Who will be captains at 4 Nations Face-Off?
On Thursday, the NHL will announce the captains for Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States. Ahead of the announcement, here are some candidates to wear the ‘C’ for each team.
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The 4 Nations Face-Off is just two weeks away and the anticipation for the best-on-best tournament continues to grow.
On Thursday, the NHL will announce the captains for Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
Ahead of the announcement, here are some candidates to wear the ‘C’ for each team.
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4 Nations Face-Off
With the inaugural edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off fast approaching, be sure to catch up on all the latest news about the highly-anticipated best-on-best event. Puck drops on Feb. 12, 2025, on Sportsnet.
TEAM CANADA
The Favourite: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Resume: Three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, ninth all-time in points
Crosby has been the face of hockey in Canada for two decades now and has already worn the ‘C’ for some of this country’s greatest hockey moments. His “Golden Goal” at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver is a play hockey fans will never forget. Will Crosby author another magic moment at this tournament?
Other candidates: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers; Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
McDavid and MacKinnon are two of the most electric players in the NHL, combining speed and skill to finish among the highest scorers in the league every season. When Crosby eventually retires the country will be in good hands on the international stage with these two stars down the middle.
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TEAM FINLAND
The Favourite: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Resume: Stanley Cup champion, two Selke Trophies
Barkov just might be the best power forward in the NHL today. The six-foot-three captain of the Panthers plays in all situations and gives opponents nightmares with his incredible vision and playmaking.
Other candidates: Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes; Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
After Barkov, Rantanen and Aho might be Finland’s most dangerous scorers and now they are also teammates on the Hurricanes. Rantanen is a Stanley Cup champion who has twice hit the 100-point mark while Aho is a top-line centre who has scored at least 36 goals for three straight seasons.
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TEAM SWEDEN
The Favourite: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Resume: Two Stanley Cups, Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy
Hedman has one of the most complete resumes of any defenceman in the game today and remains a high-impact player at age 34. He won the Norris in 2018 but has been a finalist five other times.
Other candidates: Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins; William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Team Sweden features plenty of dynamic scorers and star power, characteristics both Nylander and Karlsson wear with pride. Karlsson is a three-time Norris winner who scored 101 points just two years ago. Nylander has scored 40 goals in each of the last two seasons and will challenge that mark again this year.
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TEAM USA
The Favourite: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Resume: Hart Trophy, three Rocket Richard Trophies, two 60-goal seasons
The 4 Nations Face-Off will be the first chance for this generation of American superstars to team up on the biggest stage and Matthews is the face of that next wave of talent. One of the best goal scorers in the game today, Matthews was also a finalist for the Selke and Lady Byng awards last season.
Other candidates: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks; Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
The United States team is packed with stars and leaders who have stepped up in the biggest moments. Hughes, last year’s Norris Trophy winner, combines dynamic skating with high-level passing as one of the best defencemen in the NHL. Tkachuk won the Stanley Cup last season as a power forward who isn’t afraid to speak up when his team needs it.
The 4 Nations Face-Off runs from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston with all games available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
