International best on best hockey is finally set to return on February 12th with NHL's Four Nations Faceoff. We have not seen NHL players compete in a best on best tournament since the 2016 World Cup and this new tournament is one of the most anticipated hockey events of the last few years. As Canada, USA, Finland, and Sweden prepare to battle it out on the ice, there are a few key moments and matchups that I’m especially excited to see happen. Here’s a breakdown of the things I most excited to see at this tournament.
Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon Share the Ice Together for a Short While
Let's get an obvious thing out of the way, as a Canadian, I cannot wait to finally have Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid on the same roster. Understandably, I don't think we will see these three play together on the same line all the time just due to roster balance and the fact that all three are centers which would force two of them out position. However, the idea of how much offensive firepower this trio could produce if or when they do play together is exciting to think about. whether it's a short shift or on a power-play unit, every Canadian fan will remember the moment they spend playing together, even if it is only for a little while.
J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson Go Head-to-Head
If you've been following the NHL consistently this season, you know that one of the biggest storylines defining the year so far has been the drama out of Vancouver, specifically surrounding the rift and uneasy futures of star forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Based on comments from Canucks president Jim Rutherford earlier this week, it does appear that one, if not both, of the players will be out of Vancouver by at least the start of next season. It will be interesting to see if any tension or anger between the two shows up on the ice when Team Sweden and Team USA face off, with all the controversy looming over them. Given their relationship, I'm curious to see if it gets heated, especially if a trade happens prior (which I don't expect) to the tournament. The possibility of sparks between them makes Sweden vs. USA one of the must-see games of the tournament.
Note: J.T. Miller has since been traded to the New York Rangers
Will This Become Something the Players and Media Actually Care About?
As the Four Nations Faceoff progresses and eventually concludes, I’m curious to see what the lasting takeaway will be. Will we look back on it as an important aspect of a player's legacy or accomplishments, or will it just be a one-off? Take a player like Carey Price, for example—his 2016 World Cup victory with Canada is rarely discussed as part of his resume. In contrast, Price’s performance at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, where he and Canada won gold, is one of the most significant highlights of his Hall of Fame career. Olympic gold medals have become meaningful milestones for NHL players due to the reputation of international hockey competitions in the past. The question is: will we remember this tournament years from now, or will it fade away, much like the 2016 World Cup has? Will a team’s unexpected victory or a clutch performance by a star player become part of their legacy, or will this tournament be forgotten in 20 years? Personally, I hope this event sparks the return of NHL players competing in best-on-best international hockey for years to come.
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