The NHL has confirmed Canada’s 23-man roster for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in February:
F Sam Bennett (Panthers)
F Anthony Cirelli (Lightning)
F Sidney Crosby (Penguins)
F Brandon Hagel (Lightning)
F Seth Jarvis (Hurricanes)
F Travis Konecny (Flyers)
F Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche)
F Brad Marchand (Bruins)
F Mitch Marner (Maple Leafs)
F Connor McDavid (Oilers)
F Brayden Point (Lightning)
F Sam Reinhart (Panthers)
F Mark Stone (Golden Knights)
D Cale Makar (Avalanche)
D Josh Morrissey (Jets)
D Colton Parayko (Blues)
D Alex Pietrangelo (Golden Knights)
D Travis Sanheim (Flyers)
D Shea Theodore (Golden Knights)
D Devon Toews (Avalanche)
G Jordan Binnington (Blues)
G Adin Hill (Golden Knights)
G Sam Montembeault (Canadiens)
It’s a roster out of a fantasy draft. This roster includes six Hart Memorial Trophy winners, one Norris Trophy winner, and 20 Stanley Cup rings. There will be no shortage of firepower when this collection of players takes the ice.
It’ll be difficult for any of the other three international teams to match up against McDavid who will assuredly be Team Canada’s first-line center. The last time McDavid suited up for the Canadians came back during the 2018 IIHF World Championships. He scored five goals and 17 points in 10 games a few weeks before signing his eight-year, $100MM extension with the Oilers.
The other Canadian forward to look out for will be ’Captain Canada’ himself. Crosby’s exploits on the internal stage are well known. He scored the gold-medal-clinching goal in the 2010 Olympic Games against the United States and followed it up with another gold medal four years later in Sochi. There are not many awards Crosby has left to win but the 4 Nations Face-Off could be one of them.
Things are similarly in good shape on the blue line. Canada is bringing multiple defensive pairings that play together on their NHL clubs, giving them a seamless transition into international hockey. The group of defensemen is headlined by Makar who, despite already having a Norris, Calder, and Conn Smythe Trophy under his belt is the favorite to win the Norris Trophy this year with eight goals and 32 points in 26 games.
Canada’s only question mark comes between the pipes. Gone are the days when Canada could rely on legendary netminders such as Martin Brodeur, Marc-Andre Fleury, Roberto Luongo, or Carey Price. The trio of Binnington, Hill, and Montembeault have a combined save percentage of .900 this year with their respective teams and may have Canada…
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