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The NHL 4 Nations Cup: Canada’s Pursuit of Hockey Glory

The NHL 4 Nations Cup was a tournament between four nation-based teams that pulled all of its players from NHL rosters. It took place from February 12 to 20 with games held in Montréal’s Centre Bell and TD Garden of Boston.

The 4 Nations Face-Off marked a pivot from the NHL to allow its players to compete for their national teams during their regular season scheduling. NHL players weren’t released for the last two Winter Olympics, which has been a major sore point for the NHLPA.

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However, the tournament announced back in February 2024 also took on some extra significance when it took to the ice. February 2025 aligned with the new president of the United States, Donald Trump, ramping up to his ill-advised tariffs plan on his closest neighbours and claims that the US should annex Canada, which led to boos and a lot of on-ice fighting in the Canada versus US games in this tournament.

Entering the tournament, Canada ranked as the best team in the world, per the IIHF, and remains the all-time rankings leader for Gold medals and tournament wins in all major competitions. Further, Canada is the largest provider of players to the NHL and played the role of joint-host for the NHL 4 Nations Cup.

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Origins and Evolution of the NHL 4 Nations Cup

The purpose of the tournament was, more or less, a move by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to ease the pressure on him to let players represent their countries in major international tournaments regardless of NHL scheduling.

The creation of the NHL 4 Nations Cup replaced the All-Star Games and offered a precursor to the NHL making way for the Winter Olympic Games in 2026 and 2030 and bringing back the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and 2032.

In the sport of hockey, there’s always been the desire to pit the best players of each nation against one another, which is why we’ve had the Canada Cup and World Cup of Hockey sporadically since 1976 and, in 1972 and 1974, Team Canada faced the IIHF-domineering Soviet Union in a couple of explosive series.

For the tournament, Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States were selected as the representative nations. The decision was to feature the highest-ranking teams of the IIHF possible, putting Canada and Finland (1st, 2nd in 2025) into the mix.

The high-ranking Germany (5th) couldn’t be picked because of the lack of German NHL players available, while the US was picked from 4th as a co-host, and Sweden (6th) rounded out the 4 Nations. Due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine and its ongoing war there, Russia (3rd) was omitted from the selection process.

The 4 Nations Cup is a mini-tournament created by the NHL and only features NHL players. The Hockey World Cup and Olympics are storied competitions of much greater prestige and importance in international sport.

Tournament Structure and Format

The 4 Nations Face-Off began on February 12, with Canada taking on Sweden at Centre Bell in Montréal. By February 17, all six round-robin games had been played, with the final taking place on February 20 in Boston.

The round-robin stage was used to determine which teams would play in the final. Every team played the other once over six days. The knockout stage was a straight-up final where the winner of one game took the crown.

Everything in the 4 Nations Face-Off in regards to rules and officiating followed the NHL’s playbook of rules and regulations.

To spread the tournament out and cater to days of two games being played at once, the 4 Nations Cup was played between Montréal in Québec, Canada, and Boston in Massachusetts, US. This put the raucous stadiums of Centre Bell and TD Garden and hockey-mad locals centre stage.

Team Canada: Roster and Strategy

Selection Process for Team Canada

Team Canada was selected by its team of three managers and director of player personnel (Don Sweeney, Jim Nill, Julien BriseBois, and Kyle Dubas) alongside the country’s governing body, Hockey Canada.

Coaching Staff and Tactical Approach

In June 2024, Jon Cooper was named the head coach of Team Canada for 2025’s NHL 4 Nations Cup and the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. He was joined by Bruce Cassidy, Peter DeBoer, and Rick Tocchet behind the bench. Cooper’s approach is flexible, but the focus is always on strong defensive play and holding good structure without the puck.

Star Players to Watch

Last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner and perpetual superstar of the NHL, Connor McDavid was, naturally, one of the top stars to watch. In the futures odds to take the trophy again this season, despite the team’s early setback, McDavid enjoyed a tremendous 4 Nations Cup, putting up three goals and five points, including the tournament-winning goal.

Around him, All-Stars and future Hall of Famers like Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Reinhart, Drew Doughty, and Sidney Crosby populated the vaunted Team Canada lines.

Roster Balance: Youth vs. Experience

Team Canada definitely leant into experience for the 4 Nations Face-Off, picking the majority of players who’re hitting their physical primes – in the 26 to 32 age bracket. On the roster, 19 were in this prime age group, while 23-year-olds Thomas Harley and Seth Jarvis made up the youngest contingent and Sidney Crosby (37), Brad Marchand (36), and Drew Doughty (35) entered as the dressing room’s true veterans.

Canada’s Historical Performance in Similar Tournaments

Olympic Games: A Track Record of Excellence

Canada is the most successful team in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics, boasting nine Gold Medals, four Silver Medals, and three Bronze Medals to date.

World Cup of Hockey: Canada’s Dominance

The World Cup of Hockey, a competition organized and operated by the NHL and NHLPA and formerly known as the Canada Cup, has also been dominated by Canada. As the Canada Cup, Team Canada claimed four of the five titles, and as the World Cup, Canada has won two of the three tournaments.

Canada’s Style of Play in International Ice Hockey

Canada’s style of play in international ice hockey has long been a reflection of the NHL. The team likes to play a fast-paced game that presses opponents and allows the split-second skill of its star forwards shine through. It’s also a very physical style of play, especially when compared to the preferences of many European teams.

Rivalries and their Historical Significance

The most famous rivalry for Canada came in the 1970s with the Summit Series. Stepping aside from IIHF competitions, Canada wasn’t ranked but was known as the best hockey nation in the world. This led to the Summit Series during the Cold War, where Canada would face the IIHF’s top-ranked team, the Soviet Union.

The first series was so spectacular that it’s hailed as the catalyst for a huge boom in interest in the sport, with national rivalries bubbling up in the stands and, especially, on the ice. The 4 Nations Cup of 2025 reflected a similarly electric rivalry between Canada and the US just as Trump’s trade war was bubbling up alongside the American president’s annexation claims.

Road to the 4 Nations Cup

Canada entered as the top-ranked IIHF team and co-host of the 4 Nations Cup, and so, didn’t need to qualify.

Training camp began on February 10, with all teams being permitted two practice days before the start of the tournament.

Prior to the 4 Nations Cup, Alex Pietrangelo had to withdraw from the team, leading to Doughty’s call-up. During the tournament, Shea Theodore suffered an injury in the first game and Makar was suffering from an illness. So, excellent Dallas Stars defenseman, who’s a big part of the team’s leading Stanley Cup odds, Thomas Harley, joined the Canadian ranks.

Tournament Highlights and Game-by-Game Analysis

Canada vs. USA: The North American Showdown

The biggest game on the schedule for the round-robin was the United States versus Canada on February 15 at Bell Centre. It was an incredibly heated game, enflamed by the fans’ booing of the US National Anthem. Three fights in the first nine seconds spurred Canada to the first goal, but the US would skate away the 3-1 winners.

Canada vs. Sweden: Precision vs. Power

To open the 4 Nations Face-Off, Canada faced Sweden at Centre Bell. Both teams rocked up with All-Star-worthy lines, and while Canada got off to a hot start, the skill of the Swedes began to chip away, taking the game to overtime at 3-3. Therein, Crosby teed up Mitch Marner for the winner at 6:06 to get Canada off to a winning start.

Canada vs. Finland: Tactical Duels on Ice

Down at TD Garden, Canada’s final game of the round-robin ended up deciding if they’d play in the final or not, with Sweden getting a surprise 2-1 win over the US later in the day. Luckily, Canada game out of the gates firing on all cylinders, ending the first period three goals to the good. Finland fought back admirably in their third, but couldn’t overcome the deficit. The 5-3 win gave Canada a lot of momentum going into the final.

4 Nations Face-Off Final: Clutch Moments and Match-Winning Plays

In a surprisingly clean game, given the rumbles of the first encounter, the skill of the players shone through. MacKinnon broke the deadlock early by skating across the high slot and sniping it up and over Connor Hellebuyck’s right shoulder through traffic and the excellent screen of Reinhart. Brady Tkachuk evened the score at 17 minutes.

Nearing the midway mark of the second, Binnington managed to fend off a shot and its close-up rebound, but couldn’t make it Jake Sanderson’s attempt in time. About six minutes later, a neutral zone turnover saw Marner power into the offensive end, send Sam Bennett unattended in on goal, and the Panther duly levelled the score.

The third period came and went with some good saves from both goalies, and that’s how overtime opened. Binnington made some top-tier saves to keep Canada in the game. Then, with the clock ticking past the 12th minute of overtime, Makar’s play around the board found Marner in the corner, he squared it to McDavid, and the Oilers superstar whipped it past Hellebuyck to win the 4 Nations Cup.

Key Canadian Players and their Impact

Standout Forwards: Scoring Machines

Connor McDavid was the standout performer with three goals – including the final’s game-winner – as was captain Sidney Crosby, who scored once and set up four more. In the final, however, Mitch Marner really stepped up with two primary assists.

Defensive Anchors: Canada’s Blueline Wall

Cale Makar’s playmaking and the stalwart defending of Colton Parayko, Josh Morrissey, and Drew Doughty proved invaluable throughout the 4 Nations Cup in 2025.

Goaltenders: Last Line of Defence

Jordan Binnington’s stock went through the roof following his efforts at the 4 Nations Cup. He faced tough opposition for the crease coming into the tournament, but his selection was certainly ratified by the time Canada lifted the trophy.

Emerging Stars and First-Time Internationals

He may have been a late call-up, but Thomas Harley made a significant impact in his two first-ever games for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, as did Seth Jarvis, who made his Canada debut and also notched an assist. Both have been popular picks in the hockey betting throughout the season and have very bright futures ahead of them.

4 Nations Cup FAQs

Which NHL Team has the Most Players in the 4 Nations Face-Off?

The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, had the most players in the 4 Nations Face-Off, sending eight players to compete. A close second was the Vegas Golden Knights with seven representatives.

Is 4 Nations Replacing the All-Star Games?

In 2025, the 4 Nations Face-Off did replace the All-Star Games on the NHL calendar, but it’s not set to be a permanent replacement to the annual All-Star festivities.

How Will the 4 Nations Cup Work?

The 4 Nations Cup was a four-team round-robin, in which every team played the other once, with the top two going to a one-game final.

Did Canada Win the 4 Nations Cup?

Yes, Canada won the 4 Nations Cup in a thrilling final that saw Canada take the United States past regulation at 2-2 and Connor McDavid score the overtime winner.

What is the NHL 4 Nations Cup and Who Participates?

The NHL 4 Nations Cup was a tournament created by the National Hockey League to appease the desires of its players to compete in more international tournaments. Only NHL players from Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the US participated in the tournament.

How is the Canadian Team Selected for the Tournament?

Doug Armstrong appointed Don Sweeney and Jim Nill as Canada’s general manager and associate general manager for the 4 Nations Face-Off, as well as Julien BriseBois as an assistant GM and Kyle Dubas to work as the director of player personnel. Those four selected the Canadian team for the tournament.

How Did Canada Perform in the Most Recent Edition?

Canada won the most recent edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off by beating the United States 3-2 in overtime at Boston’s TD Gardens.

Are There Any non-NHL Players in the 4 Nations Face-Off?

No. Every single player involved in the 4 Nations Face-Off was an NHL player primarily because this was an NHL-organized event placed in the middle of the NHL’s regular season.

Who Were Canada’s Top Performers?

Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby both put up five points in four games, Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Reinhart followed with four points each, but arguably the hero of the tournament was Jordan Binnington in goal.

How Can Fans Watch the 4 Nations Cup Live?

Fans in Canada could watch the 4 Nations Cup live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, while fans in the US could turn to TNT, ESPN, ABC, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes. Finnish fans could watch the action on Nelonen and Sweden showed the games on Viaplay.

Will the 4 Nations Cup be Held Annually or Every Few Years?

The 4 Nations Cup will not be held annually or every few years. Instead, it was intended as a one-off tournament to work as a stop-gap on the NHL’s return to letting its players compete at major international tournaments during its schedule.

What Role Does the NHL Play in Organizing the Cup?

The NHL is the organizing body of the 4 Nations Cup, which is why it only features NHL-based players.

Is There a Women’s Equivalent to This Tournament?

There isn’t a women’s equivalent to the 4 Nations Cup as it stands, but some have seen the format as a potential replacement to the Rivalry Series.

How Does this Tournament Compare to the Winter Olympics in Importance?

The 4 Nations Face-Off doesn’t compare to the importance of the Winter Olympics. The NHL-organized tournament was a one-off, only featured NHL players, and only four nations were represented.