and a huge presence, he trumps the great net-front presence of Chris Kreider, who has been up and down this year. The additional minutes Peter Laviolette trusts versatile Ranger teammate Vincent Trocheck with was the deciding factor in picking the final forward for the United States. The recent leave of absence by J.T. Miller with the Canucks gave us some pause, but let’s see how that plays out – we’re willing to give him some time because he’s that impactful. And USA’s first two goalies are so good that Jeremy Swayman’s tough stretch shouldn’t make a difference one way or the other with Thatcher Demko still out.
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