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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNDec 4, 2024, 02:15 PM ET
- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
The first-ever NHL/NHLPA 4 Nations Face-Off is many things.
It’s a midseason exhibition tournament that replaces the NHL All-Star Game for a change of pace. It’s an antipasto of international hockey ahead of the Italian feast of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. It’s also the first time that a generation of Canadian and American superstars get to battle for bragging rights and a championship — although Sweden and Finland will have something to say about that.
On Wednesday, those four nations revealed their rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off, taking place from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. Some of the names were very expected, and some of the selections were a bit surprising.
Here’s how the rosters grade out — at each position group and overall — and which NHL players might be feeling snubbed by their home nations after these roster reveals.
FINLAND
Note: Players are listed alphabetically within each position group. Players listed with an asterisk were on the original selection lists in June.
Forwards
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes*
Joel Armia, Montreal Canadiens
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers*
Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers
Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens
Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche
Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers
Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche*
Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
Having Barkov and Rantanen is an excellent starting point for building out a forward group. Since 2020-21, only four players in the NHL have more points than Rantanen’s 402 in 315 games. He can score goals and create them, a menace at both even strength and the power play. Please note that Rantanen does not have a contract beyond this season. Dropping the mic at 4 Nations with a team-best performance would be a strong argument for earning the blockbuster bucks he’s seeking.
Barkov, meanwhile, is in the conversation for best all-around player in the NHL. His play during the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run last season underscored what an absolute gamer Barkov is when the pressure is on and the opponents are challenging. As his Patrice Bergeron-esque run of Selke Trophies might be starting, Barkov is also an immovable object in the offensive zone.
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The other two names here that are vital to Finland’s offense are Aho, putting up another season of better than a point-per-game pace; and Laine, who recently returned from injury for the Canadiens. Aho’s goal-scoring pace has taken a hit this season, but he’s still a dangerous playmaker. Laine is one of the better pure scorers on this roster — and frankly, an exceptionally compelling player from a personal standpoint, given all he’s experienced with his mental health and the honesty with which he’s discussed it.
The rest of this group has players that have surged this season like Granlund (10 goals in 26 games); dependable two-way threats like Teräväinen and Hintz (10 goals in 23 games and a plus-58 over the past three seasons); and a slew of experienced, talented grinders who are tenaciously annoying to play against, like Haula and Lehkonen.
Two players ready for their spotlight moment: Lundell, the 23-year-old “Baby Barkov” on the Panthers; and Kakko, rewarding the Rangers’ patience with 13 points in 24 games this season and some solid play. But seeing Kakko earn this roster spot is also a reminder that the Finnish forward depth doesn’t compare to that of the other teams in this tournament.
Still, a very tough group to compete against, as is this proud hockey nation’s lineage.
Overall forwards grade: B
Defensemen
Jani Hakanpaa, Toronto Maple Leafs
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars*
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars*
Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers
Olli Maatta, Utah Hockey Club
Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
Juuso Valimaki, Utah Hockey Club
When Heiskanen and Lindell have played together in Dallas this season, they’ve posted an outstanding expected goals percentage of 59.5%. But Heiskanen’s scoring output is a bit down this season, particularly on the power play, where he has three points in in 24 games despite a team best 3:22 of ice time with the man advantage per game.
Ristolainen and Mikkola bring considerable size to the back end and will help on the penalty kill, as will Hakanpää. Välimäki is a good puck-moving defenseman.
Määttä is 30 years old but feels like he’s been around for about 20 seasons: He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins, and Olympic bronze in Sochi along with Barkov and Granlund. Utah acquired him from Detroit after injuries to their blue line, and he’s given them a solid 20 minutes per game.
It’s not a group with considerable depth or offensive pop, but they do have some players that will make the other three teams pay a physical price.
Overall defensemen grade: C
A septet of Finnish Panthers and Stars played against one another in the NHL Global Series game in November, but will be teammates for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images
Goaltenders
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators*
Saros leads the NHL in goals saved above expected (11.9) through 21 games, where he also has a .911 save percentage. Whatever has malfunctioned in Nashville this season is decidedly not his fault. Of the goalies here, he’s the star and the only one that can be counted on to win a game on his own.
Luukkonen has that ability too, depending on the night. Consistency can be a challenge for the talented 25-year-old, but he’s coming off a breakout season in Buffalo and has played well again in 2024-25.
Lankinen’s underlying numbers find him playing just below expected, but Vancouver fans couldn’t care less. He’s given the Canucks 18 games at a time where Thatcher Demko is injured and Arturs Silovs turned back into a pumpkin. His 12-3-3 record and .906 save percentage are more than enough to earn him a spot on this roster.
All that said: We’re a long way away from the two-headed monster of Tuukka Rask and Pekka Rinne that commanded the Finnish crease at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Overall goaltending grade: B
Surprises
Jani Hakanpaa. A genuinely shocking choice. Hakanpää, listed at 6-foot-7, signed a one-year free-agent deal with the Leafs last offseason. His season with Dallas was cut shirt after 64 games following arthroscopic knee surgery. The 32-year-old made his Leafs debut in November, playing in two games before leaving the lineup. Toronto confirmed on Dec. 2 that Hakanpää is out with a lower-body injury. If he can’t go, one assumes Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju is the next option.
Joel Armia. The 31-year-old Montreal winger had a career-high 17 goals last season but just two goals in 25 games for the Habs this season. His best virtue is his penalty-killing, and perhaps that’s why he made the cut despite being off the radar on many roster projections.
Snubs
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, F, Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes center is having a decent bounce-back season after his points per 60 minutes dropped from 2.1 down to 1.6 over the previous two seasons. He’s at 2.3 points per 60 minutes through 25 games with Carolina. This could be a situation where his offensive upside doesn’t compensate for his defensive liabilities. He’s also not as versatile as others on the roster, as he doesn’t kill penalties for the Carolina.
Joonas Korpisalo, G, Boston Bruins. Only Saros (371) has played more games than Korpisalo (286) among active Finnish goaltenders. But his experience wasn’t enough to earn him a spot over either UPL or Lankinen, despite a relatively strong first season in Boston: 6-2-1, .909 save percentage and on the positive side of goals saved above expected on most publicly available advanced stats sites — although Stathletes does have him at minus-2 goals saved above expected. A curious snub, considering his experience.
Joonas Korpisalo has stood tall for the Bruins this season, but was not named to the roster for Finland. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Overall team grade: B-minus
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: The Finns aren’t as talented as the Canadians, Americans and Swedes, but bridge that gap with their drive, tenacity and goaltending that can be the difference in a close game. This might as well be added to Finland’s national anthem, it’s so ingrained in their hockey identity.
But let’s not shortchange Barkov, Rantanen, Aho and Heiskanen, a quartet of the best players in the world that will lead this team into the 4 Nations Face-Off. That’s a sturdy foundation for an underdog seeking to make life miserable for the other three teams in the tournament. If 4 Nations is a party celebrating a potential Canada and the U.S. championship game in Boston, Finland loves nothing more than to be the party pooper.
SWEDEN
Forwards
Note: Players are listed alphabetically within each position group. Players listed with an asterisk were on the original selection lists in June.
Viktor Arvidsson, Edmonton Oilers
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators*
William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs*
Gustav Nyquist, Nashville Predators
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers*
The Swedish forwards can be described in two ways: a veteran group with a considerably high ceiling.
Only two players were born after 1998: Carlson (19 years old) and Raymond (22). Both players have exceptional offensive skill despite their inexperience. Also bringing the elite skill: Pettersson, Forsberg, Bratt and Nylander. All of them are game-changers who are dangerous on any shift. Forsberg brings some national team experience, as well as an exceptional mustache.
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Kempe’s right there with this group, having scored at a point-per-game pace. Nyquist and Arvidsson have a wealth of experience as veteran wingers — in fact, The Goose played in the 2014 Olympics for Sweden.
Sweden has some accomplished two-way forwards on the roster in Eriksson Ek, Karlsson and Lindholm, all of whom can thrive in different roles.
The key to the lineup is going to be the center spot. The Canadians and American are incredibly deep at that position. The Swedes have Pettersson, Zibanejad, Lindholm, Karlsson, Eriksson Ek and Carlsson if necessary in the middle. If they can find a foursome that holds its own, or outplays either the U.S. or Canada, the Swedes will be in business.
An aside: Would Zibanejad have made Team Sweden If he hadn’t been one of the initial six players named to the roster in June by their hockey federation? Given his iconic status among Swedes and his 18 points in 24 games, probably. But he’s been perhaps the Rangers’ worst defensive forward this season, skating to a minus-14 in 24 games. It would have been an interesting debate.
This is going to be a puck possession group that boasts some speedy skill and strong finishers. But unlike when the Sedins ruled this part of the roster, there isn’t one line you can count on for sustained dominance. And this group isn’t in the same conversation with the offensive weaponry the Americans and Canadians are rolling out in this tournament.
Overall forwards grade: B-minus
Defensemen
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers*
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins*
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning*
Any defense that can deploy Hedman and Forsling on their top two pairings is doing pretty good for itself. The expectation is that the Lightning captain will be paired with Dahlin while Forsling will play with the adventure that is Erik Karlsson. Although obviously we hope this ends up being Karlsson with Hedman, so they can conjure their inner pirates.
Logic would then dictate that Ekholm, the savvy 34-year-old who’s finally earned his flowers after being traded to Edmonton in 2023, will be paired with Andersson, who has 15 points in 26 games for the surprising Flames. Brodin waits in the wings.
Just a ton of experience here, especially in the postseason. The wild card is Karlsson. Yeah, most of Pittsburgh says he’s washed. But give the 34-year-old three or four games in a short-track tournament while repping the Tre Kronor, and he could rekindle that offensive magic. Karlsson’s been a national team star in the past, including eight points in six games in the 2014 Olympics.
Overall defensemen grade: B
Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, and Rasmus Dahlin competed for Sweden at the 2024 world championship, and will represent their country at the 4 Nations Face-Off as well. Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Goaltenders
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
If you’re going on the merits of the entire NHL season, then Gustavsson should have the Swedish crease. He’s fourth in goals saved above expected (via Money Puck) and has been the backbone of the Wild’s scorching start in the West.
But Markström is starting to find his form for the Devils. He was a part of Swedish world championship and World Cup of Hockey teams. The 34-year-old has the experience edge — Gustavsson has five postseason appearances to Markstrom’s 26 — and the ability to take over when he’s on.
Before the season, this was Ullmark’s crease. But his time in Ottawa has been mediocre at best and a bust at worst: .888 save percentage, below .500 record and in the negative in goals saved above expected.
Overall goaltending grade: B
Surprises
Viktor Arvidsson. The 31-year-old winger got the nod over some younger Swedish forwards, despite his injury-plagued lackluster season in Edmonton (five points in 16 games). When healthy, he’s a solid, complementary offensive winger that the Swedes can pair with any of their centers.
Gustav Nyquist. The Predators winger wasn’t even in the conversation for a roster spot according to many Team Sweden projections. But the 35-year-old is a proven goal-scorer with considerable international experience: The 2014 Olympics, and three world championship appearances. His 15 goals in 27 games at worlds might have outweighed his middling 2024-25 season with Nashville (six goals in 25 games).
Snubs
William Eklund, F, San Jose Sharks. The real stunner here. There were multiple reports in Swedish media that the 22-year-old winger had made the cut for Team Sweden. Despite 23 points in 27 games this season, he’s not on the roster. But national team director Anders Lundberg clearly skewed this roster older, as just three players were born after the year 2000. Was Eklund seen as a defensive liability? Was Lundberg concerned about him wilting in the spotlight? Whatever the justification, that’s a whole lotta offense sitting back home during the tournament — and a roster “sure thing” that turned out to be anything but that.
Hampus Lindholm, D, Boston Bruins. One of the more prominent names left off the roster, there is at least justification for Lindholm not to make the cut. The 30-year-old has been limited to 17 games this season due to a lower-body injury, which Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said could sideline him for “weeks.” How many weeks? No one’s sure. Rather than play the waiting game, Sweden went with its other blue-line options like Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin instead.
Perhaps due to injury uncertainty, Hampus Lindholm was left off the roster for Sweden. Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
Rickard Rakell, F, Pittsburgh Penguins. The winger is having a very strong season in both ends of the ice this season, with 16 points in 27 games and a plus-2 rating — one of only five Penguins that have skated to a plus rating through 27 games. The 31-year-old appeared in worlds twice for Sweden, although his first stint in 2018 (14 points in 10 games) was much better than his second in 2021 (two points in seven games). But given his play this season and his versatility, a bit of a swerve here from Sweden — although perhaps they credit Sidney Crosby more than Rakell for the latter’s strong campaign.
Fabian Zetterlund, F, San Jose Sharks. Zetterlund isn’t as young as his teammate Eklund, at 25 years old, but just came into his own last season after coming over from New Jersey in the 2023 Timo Meier trade. He scored 24 goals in 82 games last season and followed up with 19 points (including nine goals) through 27 games this season. Analytically, one of the most effective Sharks forwards offensively, although his defense wasn’t nearly as good. Another strong offensive player that couldn’t make the cut.
Overall team grade: B
The Swedes have what it takes to pull an upset or two in this tournament, given their experience and the potential of their goaltending. Throw in some of the shutdown types they boast at forward and two solid defensive pairings, and one could see Sweden playing the U.S. or Canada tightly until someone like Pettersson, Bratt, Nylander or — yes, indeed — Erik Karlsson has their moment. As usual, count the Swedes out at your own peril.
